Marie Antoinette (1938 film)

The film was a pet project of Norma Shearer, who lobbied MGM head Louis B. Mayer for the role, despite initial reluctance from the studio. Shearer, then in her mid-30s, was considered too old for the teenage queen, but she insisted and underwent extensive makeup and lighting tests to appear younger. The production was plagued by difficulties: director Sidney Franklin was replaced by W. S. Van Dyke, and the original screenplay by F. Scott Fitzgerald was heavily rewritten by Donald Ogden Stewart and others. The film's budget ballooned to over $2.9 million, making it one of MGM's most expensive productions of the decade.¹

Norma Shearer stars as Marie Antoinette, with Tyrone Power as Count Axel von Fersen, John Barrymore as King Louis XV, and Robert Morley in his film debut as King Louis XVI. Morley's portrayal of the bumbling, good-hearted king was widely praised and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The film also features Gladys George as Madame du Barry, and Joseph Schildkraut as the Duke of Orléans. Shearer's performance was noted for its emotional range, though some critics found her too mature for the role.²

The film takes significant liberties with history, compressing events and romanticizing the relationship between Marie Antoinette and Fersen. It portrays the queen as a sympathetic figure, a victim of circumstance, which was a departure from the prevailing historical view. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews; critics praised the visuals and performances but criticized the length and historical inaccuracies. It was a box-office disappointment, failing to recoup its massive budget, though it received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress for Shearer.³

Despite its initial lukewarm reception, the film has gained a reputation as a classic example of Hollywood's Golden Age spectacle. Its lavish production design influenced later period films, and it remains a notable entry in the filmography of Norma Shearer, who considered it one of her proudest achievements. The film also contributed to the popular image of Marie Antoinette as a tragic heroine, a portrayal that has persisted in popular culture. In 2006, Sofia Coppola's film of the same name drew comparisons, though it took a more stylized approach.⁴

F. Scott Fitzgerald was hired to write the screenplay but his work was largely discarded; his experience on the film inspired his unfinished novel The Last Tycoon. The film's sets were so elaborate that they were reused in later MGM productions, including The Great Ziegfeld and Waterloo Bridge. The famous "Let them eat cake" line is not in the film, though it is often associated with it. The film's premiere was a grand affair, attended by many Hollywood stars, and it was one of the first films to be shown in a special roadshow format with reserved seating.⁵

Roadshow

A film release format with reserved seats, higher ticket prices, and an intermission, often used for epic productions.

MGM

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, a major Hollywood film studio that produced the film.