King's Rhapsody (1955)

King's Rhapsody - 1955

Our next film is 1955's "King's Rhapsody", starring Errol Flynn, Anna Nagle, and Patrice Wymore.  Following the death of his father the King, an exiled prince is brought home to assume the duties of the crown after renouncing his claim and living with his mistress.  A marriage is arranged for him.  When the Prime Minister tries to use his past against him, the new King must look to the support of his wife to do what is best for his country.

The film's supporting cast includes Martita Hunt, Finlay Currie, Francis De Wolff, Joan Benham, Reginald Tate, and Brian Franklin.

The film opens with a coronation in the Kingdom of Laurentia.  The congregation is hailing their new king with a lustrous "God Save The King".  The camera scans the room and focuses in on a lone man standing in the shadows viewing the proceedings.

The story takes us back in time, when Prince Richard is in exile in Monte Carlo with his mistress, Marta Karillos.

Prince Richard awakens after a night of drinking and partying to find his mother, The Queen of Laurentia, in his residence.  She tells him the news that his father has died, leaving him the King.  The news isn't public and won't be until they return to Laurentia.  Richard tells his mother that the public won't accept him back as king.  She tells him that he is an idol in Laurentia, the romantic hero who gave up the throne for love.

Richard's mistress, Marta, overhears parts of the conversation.  Richard wants to know if the people would accept Marta as queen.  His mother said it's ridiculous and that she's never to be welcomed back to Laurentia.  Richard is to marry Princess Cristiane, "the Snow Princess".  His mother says that he was born to be king, and the time has come to face his responsibilities.

The Queen confronts Marta.  Richard agrees to take the throne, and his mother leaves.

Meanwhile, Princess Cristiane's father, King Peter, tells her that it's been arranged that she marry King Richard.  Considering Richard's reputation, King Peter tries to soften the blow as she's told.  She's shocked, and has to be shown the marriage contract as proof that it really will happen.  After she's signed the marriage contract, she hugs her father, telling of her happiness.  She produces a picture album full of Richard's pictures and love notes that she's written to him.

On his last night in Monte Carlo, Richard sits with Marta on the balcony of his villa listening to an outdoor orchestra.  Marta is distraught as he prepares to leave.  He tells her of a villa in Laurentia by the lake.  It's hers.  Not too far from the palace, not too close.  He leaves for Laurentia after a seven-year absence.

As he leaves, Marta recalls scenes of their life in Laurentia, the villa they shared, and the night when she came to court.  She also recalls the moment when they left for exile.

Back in Laurentia, it seems the entire country has turned out in the capital to welcome their new Queen.

At their first meeting, Richard and Cristiane don't know the other's identity.  She tells him that she's Cristiane's lady-in-waiting, Countess Astrid.  He reveals who he is to her.  He's drunk, and he says a lot of terrible things about Cristiane.  They part company.

He's shocked when Cristiane is officially presented the next day.  Richard can't believe it was the lady he was speaking to so irreverently the night before.  She's good-humored about the whole episode, though.

Just after Cristiane is presented, the majordomo announces Madame Marta Karillos, and all eyes turn to Richard in outrage and scandal.

The assemblage is shocked to discover that it was Cristiane who invited Marta to the gathering.  She tells Richard that she felt badly when as part of her marriage contract, she signed the expulsion of Madame Karillos, and so invited her that day.  Richard says that Marta has just been humiliated in front of the entire court, and he is furious.  The marriage is not off to a good start.

The Queen Mother and the Prime Minister try and force Marta to leave the country, but Richard protests.  They warn him that he will destroy himself.

Richard and Cristiane are married in a grand ceremony.  Marta hears the cathedral bells from her villa, and is very upset.

Richard does his duty and produces an heir to the throne.  His mother comes to the villa he shares with Marta on the day of the birth.  She tells him he must come back to the palace and present his son to the crowds as every monarch has done.  He balks at the idea, but does it.

Marta's unhappiness is growing day by day.  It gets so that she can no longer stand it.  Richard talks of Cristiane, and Marta can read between the lines of what he is saying.  He loves her.

She goes to visit Cristiane and tells her that she is leaving Laurentia and will not return.  Marta tells Cristiane that Richard loves her, he doesn't know it, but he does.  After seeing, the newborn prince, Marta leaves Laurentia.

Cristiane goes to Richard and they confess their feelings for one another, falling into each other's arms.

Their newfound bond has come a bit late.  The Prime Minister and Queen Mother have been stirring up revolution among the populace, all stemming from Richard's past and his involvement with Marta.  "But the past is always with you.  You may wriggle, but like your shadow, it'll always be behind you," says the Prime Minister.

Richard steps out onto the palace balcony to confront an angry mob.  They begin throwing things at him.  Not even the presence of Cristiane will stop them from violence, even trying to shoot him.

He's forced to abdicate in favor of his young son.  After trying to console each other, he leaves Cristiane to care for their son as he departs Laurentia.

Years later, after being in America, he comes to Paris, where he meets Marta Karillos, who's now married.  They talk to each other about the past and what each other has been up to.  Richard mentions that his son's coronation is about to take place, and he won't be there.  Marta tells him to go because the Queen would like it.  "I should like it if I were Cristiane," she tells him.  They part company.

The film brings us back to the coronation that was taking place at the beginning of the movie.  Richard and Cristiane's son has been crowned King John.

The boy king turns and smiles at his mother, Queen Cristiane, who is gazing proudly at her son.

Richard watches from the shadows, also very proud of his family.

As the new king and his mother are exiting the cathedral, Cristiane catches a glimpse of Richard out of the corner of her eye and she pauses briefly in the procession.

After the church has emptied, Richard makes his way to the altar and bows his head.  Cristiane re-enters the church and watches her husband.

She makes her way up the aisle and joins him at the altar, holding out her hand to him.

Cast rundown:

   Errol Flynn........................................King Richard

   Anna Nagle.......................................Marta Karillos

   Patrice Wymore.................................Princess Cristiane

   Martita Hunt.....................................The Queen Mother

   Finlay Currie.....................................King Paul

   Francis De Wolff................................The Prime Minister

   Joan Benham....................................Countess Astrid

   Reginald Tate....................................King Peter

   Brian Franklin....................................King John

And that's it for King's Rhapsody.  This is one of two films starring husband and wife Errol Flynn and Patrice Wymore.  The film didn't receive good reviews when it was released, and in some ways it's easy to see why.  The end of the film feels rushed, but it's still a good one to watch.

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