The Man in the Iron Mask (1939 film)
A tale of twin kings, masked imprisonment, and musketeer rescue.
The Man in the Iron Mask is a 1939 American historical adventure film loosely adapted from the final section of Alexandre Dumas's novel The Vicomte de Bragelonne. Directed by James Whale, it stars Louis Hayward as the royal twins and features Peter Cushing in his screen debut.
Quick Facts
- Director
- James Whale
- Producer
- Edward Small
- Based on
- The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later; 1848–50, Alexandre Dumas
- Screenplay
- George Bruce
- Starring
- Louis Hayward
- Joan Bennett
- Warren William
- Joseph Schildkraut
- Peter Cushing
- Music
- Lud Gluskin; Lucien Moraweck
- Cinematography
- Robert H. Planck
- Editing
- Grant Whytock
Facts from the source article.
Plot
In 1638, King Louis XIII of France rejoices at the birth of a son and heir, but a second son, Philippe, is born minutes later. Cardinal's messenger Fouquet learns of the twin and later uses this knowledge to become Minister of Finance under Louis XIV. Twenty years on, Louis XIV is despised for oppressive taxes and executions. Fouquet sends soldiers to collect taxes from d'Artagnan's village, which had been exempted by the old king. The soldiers are driven off but return in greater numbers, capturing d'Artagnan, the three musketeers, and Philippe. Louis orders their execution, but Colbert reveals Philippe's resemblance to the king. Aware of an assassination attempt, Louis forces Philippe to impersonate him in exchange for his friends' lives. Philippe survives the ambush, shows mercy, and wins the people's cheers. Princess Maria Theresa, betrothed to Louis, finds the impersonator more attractive. When she learns of Louis's affair with Mademoiselle de la Valliere, she threatens to leave, but Philippe persuades her to stay. After the truth emerges, Louis imprisons Philippe in an iron mask, hoping his beard will suffocate him. The musketeers rescue Philippe, imprison Louis in the mask, and lock him in the Bastille, where jailers mistake him for Philippe and whip him.
Production
The film was the third project producer Edward Small made under his new United Artists agreement. James Whale was signed as director in September 1938. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. was originally announced as male star and met with Whale, but Small insisted on Louis Hayward, who had just made The Duke of West Point for him. Louis Hayward later played D'Artagnan in a gender-switched 1952 remake titled Lady in the Iron Mask. Alan Hale, Jr., whose father Alan Hale, Sr. played Porthos in the 1939 version, portrayed Porthos in the 1979 film The Fifth Musketeer.
Reception
Critics were split on the 1939 adaptation of The Man in the Iron Mask. Frank S. Nugent found it a passable costume drama, overly fond of pageantry and stiff heroics, and deemed Marion Martin’s casting absurd, her performance artless and hopeless. Variety saw it as a highly entertaining adventure with excellent direction. Harrison’s Reports called it good mass entertainment with a charming romance. Film Daily praised it as a vivid adaptation of Dumas’s novel, featuring Louis Hayward’s best screen work. John Mosher of The New Yorker noted the film belonged to the old Fairbanks school, but Hayward, despite a modern effete touch in his dual role, could not match Fairbanks’s swordplay or acrobatics.
Influence
The 1939 film flips the 1929 version's setup: here the evil twin Louis sits on the throne while the good twin Philippe, raised by d'Artagnan, must win it. Several scenes, especially the ending, are borrowed from the 1929 Douglas Fairbanks film The Iron Mask. The 1939 ending, with ghosted figures of the four musketeers together, directly homages the 1929 film's conclusion where Athos, Porthos, and Aramis greet d'Artagnan upon his death and they head off for the greater adventure beyond. Most subsequent film versions, including those from 1977 and 1998, follow the basic outline of the 1939 film and its borrowings from the 1929 version, not the original novel. The English band Iron Maiden was named by founder Steve Harris after seeing this film.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in The Man in the Iron Mask (1939 film)?
The Man in the Iron Mask stars Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett, Warren William, Joseph Schildkraut and Peter Cushing.
Who composed the music for The Man in the Iron Mask (1939 film)?
The music for The Man in the Iron Mask was composed by Lud Gluskin and Lucien Moraweck.
Who wrote The Man in the Iron Mask (1939 film)?
The Man in the Iron Mask was written by George Bruce.
What was the budget of The Man in the Iron Mask (1939 film)?
The Man in the Iron Mask had a budget of $1 million.
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