La reine Margot (1994)

Director:

Patrice Chéreau

Writers:

Alexandre Dumas père (novel)
Danièle Thompson (scenario & adaptation) ...

Release Date:

9 December 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

Plot:

The night of August 24, 1572, is known as the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. In France a religious war is raging...

Plot Keywords:

Catholic | Protestant | Massacre | Wedding | King

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Isabelle Adjani	...	Marguerite de Valois dite La Reine Margot
Daniel Auteuil	...	Henri de Navarre
Jean-Hugues Anglade	...	Charles IX
Vincent Perez	...	La Môle
Virna Lisi	...	Catherine de Médicis
Dominique Blanc	...	Henriette de Nevers
Pascal Greggory	...	Anjou
Claudio Amendola	...	Coconnas
Miguel Bosé	...	Guise (as Miguel Bosè)
Asia Argento	...	Charlotte of Sauve
Julien Rassam	...	Alençon
Thomas Kretschmann	...	Nançay
Jean-Claude Brialy	...	Coligny
Jean-Philippe Écoffey	...	Condé (as Jean-Philippe Ecoffey)
Albano Guaetta	...	Orthon

Also Known As:

Die Bartholomäusnacht (Germany)
La regina Margot (Italy)
Queen Margot (USA)

Runtime:

162 min | France:159 min | Germany:139 min (video version) | Germany:174 min | USA:144 min

Country:

France | Italy | Germany

Language:

French | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Peru:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:(Banned)

Filming Locations:

Basilique de Saint-Quentin, Saint-Quentin, Aisne, Picardie, France

Company:

Renn Productions

Trivia:

Patrice Chereau edited the original cut of the film (roughly 160 minutes) to a smaller 138 minutes for international release. This was due to a disappointing box-office performance in France and the criticism (by, among others, Variety critic Todd McCarthy) of the film as being too violent and often incoherent. The French press were scathing of this 'American censorship' (they described the film as having been 'given a face-lift' for American audiences) but the new version was defended by various French critics being both more coherent whilst also maintaining Chereau's artistic vision. The shorter cut was later released in France too, in the hopes of increasing the film's box-office takings.

Goofs:

Continuity: Margot's cloak as she approaches La Mole in the alley.

Quotes:

La Môle: You smelt of jasmine that morning. I thought: maybe she's ugly under her mask. Or disfigured. But it didn't matter. You wouldn't let me kiss you.
[they kiss]
La Môle: I thought, she's even lonelier than me. She loves as though she is seeking revenge.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1995) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Elo Hi

not historically accurate but really worth seeing

For the American people that have seen this excellent French movie, I will say just one thing: in many countries around the world we get to see movies from abroad with subtitles. Most of the movies that we see in South American countries come either from North America or Europe and we don't usually complain about the subtitles. Only kids movies are dubbed in Spanish. A great part of the romance or charm about French movies comes from the fact that they are actually spoken in French. Nobody in these films expects the rest of the world to understand as they speak but to make a little effort and appreciate the beauty in each language is something I think is missing in American culture. I've seen nothing but comments on how difficult it was for some members of the American public to understand this film. I only ask myself: in times of globalization, isn't it interesting to learn from people from other parts of the world in their own language, specially a French film based on a French novel by the French Alexandre Dumas, placed in the 16th century, directed by one of France's best directors and acted by some of the most wonderful French actors and actresses of the last decades? Would you want to see this film in English? Sorry, but I think you would be missing a great deal of the depth and emotion of this unique film!!!