The Man in the Iron Mask (1939)

Director:

James Whale

Writers:

Alexandre Dumas père (novel)
George Bruce (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 July 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | History

Tagline:

Alexandre Dumas most amazing, adventurous epic

Plot:

D'Artagnan and the musketeers are the only ones who know of the existence of a twin brother, and Fouquet uses his influence to keep everyone silenced...

Plot Keywords:

Brother | Mask | Musketeer | Iron Mask | France

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Louis Hayward	...	King Louis XIV / Philippe of Gascony
Joan Bennett	...	Princess Maria Theresa
Warren William	...	D'Artagnan
Joseph Schildkraut	...	Fouquet
Alan Hale	...	Porthos
Walter Kingsford	...	Colbert
Miles Mander	...	Aramis
Bert Roach	...	Athos
Marion Martin	...	Mlle. de la Valliere (as Marian Martin)
Montagu Love	...	Spanish Ambassador
Doris Kenyon	...	Queen Anne
Albert Dekker	...	King Louis XIII
Nigel De Brulier	...	Cardinal Richelieu
William Royle	...	Commandant of the Bastille
Boyd Irwin	...	Royal High Constable of France

Runtime:

Finland:96 min | USA:96 min (colorized version) | 112 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording Sound System)

Certification:

USA:TV-G | USA:Approved (PCA #5260) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden - 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, USA

Company:

Edward Small Productions

Trivia:

Peter Cushing did double duty on this film. In additional to his own role, he would feed Louis Hayward the lines for the split screen shots.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In one chase scene, a character fires a pistol three times in quick succession. 17th century firearms had to be reloaded after each shot.

Quotes:

D'Artagnan: You've suffered enough. You can be King, or you can be free. Which is it?
Philippe: Take me to where the Crown of France is to be found.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale (1999) (V)

Many take a hand in superb screen adventure

Screenwriter George Bruce, a specialist with swashbuckling tales, is at his best in this rather loose adaptation of the fanciful Alexandre Dumas novel that relates how the Three Musketeers won their final battle. The scenario tells of the birth of twin sons to King Louis XIII of France and his wife, and of how, since there can be but one dauphin, the latterly born is secretly given to the care of the King's favorite swordsman D'Artagnan who, along with the Musketeers, raises him in Gascony. The return to Paris of the untitled and untravelled son, Philip, along with the four veteran warriors, at the request of Minister Colbert, one of the few who is aware of the twin birth, and the resulting adventures largely brought about by a sharp contrast in humanity between the brothers, forms the basis for the subsequent fast-moving and exciting events. Louis Hayward brilliantly plays the dual parts of the twins King Louis XIV and the unrecognized Philip, providing a proper degree of personality disparity, along with a display of excellent fencing skill and a robust penchant for romancing the Infanta of Spain, nicely performed by Joan Bennett. Walter Kingsford and Joseph Schildkraut are sterling as ministers in competition for the King's ear, as are Albert Dekker and Doris Kenyon as Louis XIII and his queen, but it is Warren William, whose profile puts that of John Barrymore to shame, who steals the supporting cast honors with a very strong performance as D'Artagnan. James Whale's flamboyant style of direction is perfect for this cinematic transposition of the classic novel, and the editing is well-nigh perfect, capping a delightful performance by all.