A Royal Divorce is a 1938 British historical drama film directed by Jack Raymond and starring Ruth Chatterton, Pierre Blanchar and Frank Cellier. The film portrays the complex relationship between Napoleon I of France and his wife, Josephine Bonaparte from their first meeting until their divorce more than a decade later. It was shot at Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire. The film's sets were designed by the art director David Rawnsley.
Cast
- Ruth Chatterton as Josephine de Beauharnais
- Pierre Blanchar as Napoleon Bonaparte
- Frank Cellier as Talleyrand
- Carol Goodner as Mme. Tallien
- Auriol Lee as Napoleon's Mother
- George Curzon as Barras
- Laurence Hanray as Klemens von Metternich
- John Laurie as Joseph Bonaparte
- Jack Hawkins as Captain Charles
- Rosalyn Boulter as Hortense
- Allan Jeayes as Marat
- Moran Caplat as Eugene
- Romilly Lunge as Junot
- Hubert Harben as DeTracy
- David Farrar as Louis Bonaparte
- Julian Somers as Lucien Bonaparte
- Sonia Carol as Eliza
- Tamara d'Etter as Pauline
- Ivy Shannon as Caroline
Critical reception
TV Guide called the film a "mediocre adaptation", while Allmovie wrote, "in terms of costumes and settings, A Royal Divorce is authentic to a fault; in terms of adherence to the facts, it's a bit shaky, though undeniably dramatic.
See also
- A Royal Divorce (1923)
- Cultural depictions of Napoleon I of France
References
Bibliography
- Low, Rachael. Filmmaking in 1930s Britain. George Allen & Unwin, 1985.
- Wood, Linda. British Films, 1927-1939. British Film Institute, 1986.
External links
- A Royal Divorce at IMDb
