Panamint Probably the best word I can use to describe this film is "splendid". It was meant to be, and it is probably the most opulent and lavish film ever produced by Old Hollywood, and undoubtedly one of the most expensive. Incredibly, Norma Shearer manages to dazzle over and above the glittering jewels in an outstanding Oscar- winning performance. Tyrone Power is dashing and John Barrymore is great as aging monarch Louis XV. Robert Morley steals the show creating an unforgettable character as the Dauphin and later King whose reign ended tragically but inevitably in a bloody manner. The history seems generally accurate although necessarily somewhat speculative and condensed because it spans two decades and a great number of events. It is of course impossible logically to feel any sympathy for the pampered remnants of a cruel old royal society. Nevertheless, everyone should view this film for Shearer and Morley and their tremendous acting accomplishments to see how logic can be overcome by emotion. This film is a classic Hollywood demonstration of how superb technique and style can soften and twist the ugly truths of aristocratic privilege into something more sympathetic, at least as far as empathy for individual characters in a script. Hollywood was very talented at such twisting of the optics of myth and did it frequently.

jazerbini It is certainly one of the best movies I've seen. Norma Shearer is perfect in the role of Marie Antoinette and the reconstitution of the 18th-century is something rarely seen in cinema. Tyrone Power has a great performance as Fersen. And Robert Morley as Louis XVI must have come very close to the real character. The beautiful Anita Louise shines in every scene that appears. And Gladys George managed to incorporate all the dislike of Mme Du Barry. I read the book by Stefan Zweig and really the film which was based on the book is perfect. It is a great and stunning spectacle. It is even more valuable considering the time that has elapsed since its production in 1938 is 77 years. It really is amazing. Wonderful movie.

g_dekok I have always found Ms. Shearer to be a much finer actress than joan crawford. Crawford was an OK actress, but Norma was obviously better. In her myriad of roles from "Marie Antoinette" to Mary in "The Women", it simply shows.Crawford grew desperate for good roles in her later years, and it was only through the pity shown her by the studios that she got any job at all. Her role in "The Women" showed her as she truly was, pitiful, grasping at straws, desperate in her life.I believe it was Bette Davis who remarked that "of course she was popular in Hollywood. She slept with every male except Lassie!"

Maciste_Brother MARIE ANTOINETTE is an amazingly lush production. The details on screen is at times staggering. The production team is to be credited for such an eye filling spectacle. With that said, the film doesn't really work. The script is badly conceived and its main star is as dull as a star can be.First the script: it spends a lot of time on Marie Antoinette and very little time on why or how the revolution started. Little histrionic moments are blown up to gargantuan proportions and yet important events about her or the French Revolution are all but forgotten. The script is totally ill-conceived and no amount of great direction or production values can overcome this major weakness. Three quarters of the film revolves around MA and then suddenly, there's a revolution is in full swing. There's no smooth transition between the main storyline from MA to the French Revolution, which just happens almost out of nowhere. The switch in storyline is abrupt and jarring.The second major liability is its star: Norma Shearer. Shearer is an actress of limited range and after watching her for almost three hours, her limited range became increasingly obvious with each passing minute. Whether she's getting married or when she falls in love with handsome Tyrone Power or when the peasants storm the Château, Shearer's expression hardly changes. As Marie Antoinette and her family try to escape the tumult, the stagecoach they're escaping in is eventually stopped by an angry crowd. The crowd is overwhelming and the situation is wrought with tension. So how does Norma react when the stage coach is stopped? She bites her lip.But even actors of limited range can get away with this problem when they have star power or screen presence. Sadly, Norma has little or no star power. This is my first film with Norma Shearer and it's probably going to be my last. Shearer has zero star quality. She is as bland as can be. It also doesn't help that she's way too old to play the part. But again, this wouldn't have been a problem if she had some sort of screen presence.The odd part of this spectacular film is that it's a feast for the eyes and in the middle of all of it is this bland, boring presence we have to watch for nearly three hours. Watching Norma Shearer in MARIE ANTOINETTE is like being handed a plate of tofu amidst a table filled with every conceivable meal imaginable. Everything, and I mean everything, including Robert Morley, outshines her. I give 10 stars for the production values and excellent supporting cast. If you watch MARIE ANTOINETTE for the sets and costumes, you won't be disappointed. Just don't expect some compelling performance from its star.