Royal Affairs in Versailles

Royal Affairs in Versailles (French title: Si Versailles m'était conté) is a 1954 French-Italian historical drama directed by Sacha Guitry. Described as "a historical film showing Versailles from its beginnings to the present day",[4] it tells some episodes through portrayal of the personalities who lived in the Palace of Versailles. Its sister films are Napoléon (1955) and If Paris Were Told to Us (1956).[5]

Royal Affairs in Versailles
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySacha Guitry
Written bySacha Guitry (scenario & dialogue)
Produced bySacha Guitry
Ignace Morgenstern
Clément Duhour (executive producer)
CinematographyPierre Montazel
Edited byRaymond Lamy
Music byJean Françaix
Production
company
Distributed byCocinor (France)
Times Film Corporation (USA)
Mondial (UK)[1]
Release dates
  • 9 March 1954 (1954-03-09) (France)
  • 8 March 1957 (1957-03-08) (U.S.)
  • 1960 (1960) (UK)
Running time
165 minutes
CountriesFrance
Italy
LanguageFrench
Box office6,986,788 admissions (France)[2][3]

The film is notable for the presence of a great number of well-known French actors, often appearing in short parts. One unknown actor playing a major character is Gilbert Bokanowski (credited as Gilbert Boka) portraying Louis XVI. Bokanowski was actually the film's production manager and was cast because of his strong resemblance to the monarch.

Its English translation title is If Versailles Were Told to Me. Despite French production, the film is best known by its English title Royal Affairs in Versailles.[6]

Plot edit

Historical human stories in connection with the Royal Palace, the Chateau of Versailles.

Cast edit

Reception edit

It was the biggest hit of the year in France and earned an estimated $900,000 US.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Company Credits". imdb. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  2. ^ "Box Office Figures for Jean Marais films". Box Office Story.
  3. ^ "Si Versailles m'était conté (1954)". jpbox-office.com.
  4. ^ Lanzoni, R. (30 October 2014). French Comedy on Screen: A Cinematic History. Palgrave Macmillan US. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-137-10019-1.
  5. ^ Royal Affairs in Versailles at IMDb  
  6. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Royal Affairs in Versailles". allmovie. Retrieved 2013-03-13.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "French Films 52% of French Market". Variety. 19 January 1955. p. 12.

External links edit