This excellent historical adventure stars Ronald Colman as the vagabond poet François Villon, made Marshal of France on a whim of King Louis XI (Basil Rathbone) while Paris is under siege and likely to fall to the Burgundians. As ever, Colman does well with the costumed part, giving appeal to the character — a character who learns that being king is not so easy as it appears — and reciting actual examples of Villon’s verse with conviction and aplomb. Rathbone is an utter delight as the clever and conniving king, willing to investigate treachery himself, and able to acknowledge when services are done, but also quite willing to exercise his power and condemn, too. The interactions between the two are a key source of interest, but mention must be made of Frances Dee as Katherine de Vaucelles and, in a more interesting part, Ellen Drew as the devoted Huguette.

  Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 112 for 2021.