Marie Antoinette
DVD Cover
Directed by	W. S. Van Dyke
Produced by	Hunt Stromberg
Written by	Donald Ogden Stewart Ernest Vajda Claudine West Stefan Zweig (Biography)
Starring	Norma Shearer Tyrone Power John Barrymore
Music by	Herbert Stothart
Cinematography	William H. Daniels
Editing by	Robert Kern
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	July 8, 1938 (USA)
Running time	149 min., original run 160 min. with intro and exit music
Language	English
IMDb profile

Marie Antoinette was a 1938 film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Image File history File links Mariea. ... Woodbridge Woody Strong Van Dyke II (March 21, 1889 - February 5, 1943) was an American film director. ... Donald Ogden Stewart (1894-1980) an American author and screenwriter, member of the Algonquin Round Table. ... Ernest Vajda was a Hungarian actor, playwright and novelist. ... Stefan Zweig (November 28, 1881 – February 22, 1942) was an Austrian writer. ... Edith Norma Shearer (August 10, 1902 (some sources indicate 1900) - June 12, 1983) was an Academy Award-winning Canadian-born Hollywood actress. ... Tyrone Power in Charles Laughtons production of John Browns Body, photo by Carl Van Vechten, March 3, 1953 Tyrone Edmund Power, Jr. ... John Barrymore (aged 40) on the set of the silent film Sherlock Holmes (1922) John Sidney Blyth Barrymore (born: February 15, 1882 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – died :May 29, 1942 in Los Angeles, California), was an American actor. ... William H. Daniels (December 1, 1901 - June 14, 1970) was a film cinematographer best known as Greta Garbos personal lensman. ... MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... See also: 1937 in film 1937 1939 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events January — MGM announces that Judy Garland would be cast in the role of Dorothy in the upcoming Wizard of Oz motion picture. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... For alternate meanings of MGM, see MGM (disambiguation). ...

It was directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starred Norma Shearer as Marie Antoinette, Tyrone Power, John Barrymore, Robert Morley, Anita Louise, Joseph Schildkraut and Gladys George. It was based upon the 1933 biography of the queen by the Austrian writer, Stefan Zweig. The film director, on the right, gives last minute direction to the cast and crew, whilst filming a costume drama on location in London. ... Woodbridge Woody Strong Van Dyke II (March 21, 1889 - February 5, 1943) was an American film director. ... Edith Norma Shearer (August 10, 1902 (some sources indicate 1900) - June 12, 1983) was an Academy Award-winning Canadian-born Hollywood actress. ... Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France and Archduchess of Austria (born November 1755 – executed 16 October 1793) Daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria, wife of Louis XVI and mother of Louis XVII. She was guillotined at the height of the French Revolution. ... Tyrone Power in Charles Laughtons production of John Browns Body, photo by Carl Van Vechten, March 3, 1953 Tyrone Edmund Power, Jr. ... John Barrymore (aged 40) on the set of the silent film Sherlock Holmes (1922) John Sidney Blyth Barrymore (born: February 15, 1882 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – died :May 29, 1942 in Los Angeles, California), was an American actor. ... Robert Morley Robert Morley (May 26, 1908 - June 3, 1992) was a British actor who, often in supporting roles, was usually cast as a pompous English gentleman representing the Establishment. ... Anita Louise (January 9, 1915 – April 25, American film actress. ... Joseph Schildkraut (March 22, 1896 – January 21, 1964) was a film actor. ... Gladys George (September 13, 1900 - December 8, 1954) was an American actress. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Stefan Zweig (November 28, 1881 – February 22, 1942) was an Austrian writer. ...

The film was the last project of Irving Thalberg who died in 1936 while it was in the planning stage. His widow Norma Shearer remained committed to the project even while her enthusiasm for her film career in general was waning following his death. Irving Grant Thalberg (May 30, 1899 - September 14, 1936) was an American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

With a budget close to 2 million dollars, it was one of the most expensive films of the 1930s but also one of the biggest successes. Apart from the opulent Hollywood sets, it featured scenes filmed on location at the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, France, and this was reported to have been the first time a film crew had been allowed to film in the grounds of the palace. The 1930s (years from 1930-1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... ... Hall of Mirrors redirects here. ... The Eiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. ...

