ulicknormanowen

While visiting France, Duchess Liska, widow of the King of Silistria, entrusts the sentimental education of her stepson Sacha to Cercleux, a society man . The young man discovers the joys of Parisian life, but his duties as a future sovereign call him back to his country where troubles arise.

The first part is close to theatre de boulevard ;the prince (Cinderella syndrome) falls for a concierge's daughter ,Raymonde ,a concierge called Mrs Garantie (guarantee),played by Pauline Carton ; then the queen comes up,incognito ,to check how her stepson 's education progresses,in the hands of these bons vivants ;Raymonde mistakes her for the prince's mistress and falls out with him,but not for long.

The second part is more storylike, in a style closer to "the prisoner of Zenda ",complete with usurper ,plots,trouble in the land ,and ski chase .it's a bit muddled.

Henri-Diamant Berger was never a great director,neither in silent movies,nor in talkies ,his movie is just OK .

The remake (1938) by Alexander Essway is more satisfying :a witty funny little comedy .The cast and credits are impressive :Carlo Rim,HG Clouzot are among the writers,and the actors include Louis Jouvet,Elvire Popesco,Robert Lynen (Duvivier's "Poil de Carotte" ) ,Josette Day (Cocteau's female lead in "la Belle et la Bête" ),Charpin,all excellent. The lines are full of subjunctive imperfects.

Vittorio Cottafavi 's most known movies are his cheap sword and sandals , which , unlike some french critics'opinions who go as far as to write they transcend the peplum ,are dreadful stuff :Cleopatra, Hercules,Messalina, and plenty of gladiators are summoned for stories which could have been written by a twelve year old.

"Avanzi di galera "(=prison leftovers)is a film made out of sketches ,generally the Italians' forte ,but it takes a great director such as Dino Risi ,Ettore Scola.....

The three sketches deal with ex-convicts just out of jail ,none of which is really satisfying

1)Richard Basehart, Valentina Cortese: the story of an alcoholic physician,who causes one of his patients' death (but he attempted the impossible to save him :all his colleagues had ducked out of it) .He wants to resume his work ,but he's exposed to his colleagues ' doubts and his dead patients' wife 's hatred ;fortunately ,so to speak , his wife meets with an accident ,and who do you think she wants as a surgeon?

2)Eddie Constantine : the umpteenth story of the thief who got a six-year sentence and did not give his accomplices away to the police. Now that he is released,they want to know where their loot his hidden;but,you will not guess it,he's not prepared to accept it ,for he paid for the whole gang .

3)Walter Chiari ,Antonella Lualdi An ex-convict claims that he is totally innocent,but no one believes him ,his lawyer has a scornful smile (it's the same old song with all my clients);only a nurse cheers him up when she says 'perhaps you weren't'; Lualdi, the metteur en scene does not seem to direct ,plays like a zombie and it takes a lot of imagination to believe she can save the situation;but she's so beautiful......