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5.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Loves of Madame Dubarry remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that feel like they were dug out of a velvet-lined attic, sure. If you get bored by stiff period dramas where everyone speaks as if they’re reading a royal decree, skip it. It’s definitely for the crowd that enjoys watching history get a little bit prettied up for the camera.
Gitta Alpar carries a lot of the weight here. She’s got this way of looking at the camera that makes you forget the plot is basically just a string of fancy rooms and uncomfortable wigs. Sometimes she seems like the only person in the palace who actually knows what’s going on. 🙄
The pacing is a bit of a mess. One minute we’re in a quiet millinery shop, and the next we’re at the palace and everything is suddenly very loud with silk and shouting. It’s like the movie couldn't decide if it wanted to be a quiet romance or a grand spectacle, so it just did both at the same time.
I found myself staring at the background extras more than the leads in some scenes. There’s one guy in a powdered wig who looks like he’s desperately trying not to laugh during a serious speech. It’s the small, messy things that make these old films feel alive, you know?
If you’ve seen The Vagabond Queen, you’ll recognize that same slightly frantic energy where everyone is running toward a throne they aren't sure they want. It’s not exactly deep, but it’s got a pulse.
The music is... well, it’s there. It swells exactly when you expect it to, like it’s poking you in the ribs to tell you, "Hey, this is the romantic part!" It’s a little exhausting. Still, I didn't hate it. It’s just very, very old-fashioned. Sometimes I think we forget that people in the 1930s were making movies just as weirdly disjointed as the ones we make now.
Don't look for logic in the court politics. It’s all just background noise for the next dress change. Just enjoy the ride and ignore the fact that none of this historical stuff probably happened like this.