Synopsis

The story began in Vienna where a 15-year-old Marie-Antoinette was informed by her mother that she is to marry the future king of France. Most of the film's introduction is concerned with the young princess's attempt to navigate the treacherous environment of the court at Versailles. The film progresses to follow her life as queen - dealing with her transformation into a charitable, humanitarian but somewhat out-of-touch queen. The final part of the movie follows Zweig's theory that Marie Antoinette "achieved greatness" in the final years of her life, with an emotionally gut-wrenching scene showing the final supper of the royal family before King Louis's execution, the separation of the queen from her young son and the savage murder of her closest friend. The final scene shows Marie Antoinette going to the guillotine, where the audience hears the voice of the sweet-natured young princess who was so excited to be going to France. Shearer refused any complimentary make-up for this scene, and chose to look as haggard and exhausted as the real queen had in her final moments. Inhabitants according to official census figures: 1800 to 2005 Vienna in 1858 Vienna (German: Wien ) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... Louis XVI of France Louis XVI (23 August 1754 – 21 January 1793) was King of France and Navarre from 1774 until 1791, and then King of the French from 1791 to 1792. ... Hall of Mirrors redirects here. ... Stefan Zweig (November 28, 1881 – February 22, 1942) was an Austrian writer. ... Louis XVII of France (March 27, 1785 – June 8, 1795), from birth to 1789 known as Louis-Charles, Duke of Normandy; then from 1789 to 1791 as Louis-Charles, Dauphin of Viennois; and from 1791 to 1793 as Louis-Charles, Prince Royal of France, was the son of King Louis... Portrait of Princesse de Lamballe Marie Thérèse Louise de Savoie-Carignan, princesse de Lamballe (September 8, 1749 - September 3, 1792), was one of the best-known victims of the French Revolution. ...

Background

Norma Shearer was the wife of studio head at MGM Irving Thalberg when this project was greenlit sometime before his death in 1936. The film had a huge budget, lavish sets, and gargantuan costumes that made even the most over the top MGM spectacle look anemic. They did this movie on a huge scale, and it was the Titanic of the day in terms of going over budget and promising a romance pasted over historical events. MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ... Titanic is a romantic drama film written, directed and co-produced by James Cameron. ...

This is Norma Shearer's defining role, and the actress was nominated for a 1938 Best Actress Academy Award. She eventually lost to Bette Davis in Jezebel. Also nominated was supporting actor Robert Morley who made his movie debut as King Louis XVI. Art direction and the score also garnered recognition from Oscar, but no gold statues went home for people involved in the production.^[1] Bette Davis (April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989), born Ruth Elizabeth Davis, was a two-time Academy Award-winning American actress of film, television and theater. ... Jezebel has several meanings: Jezebel (biblical) is a person in the Bible Jezebel (1938 film) is a 1938 film Jezebel (Japanese band) is a Japanese visual kei band This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with the same title. ...

Costumes and Set Designs

The movie had thousands of costumes and lavish set designs. Gilbert Adrian visited France and Austria in 1937 researching the period. He studied the paintings of Marie Antoinette, even using a microscope on them so that the embroidery and fabric could be identical. Fabrics were specially woven and embroidered with stitches sometimes to fine to be seen with the naked eye. The attention to detail was extreme, from the framework to hair. Some gowns became extremely heavy due to the embroidery, flounces and precious stones used. Ms. Shearer's gowns alone had the combined weight of over 1,768 pounds, the heaviest being the wedding dress. Originally slated to be shot in color many of the gowns were specially dyed. The fur trim on one of Ms. Shearer's capes was sent out to be dyed the exact shade of her eyes. ^[2] The ballroom at Versailles was built to be twice as large as the original. The budget was a then preposterous 2.9 million dollars, and plans to render it in color were scrapped because of concerns it would cost even more to add Technicolor.^[1] Versailles (pronounced , in French), formerly the de facto capital of the kingdom of France, is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and is still an important administrative and judicial center. ... Logo celebrating Technicolors 90th Anniversary Technicolor is the trademark for a series of color film processes pioneered by Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation (a subsidiary of Technicolor, Inc. ...

DVD release

Sofia Coppola recently unleashed her vision of the famous queen, so Warner Brothers released their 1938 vault version of Marie Antoinette on DVD at the same time. Extras are sparse with only two vintage shorts included on the disc. Hollywood Goes to Town gives us a glimpse of the elaborate premiere for the movie. Also included is a trailer.^[1] Sofia Coppola Sofia Carmina Coppola (born May 14, 1971) is an American director, actress, producer, and Academy Award-winning screenwriter. ...

