Scaramouche (1923)

Director:

Rex Ingram

Writers:

Rafael Sabatini (novel)
Willis Goldbeck (scenario)
(more)

Release Date:

February 1924 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

A law student becomes an outlaw French revolutionary when he decides to avenge the unjust killing of his friend...

Plot Keywords:

Georges Danton | French Revolution | Marie Antoinette | Actor | Actress

Cast

Lloyd Ingraham	...	Quintin de Kercadiou
Alice Terry	...	Aline de Kercadiou, Quintin's Neice
Ramon Novarro	...	André-Louis Moreau, Quintin's Godson
Lewis Stone	...	The Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr
Julia Swayne Gordon	...	The Countess Thérèse de Plougastel
William Humphrey	...	The Chevalier de Chabrillone
Otto Matieson	...	Philippe de Vilmorin (as Otto Matiesen)
George Siegmann	...	George Jacques Danton (as George Siegman)
Bowditch M. Turner	...	Le Chapelier (as Bowditch Turner)
James A. Marcus	...	Challefau Binet (as James Marcus)
Edith Allen	...	Mlle. Climène Binet
John George	...	Polichinelle
Willard Lee Hall	...	The King's Lieutenant
Rose Dione	...	La Révolte
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edwin Argus	...	King Louis XVI (uncredited)
J. Edwin Brown	...	Monsieur Benoît (uncredited)
Louise Carver	...	Member of Theatre Audience (uncredited)
Edward Connelly	...	Minister to the King (uncredited)
Roy Coulson	...	Jean Paul Murat (uncredited)
Edward Coxen	...	Jacques (uncredited)
Carrie Daumery	...	Court Gossip (uncredited)
Fuerburg De Garcia	...	Maximilien Robespierre (uncredited)
Clotilde Delano	...	Marie Antoinette (uncredited)
William Dyer	...	The Gamekeeper (uncredited)
Snitz Edwards	...	Bit (uncredited)
Howard Gaye	...	Viscount d'Albert (uncredited)
Bynunsky Hyman	...	Extra (uncredited)
Arthur Jasmine	...	A Student of Rennes (uncredited)
Lorimer Johnston	...	Count Dupuye (uncredited)
Tom Kennedy	...	A Dragoon (uncredited)
Nelson McDowell	...	Rhodomont (uncredited)
Kalla Pasha	...	Keeper of the Paris Gate (uncredited)
Marjorie Reynolds	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
David Sharpe	...	Bit (uncredited)
Lydia Yeamans Titus	...	Madame Binet (uncredited)
Jacques Tourneur	...	Extra (uncredited)
Slavko Vorkapich	...	Napoléon Bonaparte, a Lieutenant of Artillery (uncredited)
Carrie Clark Ward	...	Madame Benoît (uncredited)

Directed by
Rex Ingram

Writing credits
Rafael Sabatini		(novel)
Willis Goldbeck		(adaptation) uncredited
Willis Goldbeck		(scenario)

Produced by
Rex Ingram	....	producer

Original Music by
Jeffrey Silverman		(2000) (as Jeffrey Mark Silverman)
William Axt		(uncredited)
Leo Kempinski		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
John F. Seitz

Film Editing by
Grant Whytock

Costume Design by
O'Kane Cornwell		(uncredited)
Van Horn		(uncredited)
Eve Roth		(uncredited)

Production Management
Curt Rehfeld	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Curt Rehfeld	....	assistant director

Art Department
Harold Grieve	....	set designer (uncredited)

Stunts
David Sharpe	....	stunts (uncredited)

Other crew
John Hughes	....	technical staff (as John J. Hughes)
Rex Ingram	....	supervisor
Amos Myers	....	technical staff
Curt Rehfeld	....	executive
Jack W. Robson	....	technical staff
Arthur Smith	....	technical staff

Production Companies

• Metro Pictures Corporation (controlled by Loew's Inc.)

Distributors

• Metro Pictures Corporation (1923) (USA) (theatrical)
• Turner Classic Movies (TCM) (2000) (USA) (TV) (alternate version)
• Grapevine Video (video)

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:Passed

Filming Locations:

Ren-Mar Studios - 846 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Metro Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

An army of workmen built a whole French village which covered 60 acres and which was faithfully reproduced to cobble-paved streets and shop windows filled with actual wares. Hundreds of thousand of yards of muslins, satins, brocades and velvets were required in the making of the gorgeous costumes worn by the actors and actresses.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sherlock Jr. (1924)

Just great silent costume drama

In the late 1700s France, Andre-Louis Moreau (Ramon Novarro) becomes a rebel against aristocracy after his friend is killed by the evil de la Tour d'Azy (Lewis Stone). Unfortunately the woman he loves Aline (Alice Terry) is part of the aristocracy.

Elaborate, well-directed with a cast of (seemingly) thousands this is a superb drama--it's just now getting its due on a stunning brand-new print showing on TCM. Alice Terry is just gorgeous as Aline--she's breath-takingly beautiful (that comes as no surprise--director Rex Ingram was her husband) and also one heck of an actress; Lewis Stone is convincingly slimy and cruel as the villain; best of all is Novarro. Easily one of the best-looking men ever it's easy to see why he was the top box office draw of his day. Looks aside, his acting was superb--he doesn't over emote (like some silent screen actors did) and was believable every step of the way. Sadly his career was destroyed because he was gay and homophobia was riding high at MGM. This man's acting and movies deserve some overdue recognition.

The movie moves at a brisk pace, there's never a dull moment and has a very moving finale (although I had guessed the two twists at the end). A definite must-see!