New Showbiz

You are here:
The King

The King

1936

Approved

Director

Pierre Colombier

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

King John IV of Cerdania, who knows monarchs are a vanishing race but who plays his royalty role in state council or boudoir to the hilt, is in Paris to sign a treaty, and becomes enmeshed in intrigue with an actress, Therese Mannix and involved in a bit of cuckoldry with YouYou Bourdier, the ex-seamstress wife of a French senator, who is un-awed by money, power or the King's kisses. For his part, her husband, Senator Bourdier, is glad to use his wealth, wife and collectivist ideals for social position, in spite of his democratic posing.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

4.7/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film lacks any visible LGBTQ+ characters or non-heteronormative identities. The plot centers on conventional romantic entanglements between the King, an actress, and a senator's wife.

Gender Representation

Fair

YouYou Bourdier subverts traditional female archetypes by remaining unimpressed by royal power and wealth. The King's authority is also presented as a performative role rather than inherent masculine dominance.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

The production is Eurocentric, focusing on French and Cerdanian political spheres. It reflects the homogeneous casting standards typical of 1930s European cinema.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The narrative critiques the sanctity of monarchy by portraying the King as a performer. It also explores the tension between democratic ideals and personal social advancement.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no information available regarding the depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities in this film.

Strengths

  • Subverts traditional gender hierarchies through YouYou Bourdier's agency.
  • Provides a critique of monarchical and political institutions.
  • Explores the performative nature of social and royal authority.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities.
  • Maintains a Eurocentric and homogeneous racial perspective.
  • Provides no visible representation of disability.

AI Analysis

The film functions as a period study of class friction and the deconstruction of authority. It moves beyond simple comedy to examine the performative nature of political and social status. While the film offers a nuanced look at gendered power through YouYou Bourdier, it remains limited by the era's lack of intersectional breadth. The narrative is largely confined to Eurocentric social structures. Ultimately, the work succeeds in challenging the stability of traditional institutions like the monarchy, even if it fails to represent a diverse range of identities.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.