Cast

• Norma Shearer: Marie Antoinette
• Tyrone Power: Count Axel de Fersen
• John Barrymore: King Louis XV
• Robert Morley: King Louis XVI
• Anita Louise: Princesse de Lamballe
• Joseph Schildkraut: Duke Phillipe d'Orleans
• Gladys George: Madame du Barry
• Henry Stephenson: Count de Mercey
• Cora Witherspoon: Countess De Noailles
• Barnett Parker: Prince De Rohan
• Reginald Gardiner: Compte Charles D'Artois
• Henry Daniell: La Motte^[3]

Edith Norma Shearer (August 10, 1902 (some sources indicate 1900) - June 12, 1983) was an Academy Award-winning Canadian-born Hollywood actress. ... Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France and Archduchess of Austria (born November 1755 – executed 16 October 1793) Daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria, wife of Louis XVI and mother of Louis XVII. She was guillotined at the height of the French Revolution. ... Tyrone Power in Charles Laughtons production of John Browns Body, photo by Carl Van Vechten, March 3, 1953 Tyrone Edmund Power, Jr. ... John Barrymore (aged 40) on the set of the silent film Sherlock Holmes (1922) John Sidney Blyth Barrymore (born: February 15, 1882 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – died :May 29, 1942 in Los Angeles, California), was an American actor. ... Louis XV King of France and Navarre Louis XV (February 15, 1710 - May 10, 1774), called the Well-Beloved (French: le Bien-Aimé), was king of France from 1715 to 1774. ... Robert Morley Robert Morley (May 26, 1908 - June 3, 1992) was a British actor who, often in supporting roles, was usually cast as a pompous English gentleman representing the Establishment. ... Louis XVI Louis XVI (August 23, 1754 - January 21, 1793), was King of France and Navarre from 1774 until 1791, and then King of the French in 1791-1792. ... Anita Louise (January 9, 1915 – April 25, American film actress. ... Marie Thérèse Louise de Savoie-Carignan, princesse de Lamballe (September 8, 1749 - September 3, 1792), was one of the best-known victims of the French Revolution. ... Gladys George (September 13, 1900 - December 8, 1954) was an American actress. ... Jeanne Becu, Comtesse Du Barry [1] [2] (Marie-Jeanne, Comtesse Du Barry) (August 19, 1743 - December 8, 1793) was a French courtesan who became the mistress of Louis XV of France. ... Henry Stephenson (born April 16, 1871, Grenada; died April 24, 1956, San Francisco, California), sometimes credited as Harry Stephenson, was an American character actor who appeared in 90 films from 1917 to 1951, often as a sidekick to Errol Flynn. ... Cora Witherspoon (5 January 1890 – 17 November 1957) was an American film actress of the 1930s through the early 1950s. ... Reginald Gardiner (February 27, 1903-July 7, 1980) was a British-born actor in film and television. ... Henry Daniell (March 5, 1894 - October 31, 1963) was a British-born actor who had a long career on stage and screen. ... La Motte is the name of several places: France La Motte, Lamotte, La Mothe or Lamothe is the name or part of the name of several communes in France: La Motte, in the Côtes-dArmor département La Motte, in the Var département La Motte-Chalancon, in...

Trivia

• Originally to be directed by Sidney Franklin, but given to W.S. Van Dyke.

• This was Irving Thalberg's last project while head of production at MGM. At the time of his death in 1936, the film was in the planning stages, but his widow, Norma Shearer, took special interest in the film and stuck with it to its completion in 1938.

• Irving Thalberg originally planned for Charles Laughton to play the role of Louis XVI. Laughton, after lengthy deliberations, finally declined.

• The few lines of Swedish spoken by the Swedish count Axel von Fersen are genuine, although Tyrone Power speaks them with a very thick accent.

• The role of Marie Antoinette was reportedly Norma Shearer's favorite of her roles.^[4]

Sidney Franklin, (born Sidney Frumkin, 1903-1976), was the first American to become a successful bullfighter. ...

Awards

The film was nominated for Academy Awards in the following categories: The references in this article would be clearer with a different and/or consistent style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ...

• Best Actress - Norma Shearer
• Best Supporting Actor - Robert Morley
• Best Art Direction - Cedric Gibbons
• Best Music, Original Score - Herbert Stothart.

The Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... The Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. ... Cedric Gibbons in Dublin, Ireland, (23 March 1893 - 26 July 1960 was the art director at MGM studios. ... From Rule Sixteen of the Special Rules for The Music Awards Original Score: An original score is a substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/marieantoinette1938.php
2. ^ http://www.freewebs.com/dregae/1938normashearer.htm
3. ^ http://imdb.com/title/tt0030418/fullcredits
4. ^ http://imdb.com/title/tt0030418/trivia

External link

• Marie Antoinette at the Internet Movie Database
• Review of the DVD
• Details of the costumes used in the movie