So much average

Please don't spend money on this.

How sad is this?

Boring

8 stars as a movie, 5 as history.I wish the movies, when based on history and actual people, are a bit more researched. The story, except a few parts goes too far away from the history. Lois XI has been shown to be blindly dependent on the astrologers his actual state-crafts and the intrigues (for which he was called spider) are totally negated. In fact his physical characteristics were made like a spider. His reforms, his bonhomie with the common men too were completely overlooked. Lois XI was historically too different and supposed to be a far better person, from the caricature that is shown. Villon too is another historical figure, but again his life (especially the end) doesn't match with history, nor does the fate of Charles, the Duke Of Burgundy. It could have been better if he hadn't attended the ceremony since the fictionalized Count and fictionalized Charlotte's story won't have hurt the history. Of course the relation between Lois and Charles are real, as was between Villon and Lois (who had a very kind disposition towards Villon). Even the end (of Villon) isn't right, since Villon in reality had simply disappeared from public (undoubtedly dead, but as an unknown person). The only facts are Charles, Duke of Burgundy's enmity to Lois, Villon's being close and loyal to the King (Lois) and his much more than what is shown bohemian life. If I leave the historical aspects and treat it just as a movie - not based on real people - I give it 8 stars. Merceline Day looked gorgeous, JB was of course a consummate actor, a bit theatrical on today's standard, but I have to look at the trend then and also remember it is a silent movie, so a bit of over-expression is required. Conrad as Lois XI had been creepy (as this story called for). So over all as a fiction movie it is enjoyable.But knowing that this is as well as an historical movie, the stars go down due to blatant contradiction with facts. Just as a footnote - I didn't know even a century back (the last scene), the population control was a hot, though not to be taken too seriously, subject.

François Villon (John Barrymore), in his lifetime the most renowned poet in France, is also a prankster, an occasional criminal, and an ardent patriot.This film also stars Conrad Veidt as the king, though it is not one of Veidt's more notable performances. Director Alan Crosland would release his most well-known film, "The Jazz Singer", this same year.This film was lost for some forty years until a beautiful tinted and toned copy was discovered in the late 1960s in the collection of film pioneer Mary Pickford. Pickford, an early champion of film preservation, tried saving all things "United Artist", the production company in which she was a founder.Barrymore says he thought of his acting in this one as being hammy, and he was right. How much this was intended is unclear. Although a comedy to some degree, it is not a complete comedy, and the ham might be a bit out of place.

Besides being entertaining in itself, with plenty of action, wit, and more, this feature gives John Barrymore an excellent role that plays to his strengths and that gives him a lot of good material to work with. Barrymore's vigorous style works well in the role, and he has many opportunities for drama, humor, and romance.The story is based very loosely on the life of the 15th century French poet François Villon, but it really only uses the character and the basics of the historical setting. The character that the script creates, though, is not only a great role for Barrymore, but is well-conceived as a movie character. And if Barrymore's entertaining portrayal of Villon, fanciful though it is, encourages anyone to find out more about the historical Villon, so much the better.(The real Villon was both a worse criminal and a better poet than the movie suggests. A number of his crimes were truly harmful offenses, rather than the impish pranks that he plays in the movie. At the same time, his poetry was quite a bit deeper than is suggested by the occasional light verses in the inter-titles.)Conrad Veidt is cast as King Louis XI, Villon's sometime friend and sometimes persecutor. Veidt gives a really good turn to the character, using his physical posture and mannerisms to suggest the king's complex character.There are a number of good sequences that are sheer entertainment, such as the catapult scene and Villon's first visit to Charlotte's palace, and that are rather impressive on the production end too. The story as a whole is the best kind of historical melodrama, with numerous turns of fortune and plenty going on.

Just love the interplay between two great characters of stage & screen - Veidt & Barrymore