The King (1936) is a weirdly fun French mess about cheating

Is it worth your time?

You should watch The King if you have a soft spot for old French movies where everyone is talking at once. It is perfect for people who like satires about politicians being fake. If you want a fast-moving plot with lots of action, you will probably hate this one.

The movie is basically about King John IV (Victor Francen) visiting Paris. He knows that being a King is a job that is slowly disappearing. So, he decides to spend his time in Paris doing exactly what he wants, which mostly involves women.

Victor Francen plays the King with this weirdly calm attitude. He’s in the middle of a state council, but you can tell he is actually thinking about his next date. It is a very honest portrayal of a man who is bored with his own power.

Then we have the senator, played by Raimu. Raimu is basically the goat of this era of French cinema. He plays this guy who pretends to be a 'man of the people' but is actually obsessed with social status.

There is a really funny dynamic where the Senator is actually happy that the King is interested in his wife, YouYou. He thinks having a King like his wife makes him look more important. It’s incredibly cynical and weirdly modern.

The wife, YouYou (Gaby Morlay), is an ex-seamstress who doesn't really care about the King's title. She just treats him like a regular guy, which of course makes him like her even more. Her performance is much more grounded than the men around her.

It reminds me a little of the social climbing you see in The Snob. Everyone is just trying to move up a ladder that doesn't really lead anywhere.

The pacing is a bit wonky. Some scenes in the boudoir go on for a long time, and you kind of forget there is supposed to be a treaty being signed. But maybe that is the point?

The dialogue is super sharp, though. You have to pay attention because they move from one joke to the next without waiting for you to catch up. It’s much more lively than something like No Defense.

I noticed one scene where a character is supposed to be shocked, but they react so late it almost feels like a parody. It made me laugh, even if it wasn't supposed to be funny.

Elvire Popesco plays the actress, Therese. She has this massive energy that almost knocks the other actors off the screen. Every time she enters a room, the movie gets about 20% louder.

It is definitely more of a stage play than a 'cinematic experience.' Most of it happens in expensive-looking rooms with people standing around and arguing. But the arguments are actually interesting.

The film doesn't try to be a 'profound exploration' of anything. It just shows that people are selfish, whether they are Kings or Senators or actresses. It’s a very human movie in that way.

If you enjoy this kind of 'backstage' look at power, you might also like The Actress' Redemption. It has that same vibe of people performing even when they aren't on stage.

One thing that bugged me was the music. It kicks in at weird times and then just cuts out. It’s a bit distracting, but you get used to it after twenty minutes.

Overall, it is just a solid, slightly cynical comedy. It doesn't have the scale of Captain Blood, but it’s got a lot more wit.

Didja notice?

• The King's medals look a bit like they were made of cardboard.
• Raimu has this specific way of clearing his throat when he's lying.
• The actress's hats are absolutely huge. Like, how did she walk through doors?
• There is a scene with a telephone that feels like it lasts an eternity.
• The way the senator poses for photos is peak 1930s cringe.

It’s not a perfect movie, but it’s a fun one. It feels like a time capsule of a version of Paris that was obsessed with looking fancy while being totally messy behind the scenes.

Go watch it if you want to see Raimu be a hilarious hypocrite. Don't watch it if you're looking for a deep political thriller about treaties. The treaty is the least important part of the whole thing.