Captain of the Guard is a 1930 American musical film directed by John S. Robertson and Pál Fejös and starring Laura La Plante, John Boles and Sam De Grasse. It is set during the French Revolution, but was sufficiently unhistorical that an apology was included in the opening credit for any factual inaccuracies.
Contents
Plot
During the French Revolution, Rouget de l'Isle, a captain in the king's guard and music teacher, falls in love with Marie Marnay, the daughter of an innkeeper. Marie becomes involved with the revolutionaries after her father is killed by royal soldiers. Although Rouget initially serves the monarchy, he later joins the revolutionary cause after performing La Marseillaise before King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. He eventually leads revolutionary forces toward Paris and reunites with Marie during the uprising.
Cast
Laura La Plante as Marie Marnay
John Boles as Rouget de Lisle
Sam De Grasse as Bazin
James A. Marcus as Marnay
Lionel Belmore as Colonel of Hussars
Stuart Holmes as Louis XVI
Evelyn Hall as Marie Antoinette
Claude Fleming as Magistrate
Murdock MacQuarrie as Pierre
Richard Cramer as Danton
Harry Burkhardt as Materown
George Hackathorne as Robespierre
DeWitt Jennings as priest
Harry Cording as Le Bruin
Otis Harlan as Jacques
Ervin Renard as Lieutenant
Walter Brennan as peasant (uncredited)
Sidney D'Albrook as flirtatious officer (uncredited)
Louise Emmons as Peasant (uncredited)
Stanley Fields as Hangman (uncredited)
Francis Ford as Hussars Officer (uncredited)
Charles Thurston as Minor Role (uncredited)
Production
Initial director Pál Fejös escaped serious injury during filming in October 1929 after falling 88 feet from scaffolding while directing a mob scene, and was later replaced by John S. Robertson. Robertson received full directing credit for the film.