THE SON OF MONTE CRISTO

US, 1940, 102 minutes, Black and white.

Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett, George Sanders, Florence Bates, Montagu Love.
Directed by Rowland V. Lee.
The Son of Monte Cristo is a sequel to Rowland V. Lee’s The Count of Monte Cristo, 1934, with Robert Donat in the title role. Louis Hayward who had appeared for Lee the year before in The Man in the Iron Mask, is a dashing son of the famous count, a banker but also a swashbuckling hero, who is asked for a loan by a Balkan usurper (George Sanders in fine villainous form). Joan Bennett appears as the princess of the country who is also the object of Sanders’ desire. She has both feisty and swooing heroine moments. Florence Bates is a strong presence as her confidant.

There are all kinds of intrigues, deceptions in the vein of The Scarlet Pimpernell and Zorro, and a climactic ending with the unwanted wedding in the middle of consent. A film of its time, but lively and entertaining.
1. The popularity of swashbuckling action films in the 1930s? And the films of Rowland V. Lee?
2. The inventiveness of the screenplay, drawing on The Count of Monte Cristo, The Scarlet Pimpernel, the Zorro tale? A pastiche? The blend of the serious and comic? Swashbuckling?
3. Black and white photography, the sets and costumes, décor, the castle, the many passages, the city, the countryside? The musical score?
4. The idea for the son of Monte Cristo? The status of his father, everyone knowing his experience in prison? His son as a banker? Lichtenburg wanting a loan? The introduction to Edmond Dantes, his rescuing Nova, sword play, her rescue? Infatuated with the lady? Continuing to Lichtenburg, the nature of the loan, Lenan, his decision to pretend to be a fop, the comedy of his manner, ingratiating himself with Lenan? His observing, his contact with the rebels, saving the printer? Rescuing the prime minister, the plan, the mask, the group, his becoming The Torch? The excitement of the rescue, his returning to the castle? Nova and her disdain of him at the meal, the meetings, her discovery of the truth, her apology? His stealing the document from the Russian ambassador? The build-up to the wedding, the plan into intervention, with the group, with the prime minister, interrupting the wedding, the door being barred, his being trapped, the battle with Lenan, the heroics, the victory?
5. George Sanders as Lenan, the arch-villain? Poor background, his ambitions, his spy network, with the military, getting Russia against France for protection? Plan to marry Nova? The capture of the prime minister, accusations of treason, imprisoning him? His spy, the message, taking Nova and the countess back to the castle? His courting of Nova? The issue of the loan, hosting Monte Cristo, confiding in him? Gradually realising the impersonation? Father and over and confirming the truth? The Russian ambassador? The wedding, his insistence, the pomp and circumstance, the interruption, the fight to his death?
6. Nova, princess, heroine, damsel in distress, strong personality? The initial rescue, trapped in the castle, disdaining Lenan, the support of the countess? The plan to leave, the betrayal of the steward, her being confined? The pressure from Lenan? Her agreeing to the marriage, the dress and the confrontation, her leading the soldiers to Monte Cristo, the build-up to the ceremony? The ceremony itself? Her speaking the vows, the intervention? Her initial admiration for Monte Cristo, the initial rescue, disdaining him as a fop, the discovery of the truth?
7. The countess, protection, supporting Nova?
8. The prime minister, serving Nova, wanting to get the message to France, the betrayal, the arrest, the imprisonment, his being prepared for death, the escape? His re-entry with Monte Cristo?
9. The lieutenant, his being on the side of the rebels, his assistant, the young man and his printing, the group of rebels? Going into action?
10. The military, loyalty to Lenan, the cruelty of the individual soldiers?
11. Nova’s steward, the initial betrayal, Lenan using him, the second betrayal, Lenan getting the information, willing to kill him because he would betray him? His pursuing Monte Cristo, the fight, his death?
12. The touches of comedy in the Scarlet Pimpernel vein with Monte Cristo as a fop, with Zorro and his mask?
13. The period of 1865, in the Balkans, relationship with Eastern and Western Europe? Subsequent history of the Balkans?