Movies For the Marlburian Sort
Listed here is a gathering, which does not pretend to be comprehensive, of media which might be of interest to students of the period of Louis and Anne. Have a recommendation? Contact us!
The Favourite - 2018 - From IMDB - Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne's ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen's companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfill her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way. Written by Fox Searchlight Pictures
The Royal Exchange (English title) - 2017 - From IMDB - In 1721, the Regent of France, wanting to seal the peace with Spain, offers to the Spanish King, a marriage between their respective heirs: Louis XV, age 11, and Maria Anna Victoria, the 4-year-old Spanish Infanta (princess). The Regent of France also offers to marry his daughter, Mademoiselle deè Montpensier, 12, to the Prince of Asturias, the 14-year-old heir apparent to the Spanish throne. Madrid responds enthusiastically to both proposals, and the ceremonies are promptly organized. Everything has been done to expect the best of the children, but nothing will proceed as planned.
The Death of Louis XIV (English title) - 2016 - From IMDB - Upon returning from a hunting expedition, King Louis XIV feels a sharp pain in his leg. He begins to die, surrounded by loyal followers in the royal chambers.
Satisfaction 1720 (English title) - 2016 - From IMDB - In "Tordenskiold" we follow the only 29-year-old vice admiral Tordenskiold and his valet Cold. The year is 1720, the peace is signed, the war is over and the naval hero has no idea what he should do with his life. Cold persuades him to take the suitor journey to England, but the trip develops into an amusing and grotesque journey from Christianshavn, down through Denmark over the border and into the north German kingdoms. "Tordenskiold" is an atypical and cheeky period film and a portrait of a friendship between a master and his servant.
Versailles - 2015 - From IMDB - Three seasons from Canal+. In 1667, 28-year-old all-powerful king of France, Louis XIV, decides to build the greatest palace in the world - Versailles. But drained budget, affairs and political intrigues complicate things.
A Little Chaos - 2014 - From IMDB - A romantic drama following Sabine (Kate Winslet), a talented landscape designer, who is building a garden at Versailles for King Louis XIV (Alan Rickman). Sabine struggles with class barriers as she becomes romantically entangled with the court's renowned landscape artist, André Le Nôtre (Matthias Schoenaerts). Written by Focus World
Outlander - 2014 - From IMDB - Follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world in which her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate relationship is ignited that tears Claire's heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives. Written by Starz
The Sovereign's Servant (English title) - 2007 - From IMDB - Europe, 1709. Russia and Sweden are at war. Two French duelists are exiled by King Louis XIV of France: one to the side of Czar Peter the Great of Russia, the other to the side of King Charles XII of Sweden. Although separated by war and allegiance, fate has not finished with them.
The Libertine - 2004 - From IMDB - The story of John Wilmot, a.k.a. the Earl of Rochester, a 17th century poet who famously drank and debauched his way to an early grave, only to earn posthumous critical acclaim for his life's work.
The Last King - 2003 - From IMDB - The chronicle of Charles II's time on the throne, his 10 year exile from Oliver Cromwell's England, and his triumphant return.
Brotherhood of the Wolf (English title) - 2001 - From IMDB - In 18th century France, the Chevalier de Fronsac and his native American friend Mani are sent by the King to the Gevaudan province to investigate the killings of hundreds by a mysterious beast.
The King is Dancing (English title) - 2000 - From IMDB - There are two protagonists - first, Louis XIV, the French sun-king who has two passions, establishing absolute rule over the realm by divine right and artistic brilliancy as a dancer. Second, the musical genius Gianbattista Lulli ('Jean-Baptiste') Lully, a Florentine upstart of unbridled ambition.
Vatel - 2000 - From IMDB - Vatel is in charge of the reception to the King Louis XIV. With the prince's political ambitions at stake, its essential to please him. But when he falls in love with the king's lover, passion and duty seem to contradict each other.
Rob Roy - 1995 - From IMDB - In 1713 Scotland, Rob Roy MacGregor is wronged by a nobleman and his nephew, becomes an outlaw in search of revenge while fleeing the Redcoats, and faces charges of being a Jacobite.
Restoration - 1995 - From IMDB - An aspiring young physician, Robert Merivel found himself in the service of King Charles II and saves the life of a spaniel dear to the King. Merivel joins the King's court and lives the high life provided to someone of his position. Merivel is ordered to marry one of the King's mistresses in order to divert the suspicions of another one of his mistresses. He is given one order by the king and that is not to fall in love. The situation worsens when Merivel finds himself in love with his new wife. Written by P. Wong
The Draughtman's Contract - 1982 - From IMDB - Mr. Neville, a cocksure young artist, is contracted by Mrs. Herbert, the wife of a wealthy landowner, to produce a set of twelve drawings of her husband's estate, a contract which extends much further than either the purse or the sketchpad. The sketches themselves prove of an even greater significance than supposed upon the discovery of the body of Mr. Herbert. Written by Paul Kevin Harm
Barry Lyndon - 1975 - From IMDB - In the Eighteenth Century, in a small village in Ireland, Redmond Barry is a young farm boy in love with his cousin Nora Brady. When Nora gets engaged to the British Captain John Quin, Barry challenges him to a duel of pistols. He wins and escapes to Dublin but is robbed on the road. Without an alternative, Barry joins the British Army to fight in the Seven Years War. Written by Claudio Carvalho
The First Churchills - 1969 - From IMDB - The television dramatization of the lives of John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough and his wife Sarah.
Me and Marlborough - 1935 - From IMDB - In 1709, Kit Ross (Cicely Courtneidge) disguises herself as a man and joins the army to search for her press-ganged husband.
Charles XII (English title) - 1925 - From IMDB - An historical film depicting the life of Charles XII of Sweden (1682-1718), who oversaw the expansion of the Swedish Empire until its defeat at the Battle of Poltava.
