Monsieur Beaucaire | 1924 | Romance, Historical Drama

Title: Monsieur Beaucaire | 1924 | Romance, Historical Drama Director: Sidney Olcott Studio: Famous Players–Lasky Starring: Rudolph Valentino, Bebe Daniels, Doris Kenyon, Lowell Sherman, Lois Wilson Based on: Booth Tarkington’s 1900 novel and the 1904 play by Booth Tarkington and Evelyn Greenleaf Sutherland Release Date: August 11, 1924 Runtime: 106 Format: Silent, black-and-white, 35mm, 1.33:1, English intertitles Country: United States Language: Silent Genres: Romance, Historical, Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Court of Louis XV and the Duke of Chartres 00:18:00 Flight to England and new identity 00:40:00 Bath society and the masquerade 01:05:00 Confrontation and unmasking 01:25:00 Return to France and resolution --- Summary: At the court of Louis XV, the Duke de Chartres, frustrated by a proposed royal marriage, flees to England and adopts the guise of “Monsieur Beaucaire,” barber to the French ambassador. In Bath, he forces the duplicitous Duke of Winterset to present him as a nobleman, wins the admiration of society, and courts Lady Mary, only to be rejected when his lowly persona is revealed. As intrigues and rivalries mount, Beaucaire’s true rank comes to light. He chooses duty over romance, returning to France reconciled with Princess Henriette, while the film explores masquerade, class performance, and the tension between personal desire and aristocratic obligation. --- Background: Produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures, the film was shot at Paramount’s Astoria studios in New York. Sidney Olcott directed and produced; production design was by Natacha Rambova with costumes by Rambova and French designer Georges Barbier, underscoring the story’s 18th‑century French milieu. The adaptation draws from Booth Tarkington’s bestseller and its stage version, with intertitles in English for American release. --- Trivia: Released in ten reels , the film’s standard presentation was on 35mm at the silent-era 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The production was photographed at Paramount’s Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, reflecting the company’s extensive East Coast operations in the 1920s. Stan Laurel’s short Monsieur Don’t Care parodied this Valentino vehicle soon after its release. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: August 11, 1924 Original Studio / Distributor: Famous Players–Lasky / Paramount Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: No --- Hashtags: PublicDomain SilentFilm RudolphValentino ClassicCinema 1920s Paramount SidneyOlcott MonsieurBeaucaire BoothTarkington Source page: https: //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monsieur_Beaucaire_(1924).webm Direct media URL: https: //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Monsieur_Beaucaire_%281924%29.webm