If I Were King
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
J. Gordon Edwards
William Farnum
Fritz Leiber
Walter Law
Harry Carvill
Claude Payton
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
When vagabond poet François Villon learns of Grand Constable Thibault's conspiracy with the Duke of Burgundy to overthrow King Louis of France, the constable orders the poet imprisoned. Katherine, Louis' ward, visits Villon and, upon hearing his tale of betrayal, procures the poet's release so that he may prove his charges. To accomplish this, Villon returns to the Fircone Tavern, the site of the betrayal, to recite his verse entitled "If I Were King." Louis, visiting the tavern in disguise, decides to appoint the poet constable in the place of Thibault, who deserted to the Burgundian forces. The poet's term is to last one week, and at the end of that period, if he fails to win Katherine's love, he is to be hung. In seven days, Villon conquers the duke's forces, foils a plot to abduct the king, and is bravely about to ascend the scaffold when Katherine offers her life for his, thus proclaiming the love that sets the poet free.
Director
J. Gordon Edwards
Cast
William Farnum
Fritz Leiber
Walter Law
Harry Carvill
Claude Payton
V. V. Clogg
Harold Clairmont
Renita Johnston
Kathryn Chase
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Many other versions of McCarthy's story have been made, including The Beloved Rogue (United Artists, 1927), directed by Alan Crosland and starring John Barrymore, and a musical, The Vagabond King (Paramount, 1930), directed by Ludwig Berger and starring Jeanette MacDonald and Dennis King (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.0346 and F2.6005). In 1938, Frank Lloyd directed and Ronald Colman and Basil Rathbone starred in Paramount's If I Were King, which boasted a screenplay by Preston Sturges. Paramount remade the musical in 1956, with direction by Michael Curtiz.