The Favourite - 2018 - From IMDB - Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne's ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen's companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfill her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way. Written by Fox Searchlight Pictures
The Royal Exchange (English title) - 2017 - From IMDB - In 1721, the Regent of France, wanting to seal the peace with Spain, offers to the Spanish King, a marriage between their respective heirs: Louis XV, age 11, and Maria Anna Victoria, the 4-year-old Spanish Infanta (princess). The Regent of France also offers to marry his daughter, Mademoiselle deè Montpensier, 12, to the Prince of Asturias, the 14-year-old heir apparent to the Spanish throne. Madrid responds enthusiastically to both proposals, and the ceremonies are promptly organized. Everything has been done to expect the best of the children, but nothing will proceed as planned.
The Death of Louis XIV (English title) - 2016 - From IMDB - Upon returning from a hunting expedition, King Louis XIV feels a sharp pain in his leg. He begins to die, surrounded by loyal followers in the royal chambers.
Satisfaction 1720 (English title) - 2016 - From IMDB - In "Tordenskiold" we follow the only 29-year-old vice admiral Tordenskiold and his valet Cold. The year is 1720, the peace is signed, the war is over and the naval hero has no idea what he should do with his life. Cold persuades him to take the suitor journey to England, but the trip develops into an amusing and grotesque journey from Christianshavn, down through Denmark over the border and into the north German kingdoms. "Tordenskiold" is an atypical and cheeky period film and a portrait of a friendship between a master and his servant.
Versailles - 2015 - From IMDB - Three seasons from Canal+. In 1667, 28-year-old all-powerful king of France, Louis XIV, decides to build the greatest palace in the world - Versailles. But drained budget, affairs and political intrigues complicate things.
A Little Chaos - 2014 - From IMDB - A romantic drama following Sabine (Kate Winslet), a talented landscape designer, who is building a garden at Versailles for King Louis XIV (Alan Rickman). Sabine struggles with class barriers as she becomes romantically entangled with the court's renowned landscape artist, André Le Nôtre (Matthias Schoenaerts). Written by Focus World
Outlander - 2014 - From IMDB - Follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world in which her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate relationship is ignited that tears Claire's heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives. Written by Starz
The Sovereign's Servant (English title) - 2007 - From IMDB - Europe, 1709. Russia and Sweden are at war. Two French duelists are exiled by King Louis XIV of France: one to the side of Czar Peter the Great of Russia, the other to the side of King Charles XII of Sweden. Although separated by war and allegiance, fate has not finished with them.
The Libertine - 2004 - From IMDB - The story of John Wilmot, a.k.a. the Earl of Rochester, a 17th century poet who famously drank and debauched his way to an early grave, only to earn posthumous critical acclaim for his life's work.
The Last King - 2003 - From IMDB - The chronicle of Charles II's time on the throne, his 10 year exile from Oliver Cromwell's England, and his triumphant return.
Brotherhood of the Wolf (English title) - 2001 - From IMDB - In 18th century France, the Chevalier de Fronsac and his native American friend Mani are sent by the King to the Gevaudan province to investigate the killings of hundreds by a mysterious beast.
The King is Dancing (English title) - 2000 - From IMDB - There are two protagonists - first, Louis XIV, the French sun-king who has two passions, establishing absolute rule over the realm by divine right and artistic brilliancy as a dancer. Second, the musical genius Gianbattista Lulli ('Jean-Baptiste') Lully, a Florentine upstart of unbridled ambition.
Vatel - 2000 - From IMDB - Vatel is in charge of the reception to the King Louis XIV. With the prince's political ambitions at stake, its essential to please him. But when he falls in love with the king's lover, passion and duty seem to contradict each other.
Rob Roy - 1995 - From IMDB - In 1713 Scotland, Rob Roy MacGregor is wronged by a nobleman and his nephew, becomes an outlaw in search of revenge while fleeing the Redcoats, and faces charges of being a Jacobite.
Restoration - 1995 - From IMDB - An aspiring young physician, Robert Merivel found himself in the service of King Charles II and saves the life of a spaniel dear to the King. Merivel joins the King's court and lives the high life provided to someone of his position. Merivel is ordered to marry one of the King's mistresses in order to divert the suspicions of another one of his mistresses. He is given one order by the king and that is not to fall in love. The situation worsens when Merivel finds himself in love with his new wife. Written by P. Wong
The Draughtman's Contract - 1982 - From IMDB - Mr. Neville, a cocksure young artist, is contracted by Mrs. Herbert, the wife of a wealthy landowner, to produce a set of twelve drawings of her husband's estate, a contract which extends much further than either the purse or the sketchpad. The sketches themselves prove of an even greater significance than supposed upon the discovery of the body of Mr. Herbert. Written by Paul Kevin Harm
Barry Lyndon - 1975 - From IMDB - In the Eighteenth Century, in a small village in Ireland, Redmond Barry is a young farm boy in love with his cousin Nora Brady. When Nora gets engaged to the British Captain John Quin, Barry challenges him to a duel of pistols. He wins and escapes to Dublin but is robbed on the road. Without an alternative, Barry joins the British Army to fight in the Seven Years War. Written by Claudio Carvalho
The First Churchills - 1969 - From IMDB - The television dramatization of the lives of John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough and his wife Sarah.
Me and Marlborough - 1935 - From IMDB - In 1709, Kit Ross (Cicely Courtneidge) disguises herself as a man and joins the army to search for her press-ganged husband.
Charles XII (English title) - 1925 - From IMDB - An historical film depicting the life of Charles XII of Sweden (1682-1718), who oversaw the expansion of the Swedish Empire until its defeat at the Battle of Poltava.