Koenigsmark (1935 film)

Koenigsmark
Koenigsmark
Directed by	Maurice Tourneur
Written by	André-Paul Antoine ; René Champigny ; Léonce Perret
Based on	Koenigsmark; by Pierre Benoît
Produced by	Emile Natan ; Roger Richebé ; Max Schach
Starring	Pierre Fresnay ; Elissa Landi ; John Lodge ; Antonin Artaud
Cinematography	Victor Arménise
Edited by	Marguerite Renoir
Music by	Jacques Ibert
Production; companies	Capitol Film Corporation ; Les Films Roger Richebé
Distributed by	Paris Cinéma Location (France) ; General Film Distributors (UK)
Release dates	October 1935 (UK); 5 December 1935 (France);
Running time	96 minutes
Countries	France ; United Kingdom
Language	English

Koenigsmark is a 1935 British-French drama film directed by Maurice Tourneur and starring Elissa Landi, John Lodge and Pierre Fresnay.

The film is based on the novel Koenigsmark by Pierre Benoît and produced in separate French and English-language versions. It was shot at the Joinville Studios in Paris, with sets designed by the art director Lucien Aguettand. The film was known in the United States as Crimson Dynasty.^[1]

Plot

Aurore, a Russian-born princess living in Paris has an arranged marriage to Grand Duke Rodolphe of a small German principality, part of the wider German Empire. Although she doesn't love her husband, she is very fond of him. When he departs to take part in an intelligence operation in Africa on the orders of the Kaiser, his wife gives him a locket as a memento of her. In his absence, the Princess battles for control of the state with her brother-in-law Frederick, particularly when news arrives from Africa that Grand Duke Rodolphe has died of disease.

A young Frenchman Raoul Vignerte is hired to act as the tutor for Frederick's young son. He gradually strikes up a friendship with the widowed Princess. Vignerte is working on research into the tragic historical romance between Sophia Dorothea and Philip Christoph von Königsmarck. While investigating he discovers a secret passage in the castle and finds a skeleton hidden there, holding the locket. It becomes clear that Frederick had his brother Rodolphe murdered before he even left the castle and the story of his dying in Africa has been faked. Discovering that his plan has been uncovered, Frederick starts a fire that destroys much of the evidence.

As the outbreak of the First World War approaches, the Princess drives Raoul to safety from arrests across the border, and then returns to confront Frederick. Faced with exposure he shoots himself, at which point the Princess abdicates, not wishing to take part in the war against Russia or France.

Cast

Pierre Fresnay as Raoul Vignerte
Elissa Landi as Princess Aurore
John Lodge as Grand Duke Frederick
Antonin Artaud as Cyrus Back
Frank Vosper as Maj. Baron de Boise
Jean-Max as Le commandant de Boose
Allan Jeayes as Grand Duke Rodolphe
Romilly Lunge as Lt de Hagen
Jean Yonnel as Le grand-duc Rodolphe
Jean Debucourt as Le lieutenant de Hagen
Marcelle Rogez as Comtesse Mélusine
Georges Prieur as Le prince Tumène
André Dubosc as Le roi
Roger Puylagarde as Monsieur de Marçais
Clary Monthal
Jacques Henley
Maurice Devienne
Léon Courtois
André Lannes
Cecil Humphreys as De Marçaise
Hay Petrie as Professor
H.G. Stoker^[2]

References

^ "BFI Database entry". Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
^ "koenigsmark".

Bibliography

Low, Rachael. Filmmaking in 1930s Britain. George Allen & Unwin, 1985.
Wood, Linda. British Films, 1927-1939. British Film Institute, 1986.

External links

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[1] "BFI Database entry". Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2014.

[2] "koenigsmark".

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