Cardinal Richelieu (1935)

Cardinal Richelieu (1935),  starring George Arliss, Maureen O’Sullivan, Edward Arnold and Cesar Romero

Cardinal Richelieu is a 1935 American historical film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring George Arliss, Maureen O’Sullivan, Edward Arnold and Cesar Romero. It was based on the 1839 play Richelieu by Edward Bulwer-Lytton depicting the life of the great seventeenth century French statesman Cardinal Richelieu and his dealings with Louis XIII.

In short,  Cardinal Richelieu is an excellent film … Due in no small part to the acting ability of George Arliss as the title character. Arliss portrays Richelieu as a master manipulator. He checks and checkmates the various court intrigues. As well as dealing with the romantic subplot involving his own daughter, and his manipulated son-in-law. Who nearly murders him towards the end of the film. But all turns out well — for the glory of France!

Cast of characters

• George Arliss … Cardinal Richelieu
• Maureen O’Sullivan (Tarzan The Ape Man (1932)) … Lenore di Brissac
• Edward Arnold (Take Me Out to the Ball Game) … Louis XIII
• Cesar Romero (The Little Princess) … Count Andre de Pons
• Douglass Dumbrille (The Three Musketeers) … Count Baradas
• Francis Lister (Mutiny on the Bounty) … Prince Gaston
• Halliwell Hobbes (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1931) … Father Joseph
• Violet Kemble Cooper … Queen Marie
• Katharine Alexander … Queen Anne
• Robert Harrigan … Fontrailles
• Joseph R. Tozer … De Bussy (as Joseph Tozer)
• Lumsden Hare (She) … Gustavus Adolphus – King of Sweden
• Russell Hicks (Captain America serial) … Le Moyne
• Keith Hitchcock (The Little Princess) … Duke D’Epernon (as Keith Kenneth)
• Murray Kinnell … Duke of Lorraine
• Herbert Bunston … Duke of Normandy
• Guy Bellis (The Little Princess) … Duke of Buckingham
• Boyd Irwin (The Man in the Iron Mask (1939)) … Austrian Prime Minister
• Leonard Mudie … Olivares
• David Clyde (Suzy) … Inn-Keeper
• Charles E. Evans … Old Inn-Keeper (as Charles Evans)
• Reginald Sheffield (Suspicion) … Richelieu’s Outrider
• Frank Dunn … Tradesman
• William Worthington … King’s Chamberlain
• Pat Somerset … King’s Captain of Guards
• Leo McCabe … Richelieu’s Captain of Guards

Trivia for  Cardinal Richelieu

• Stars George Arliss and Edward Arnold did not get along at all on this film. Arnold charitably describing working with Arliss as “a trying experience”€.
• In the film, Richelieu is depicted doting on his cat, Mistigris (the ‘€˜Joker’ in a pack of cards). By the 18C, his fondness for cats had become an established part of his legend.
• The play first opened in London in 1839. Then on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 4 September 1839 with Edwin Forrest as the title character. There were 12 Broadway revivals, the last in 1929.
• €œLux Radio Theater broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on January 23, 1939. George Arliss, Cesar Romero and Douglass Dumbrille all reprised their film roles.