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Dangerous Exile
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Wikipedia article
'Dangerous Exile' is a 1957 British historical drama film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst and starring Louis Jourdan, Belinda Lee, Anne Heywood and Richard O'Sullivan. It concerns the fate of Louis XVII, who died in 1795 as a boy, yet was popularly believed to have escaped from his French revolutionary captors.[http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/290465|0/Dangerous-Exile.html David Sterrit, "Dangerous Exile", 'Turner Classic Movies'] accessed 26 January 2014
Plot
In 1795, the Duke Philippe de Beauvais smuggles his own son into the prison cell where Louis XVII is kept. Thus Louis XVII can escape unnoticed to England. Unfortunately the aerostat, steered by Duke Philippe de Beauvais, lands accidentally on a remote island. There an American spinster, Virginia Traill, takes care of the strange child. She finds the dauphin profoundly traumatised and not interested in becoming a king. Meanwhile, Louis' uncle in Vienna has declared himself the new French king. In order to safeguard his claim on the throne, he sends assassins who shall murder the dauphin.
Being unaware of the exchange, he has Richard de Beauvais killed. But now the dauphin's torturers recognise that they have been deceived. Informed by a message of an English spy they send a ship to the island where the real dauphin hides. They attack the house of Virginia Traill and stop at nothing to detect the dauphin's hiding-place.
Cast
* Louis Jourdan as the Duke Philippe de Beauvais
* Belinda Lee as Virginia Traill
* Keith Michell as Colonel Saint-Grard
* Richard O'Sullivan as Louis XVII/Richard de Beauvais
* Martita Hunt as Lady Lydia Fell
* Finlay Currie as Monsieur Patient
* Anne Heywood as Glynis
* Jean Mercure as the police chef
* Jacques Brunius as De Chassagne
* Jean Claudio as De Castres, the comrade of Philippe Paris
* Terence Longdon : Colonel Sir Frederick Venner
Production
The film was based on the novel 'A King Reluctant' by Vaughan Wilkins, which was published in 1952.Recent Novels
B W. The Irish Times 13 Dec 1952: 6. The 'New York Times' called it "a rousing, colourful tale and historically convincing."Royal Refugee: A KING RELUCTANT. By Vaughan Wilkins. 315 pp. New York: The Macmillan Company. $3.50.
Holden, Raymond. New York Times 22 Mar 1953: BR26. ,
In February 1956 Rank announced 'A King Reluctant' would be their expensive historical picture for the year with location filming to be done in Italy, Spain and the West Indies. Sir John Davis of Rank said "We cannot copy Hollywood's spectacular epics but we can provide good stories well-made - that is the answer to television competition."Mantle of Korda falls on Rank now Author: Christopher Lucas Date: Friday, Feb. 17, 1956
Publication: Daily Mail (London, England) I
The female lead went to Belinda Lee.
The film was shot in Pinewood Studios and on location in Cornwall in April 1957.[http://www.louisjourdan.net/dangerousexile.htm 'Dangerous Exile'] at Louisjourdan.net Lee was injured when her hair caught fire during a scene. Vyvyan Holland, son of Oscar Wilde, worked on the film as a historical adviser.Sir Hartley's Sister Picks Husband No. 3
Author: Paul Tanfield Date: Tuesday, Mar. 19, 1957 p 12
Reception
The 'Manchester Guardian' called the film "monstrous twaddle" with "just one merit - its beautifully colored photography".EALING TEAM NEEDS A REFRESHER
Our London Film Critic. The Manchester Guardian (1901-1959) [Manchester (UK)] 14 Dec 1957: 3.
'Variety' called it "a historical, cloak and dagger meller with all the typical excitements, absurdities, confusions, flashbacks, swordplay and general trimmings which invariably rear their cliche-ridden heads in such pictures. It wont stand out in the memory of patrons as one of the best pix this year, but it will provide safe entertainment at most British cinemas."[https://archive.org/details/variety208-1957-11/page/n251/mode/1up?q=%22dangerous+exile%22 Review of film] at 'Variety'
'The New York Times' called it "a beautifully mounted tale" which "rarely comes to life, except in the superb, effectively colored period settings... Under Brian Desmond Hurst's rather unimaginative direction, the action simply lacks sustained suspense, instead of crawling with it... The lavish, meticulous castle interiors, the sweeping, azure-tinted coastal landscapes, and the murkiness of the Paris dungeons all these have been woven into a striking background tapestry by Jack Maxsted, the art director."[https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9407E5D6173DE53BBC4952DFB6678383649EDE Review of film] at 'The New York Times'
References
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