Most popular king louis xiv movies and tv shows imdb. Turning a modest hunting lodge into the magnificent palace of versailles was the crowning glory that defined king louis xivs france. Biographical documentary on the life of king louis xiv of france. Planting the seeds of revolution although those who participated in the enlightenment put forth philosophies that challenged the french royalty s way of doing things, they werent necessarily considered to be revolutionaries. In the age of absolutism in europe, louis xiv s france was a leader in. For nearly all 115 minutes of the death of louis xiv, the hypnotically grueling new film from the catalan writerdirector albert serra, we are peering into a royal bedchamber at 18th century. See more ideas about louis xiv versailles, versailles and louis xiv. French critics anger as series versailles about louis xiv. Louis xivs head gardener is the star of alan rickmans new film a little chaos. The possibility of his becoming king seemed very remote. With george blagden, alexander vlahos, tygh runyan, stuart bowman.
Louis, enfant roi is a french production from 1993 and very very hard to get with english subtitles if you are german, you might be lucky to find a version with german subtitles. Subsequently, the movie network picked up those rights and began airing reruns of the first season. Most of these movies are set during the 17th and 18th centuries when the palace served as the principal residence of the french kings from louis xiv to louis. Versailles a new britishfrenchcanadian import about louis xiv offers the musicvideo version of bourbon history, on ovation by sonia saraiya. Bill beik emory university emeritus for many years the rise of louis xiv by roberto rossellini 1966 has been a staple for use in courses covering seventeenthcentury france. The grandeur of louis xiv on film fiction and film for. George blagden on versailles season 3, louis xivs extraordinary. Winner of the 1999 enid macleod award, ian dunlops elegant biography of louis xiv 16381715 brilliantly achieves the authors aim to help my readers see louis as his contemporaries saw him. Extensive quotes from diaries and memoirs each assessed for their prejudices bring to life the glittering french court in the heyday of divine. A serious fever erupts, which marks the beginning of the agony of the greatest king of france. Although the location existed for centuries before the sovereign, louis xiv developed a genuine liking for versailles early on, and decided to extend it beyond the chateau that had grown out of the hunting lodge of brick and stone first built by his father.
But drained budget, affairs and political intrigues complicate things. Chief among these is vauxlevicomte, pictured above, 30 miles southeast of the capital and an established favourite for those in search of gallic grandeur. Two talented landscape artists become romantically entangled while building a garden in king louis xiv s palace at versailles. A documentary on the life of the sun king, from him ascending to the french throne and building the palace of versailles, to his. With versailles being over, do you wonder what louis xiv related productions you could watch next.
The show premiered in may 2016 in britain and the latest series began on monday, june 4. Once or twice we see a tiny glimpse of a characterlouis himself, in a fit of. The secret, sexy gay and lesbian history of versailles. The movie follows the childhood of louis xiv and his brother philippe. That is, pretty literally, the only thing that happens in this film. Here, historian lynn wood mollenauer considers the ambitious aristocrats who battled for power within the court and sheds light on the affair of the poisons, a scandal that reached right into the inner circle of the king. From 1643 to 1792 it was the stage on which the most glorious period of the french monarchy played out, until the darkest days, at the fall of the bourbon dynasty. Louis celebrates his war victory by welcoming the defeated emperor leopold. He poured a fortune into large scale expansion of versailles, swamping his fathers hunting lodge.
Versailles is a bbc two period drama set in the steamy court of louis xiv. The series follows the 28yearold louis xiv george blagden, who decides to make the rebellious nobility submit by moving the court from paris to versailles, his fathers former hunting lodge. Every film tries to create a certain atmosphere using costumes, decorations and also showing the etiquette. This collection offers a sensitive and endearing portrait of the monarchs and recreates their life, loves and political willpower. In 1667, 28yearold allpowerful king of france, louis xiv, decides to build the greatest palace in the world versailles. The man in the iron mask is the title of a 1998 action movie, with leonardo dicaprio doubling up to play both louis xiv and his identical secret twin brother. But this opulent edifice was more than a fashion statement for the sun king, writes jonny wilkes. Jean marais as louis xv georges marchal as young louis xiv. The history of versailles is inextricably linked with the figure of louis xiv.
The reign of frances louis xiv 16381715, known as the sun king, lasted for 72 years, longer than that of any other known european sovereign. Bbc twos versailles returned on 21 april for its second series, exploring the decadent and turbulent early reign of the sun king, louis xiv. The mid17th style seen in the first image below was for hair pulled back smoothly on top of the head into an arrangement at the back of the head, and then hanging curls on the sides of the face, with a bit to a lot of. The sun king suffered from tooth aches from quite early in his life and it was all made worse by the endless supply of sugared fruit and sweet cakes. Philippe duc dorleans and king louis xiv in versailles credit. The 1660s70s was an era of updos for women as were most historical eras, contrary to most filmmakers opinions. With kate winslet, alan rickman, stanley tucci, matthias schoenaerts. Built by nicolas fouquet, master of louis xivs finances, it was a direct inspiration for. Royal affairs in versailles is a 1954 frenchitalian historical drama directed by sacha guitry.
I saw it years ago on arte, during a louis xiv theme night. On the 300th anniversary of the death of one of the longestserving monarchs in european history. Symbol of frances glory, versailles is probably the most splendid royal palace in europe. By studying his health records and correspondence, they were able to. Frances king louis xiv passed away on this date in 1715. His older brother was the famous sun king, louis xiv. Louis returns to versailles with newfound purity of purpose, and philippe is surprised at his feelings for palatine when she shows signs of poisoning.
However, the colour albeit a tad dark would have played well into the. Strangely enough louis xiv was born with two teeth in his mouth which only happens in one baby out of two thousand. Filled with ravishing candlelit images and painstaking details gleaned from saintsimons memoirs and other historical texts, louis xiv is as darkly funny as it is moving, revealing the. A few weeks ago, george blagden was playing louis xiv in the extravagant miniseries versailles, swanning around in. Versailles louis xiv, georges blagden, anticipates season 3. His reign of 72 years and 110 days is the longest recorded of any monarch of a sovereign country in european history. Docudrama about the life of louis xiv nicknamed the sun king, the king of france who ran a glamorous court, expanded the borders of france, loved women and parties and built an incredible palace for himself the versailles. In 1661, philippe also received the dukedoms of valois and chartres. The postal service to versailles ran through paris, and there louiss spies opened. Louis xiv is ascendant after winning the war with holland and solving the affair of the poisons but his angry citizens are fomenting rebellion. Described as a historical film showing versailles from its beginnings to the. King louis xiv of france commissions a lavish palace that becomes a fierce battleground for love and politics and a gilded prison for nobility. Louis xiv is a great king and that must be seen in his every move, in his every sentence. The security louis xiv survived assassination attempts and plots, so was constantly paranoid and suspicious.
A second season was ordered prior to the season one premiere. Louis xiv documentary biography of the life of louis xiv. Louis xivversailles in fiction fictional books that portray king louis xiv and other rulers of france at versailles. French became language of european elite during louis xivs 72year reign critics have called it a crime that he will be speaking english in new show versailles, made by canal plus, will be a.