THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK
US, 1939, 110 minutes, Black and white.
Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett, Warren William, Joseph Schildkraut, Alan Hale, Miles Mander, Bert Roach, Montagu Love, Albert Dekker.
Directed by James Whale.
The Man in the Iron Mask is a classic version of the Alexandre Dumas popular story. It shows the four Musketeers in their old age as well as the famous story of the twins born to the king, one ascending the throne as Louis XIV, the other hidden from birth and brought up in secret in Gascony. The development was that Louis XIV was ruthless and his brother Philippe was substituted in his place, Louis being imprisoned in the iron mask.
Warren William is a dashing D'Artagnan. Joan Bennett is Princess Maria Teresa of Spain. Joseph Schildkraut, who had just won an Oscar for best supporting actor in The Story of Emile Zola, is the king’s adviser.
While filmed in black and white, the film is nevertheless quite a spectacle. There is a great deal of action as well as the drama of the intrigue at court.
The film was directed by British director, James Whale, who had made Journey’s End in England and then come to Hollywood where he became a celebrity with his success for Frankenstein. He also directed Bride of Frankenstein as well as the Irene Dunne 1936 version of Show Boat. Whale’s story was portrayed in the film, Gods and Monsters, with Ian McKellen? as James Whale.
1. The film as the classic adventure film? Enjoyably so?
2. The characteristics of the thirties style? Costume melodrama? Ways of acting, characterization? Cardboard or real? Audience expectations of good and bad, heroes and heroines, villains?
3. The importance of the relationship of the story to history and reality? The importance of this in the thirties? In Alexandre Dumas' novels? The nineteenth century tone of the film corresponding to Dumas?
4, How plausible was the plot? The plausibility of romantic ideas of history? Audience response to these fantasies? The importance of the setting of 1638s the births, the political
overtones, France and its future, the King's decisions?
5. The importance of d'Artagnan and the Musketeers? Audience response to them? Their manner of bringing up Philip? The scene of their life in Gascony?
6. The characterization of Fouquet? His initial curiosity? The nature of his rise, his hold of Louis and influence? His conflict with Colbert?
7. The picture of Louis as a profligate? The details of his style, the salt tax, the hanging, his cruelty, his mistress? Louis portrayed as a typical screen villain?
8. The contrast with Maria Teresa? As a focus for the confusion between the twins? Audience hoping that she will understand? The development of her character? The foreign princess, the forced marriage? Her discovery of the truth and her co-operation?
9. The contrast of Philip's character with Louis? His behaviour as king? The daring of his rescue of the Musketeers?
10. The visual impact of the iron mask? Its effect on Philip? The atmosphere of cruelty?
12. Did this justify the same retribution for Louis? Philippe's speech about Louis' forfeiting justice? Louis' imprisonment?
13. The picture of adventure, sword-fighting, rescues, the final chase? Why do audiences enjoy this?
14. The portrayal of diplomacy, the nets and webs, the lack of scruples, the murdering of messengers and stealing of letters etc.?
15. Fouquet, his rise to power, his downfall? How skilful a characterization?
16. The appropriateness of the happy ending? The fairytale adventure and audience response? The fact that the story said that Louis X1V was really his brother?
