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His Glorious Night

Name: His Glorious Night
Director: Lionel Barrymore
Released: 1929
Duration: 80 min

Representation Score

2.4/10

Limited

1929

Passed

Director

Lionel Barrymore

Runtime

80 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

His Glorious Night is a period melodrama that relies on traditional social hierarchies and classic romantic clichés. The plot revolves around a princess torn between personal desires and societal obligations. While the film explores the tension between individual desires and societal expectations, it remains firmly within a traditional framework. The narrative primarily focuses on the emotional struggles of the central lovers, without challenging broader social norms.

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Category Breakdown

Does His Glorious Night have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The story follows a traditional romance where the main characters are assumed to be straight. There are no characters who identify as LGBTQ or any depiction of same-sex relationships.

How does His Glorious Night portray gender?

Fair

Princess Orsolini faces challenges from a patriarchal society and an arranged marriage. However, the story emphasizes the male protagonist's quest for revenge over Princess Orsolini's role.

How racially and ethnically diverse is His Glorious Night?

Limited

The setting suggests a predominantly white cast of European nobles and military officers. The film reflects the homogeneous social structure typical of 1920s dramas.

How does His Glorious Night represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story upholds Western social hierarchies and the importance of aristocratic duties. It focuses on class-based marriages and romantic melodrama.

Does His Glorious Night include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any characters dealing with physical, sensory, or neurodivergent conditions.

Present on Screen

Examines the emotional tension between personal desires and societal obligations through the female lead.
Illustrates the rigid social hierarchies and class expectations of the 1920s era.

Limited or Absent

Does not include characters with non-traditional gender identities or same-sex relationships.
The storyline prioritizes the male protagonist's revenge over the female lead's ability to act.
The cast is homogenous and lacks diversity.

Official Synopsis

Being engaged against her will with a wealthy man, Princess Orsolini (Catherine Dale Owen) is in love with Captain Kovacs (John Gilbert), a cavalry officer she is secretly meeting. Her mother Eugenie (Nance O'Neil), who has found out about the affair forces her to dump Kovacs and take part in the arranged marriage. Though not believing her own words, Orsolini reluctantly tells Kovacs she cannot ever fall in love with a man with his social position. Feeling deeply hurt, Kovacs decides to take revenge by indulging in blackmail, spreading a rumor that he is an imposter and a swindler.

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