Despite the popular narrative, MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE was hardly a major disaster for star Rudolph Valentino. Critics were mixed to positive (some even thought it among the best films of the year) and the film drew audiences in the bigger cities. However, it is true that the Valentino fanbase was likely hoping for more of the torrid passion to be found in earlier Valentino vehicles like THE SHEIK and BLOOD AND SAND. MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE is largely a comedy, the heat turned down to a minimum.
It's not a bad film, though it could have used a stronger director. Sidney Olcott's direction plods and feels stuffy when something more flamboyant would have served better. The first half of the story drags, with only Natacha Rambova's beautiful costumes and Valentino's energetic performance drawing interest. The supporting characters are almost indistinguishable from one another and the main romantic plot is undercooked.
Luckily, BEAUCAIRE picks up as it goes. In many ways, this movie is the first in which Valentino kids his own Latin Lover image, with the hero relieved he no longer has to deal with the pressure of being a great lover when he flees abroad. Valentino gets to tap into his sadly underused skill for comedy throughout this film, and he gets to swashbuckle a bit during the climax.
Not a great movie, but a visually sumptuous one and diverting enough. I would love to see it properly restored someday.
It's not a bad film, though it could have used a stronger director. Sidney Olcott's direction plods and feels stuffy when something more flamboyant would have served better. The first half of the story drags, with only Natacha Rambova's beautiful costumes and Valentino's energetic performance drawing interest. The supporting characters are almost indistinguishable from one another and the main romantic plot is undercooked.
Luckily, BEAUCAIRE picks up as it goes. In many ways, this movie is the first in which Valentino kids his own Latin Lover image, with the hero relieved he no longer has to deal with the pressure of being a great lover when he flees abroad. Valentino gets to tap into his sadly underused skill for comedy throughout this film, and he gets to swashbuckle a bit during the climax.
Not a great movie, but a visually sumptuous one and diverting enough. I would love to see it properly restored someday.