AFI CATALOG OF FEATURE FILMS

THE FIRST 100 YEARS 1893–1993

Movie Title

The Vagabond King (1930)

100 mins | Musical | 19 April 1930

Cast:

Dennis King, Jeanette MacDonald, O. P. Heggie [ More ]

Director:

Ludwig Berger

Writer:

Herman J. Mankiewicz

Cinematographers:

Ray Rennahan, Henry Gerrard

Editor:

Merrill G. White

Production Designer:

Hans Dreier

Production Company:

Paramount Publix Corp.
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HISTORY

According to a studio production chart in the 10 August 1929 Exhibitors Herald-World, production began on 27 July 1929.
       For information on other films based on the operetta and novel, please see entry for the 1956 Paramount film The Vagabond King, directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Kathryn Grayson and Oreste. ...

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According to a studio production chart in the 10 August 1929 Exhibitors Herald-World, production began on 27 July 1929.
       For information on other films based on the operetta and novel, please see entry for the 1956 Paramount film The Vagabond King, directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Kathryn Grayson and Oreste.

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SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Exhibitors Herald-World
10 Aug 1929
p. 35
Exhibitors Herald-World
1 Mar 1930
p. 35
Film Daily
23 Feb 1930
p. 10
Life
28 Mar 1930
p. 28
New York Times
20 Mar 1930
p. 22
New York Times
2 Mar 1930
Sec. IX, p. 5
New Yorker
1 Mar 1930
pp. 67-68
Time
17 Mar 1930
p. 56
Variety
24 Feb 1930
p. 24
CAST
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Paramount Publix Corp.
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
Paramount Publix Corp.
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTOR
Ludwig Berger
Dir
PHOTOGRAPHY
Henry Gerrard
Dir of photog
Ray Rennahan
Dir of photog
ART DIRECTOR
Hans Dreier
Art dir
FILM EDITOR
Merrill G. White
Merrill White
Film ed
COSTUMES
Travis Banton
Ward
SOUND
Franklin Hansen
Ch rec eng
COLOR PERSONNEL
Natalie Kalmus
Col cons
SOURCES
LITERARY
Based on the operetta The Vagabound King , music by Rudolf Friml, book and lyrics by William H. Post and Brian Hooker, as presented by Russell Janney (New York, 21 Sep 1925), which was based on the play If I Were King by Justin Huntly McCarthy (New York, 14 Oct 1901) and his novel of the same name (London, 1901).
LITERARY SOURCE AUTHORS
Brian Hooker
Justin Huntly McCarthy
Rudolf Friml
+ −
SONGS
"Huguette Waltz," "Love for Sale," "Love Me Tonight," "Only a Rose," "Some Day" and "Song of the Vagabonds," words by Brian Hooker, music by Rudolf Friml; "If I Were King," "King Louis" and "Mary Queen of Heaven," words by Leo Robin, music by Sam Coslow and Newell Chase.
SONGWRITERS/COMPOSERS
Newell Chase
Sam Coslow
Leo Robin
+ −
DETAILS
Release Date:
19 April 1930
Premiere Information:
New York opening: 18 Feb 1930
Production Date:
began 27 July 1929
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Paramount Publix Corp.
23 April 1930
LP1265
Physical Properties:
Sound
Movietone
Color
Technicolor
Duration(in mins):
100
Length(in feet):
9,413
Length(in reels):
12
Country:
United States
Language:
English
SYNOPSIS

In 1463 when Paris is beseiged by the Burgundians, the people are in revolt against the weak King Louis XI, who fails to defend the city. His Grand Marshal, Thibault, secretly in league with the Burgundians, plots the murder of the king and his royal niece, Katherine, but she is saved by François Villon, leader of the vagabonds, who falls in love with her. The king's astrologer tells him that a vagabond will redeem Paris. He goes in disguise to the tavern of the vagabonds, hears François mocking him in song, and orders him arrested, along with Huguette, a girl who loves him. François accepts the offer of being temporary monarch for a week, followed by death. Meanwhile, Thibault leads the vagabonds to free him, hoping to kill the king, and Huguette is accidentally killed. François leads a successful attack against the Burgundians; and when Katherine offers her life in exchange for his, Louis relents before the crowd, granting the lovers their ...

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In 1463 when Paris is beseiged by the Burgundians, the people are in revolt against the weak King Louis XI, who fails to defend the city. His Grand Marshal, Thibault, secretly in league with the Burgundians, plots the murder of the king and his royal niece, Katherine, but she is saved by François Villon, leader of the vagabonds, who falls in love with her. The king's astrologer tells him that a vagabond will redeem Paris. He goes in disguise to the tavern of the vagabonds, hears François mocking him in song, and orders him arrested, along with Huguette, a girl who loves him. François accepts the offer of being temporary monarch for a week, followed by death. Meanwhile, Thibault leads the vagabonds to free him, hoping to kill the king, and Huguette is accidentally killed. François leads a successful attack against the Burgundians; and when Katherine offers her life in exchange for his, Louis relents before the crowd, granting the lovers their freedom.

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KEEP EXPLORING
Royalty, Courtship, Disguise, Vagabonds, Astrologers, French, Paris (France), Louis XI, King of France, 1423-1483, François Villon
The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.