The film's prologue has the Duke of Kurland (JB must have loved this part as he gets made up to be old!) holding a banquet for his officers and is bemoaning his lack of an heir when a ragged boy enters the hall and identifies himself as Christian, the duke's son by a gypsy princess now dead. This has a great part for the young boy (played by Philippe De Lacy who also played the young Don Juan age 10 with Barrymore) as he gets to slap Barrymore's face!! Twenty years later, Prince Christian is a powerful leader, a soldier of fortune and known as GENERAL CRACK (BARRYMORE). When compelled by Leopold II (Lowell Sherman) to offer his services, Christian demands a high price in gold and the hand of the Archduchess Maria Luisa (Marian Nixon), when he overhears court gossip saying the Emperor forbid his sister to meet General Crack as she could never meet his mother!! Back at his headquarters and within the deadline of 3 days, the Emperor agrees to GENERAL CRACK's terms.
Enroute to Vienna, he encounters Fidelia (Armida), a spirited gypsy dancer and under the spell of gypsy lore, he tells his men to ride on without him saying he has been "unavoidably detained". 3 days after keeping the Emperor and Archduchess waiting, he rides back to Vienna. At court he announces the reason for his delay and proudly introduces his wife, Fidelia! Maria Luisa is the first to congratulate them and GENERAL CRACK is astounded at her kindness and beauty. They are guests of Leopold and he becomes infatuated with Fidelia at a court celebration. Colonel Gabor (Otto Matieson) is GENERAL CRACK'S most trusted aid and he makes it known to the Emperor that he could also be his! (Unfortunately, there's a small scene here on a Balcony where Fidelia is talking to Gabor but then it jumps to GENERAL CRACK talking to Fidelia on the balcony. From images of Lobby Cards, photos etc, General Crack is trying to strangle Gabor over the Balcony, so one can only presume what Gabor was saying or getting up to with Fidelia!)
The night before GENERAL CRACK goes away to war, he gives Fidelia a necklace and asks her if she still remembers what her name means? Fidelia says it means Faithful but why do you ask? While GENERAL CRACK is away at war, Leopold forces his attentions on the bride and now a vengeful Colonel Gabor, arrives at GENERAL CRACKS's headquarters to tell him that he watched the Emperor enter Fidelia's chamber and stayed there all night. GENERAL CRACK tells him he'll have him flogged if he mentions his wife's name again but when Gabor produces the necklace GENERAL CRACK gave to Fidelia, GENERAL CRACK flies for Gabor and silence him by gagging and taping his mouth. The Emperor arrives at GENERAL CRACK's base and is just in time to watch Gabor being executed. He asks GENERAL CRACK what is the reason and GENERAL CRACK tells him 'for saying something that should never be heard about the Emperor and his wife'. The Emperor sees the necklace in GENERAL CRACKS hand and realises he knows.
GENERAL CRACK then returns to the Emperor's palace in Vienna to see Fidelia just as she is posing for a painting dressed in her gypsy costume, which she thinks will please him. However, he sends her back to her gypsy tribe. Returning back to war and winning Brussels for Leopold, he tells him that although he promised he would win him the crown he doesn't intend to keep it there! Ever more powerful GENERAL CRACK's army then takes over and Leopold and Maria Luisa become fugitives. However, they are found, captured and brought to him. GENERAL CRACK tells The Emperor that he must balance the books but unfortunately he doesn't have a wife! Leopold is taken away and Luisa is left alone with GENERAL CRACK. (Now this is one of my favourite scenes in the film.) GENERAL CRACK tells Luisa that gypsies have a quaint custom - an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth! He then forcefully kisses Luisa but she slowly puts her arms around him. (I thought this kiss/embrace shows much more passion than the famous Sea Beast kiss!) Mystified by her reaction, she tells him that she loves him. Alas, his revenge has fallen flat on his face and he lets the Emperor and Archduchess free. Returning back to his seat as Duke of Kurland, GENERAL CRACK accepts Maria Luisa's offer to be elevated as Archduke of Kurland.
The film was shot immediately after he and DOLORES COSTELLO returned from their honeymoon cruise. Barrymore looks wonderful in this film even though he was drinking heavily and was hospitalised during the shooting for an ulcer. There are some wonderful profile and posing shots of Barrymore, and again he's added a few of his own comic mannerisms to the film, which made me laugh!! (If you KNOW Barrymore, you'll KNOW what I mean!) No doubt, copies of this film will eventually get around so hopefully everyone can enjoy it as much as I do.
Enroute to Vienna, he encounters Fidelia (Armida), a spirited gypsy dancer and under the spell of gypsy lore, he tells his men to ride on without him saying he has been "unavoidably detained". 3 days after keeping the Emperor and Archduchess waiting, he rides back to Vienna. At court he announces the reason for his delay and proudly introduces his wife, Fidelia! Maria Luisa is the first to congratulate them and GENERAL CRACK is astounded at her kindness and beauty. They are guests of Leopold and he becomes infatuated with Fidelia at a court celebration. Colonel Gabor (Otto Matieson) is GENERAL CRACK'S most trusted aid and he makes it known to the Emperor that he could also be his! (Unfortunately, there's a small scene here on a Balcony where Fidelia is talking to Gabor but then it jumps to GENERAL CRACK talking to Fidelia on the balcony. From images of Lobby Cards, photos etc, General Crack is trying to strangle Gabor over the Balcony, so one can only presume what Gabor was saying or getting up to with Fidelia!)
The night before GENERAL CRACK goes away to war, he gives Fidelia a necklace and asks her if she still remembers what her name means? Fidelia says it means Faithful but why do you ask? While GENERAL CRACK is away at war, Leopold forces his attentions on the bride and now a vengeful Colonel Gabor, arrives at GENERAL CRACKS's headquarters to tell him that he watched the Emperor enter Fidelia's chamber and stayed there all night. GENERAL CRACK tells him he'll have him flogged if he mentions his wife's name again but when Gabor produces the necklace GENERAL CRACK gave to Fidelia, GENERAL CRACK flies for Gabor and silence him by gagging and taping his mouth. The Emperor arrives at GENERAL CRACK's base and is just in time to watch Gabor being executed. He asks GENERAL CRACK what is the reason and GENERAL CRACK tells him 'for saying something that should never be heard about the Emperor and his wife'. The Emperor sees the necklace in GENERAL CRACKS hand and realises he knows.
GENERAL CRACK then returns to the Emperor's palace in Vienna to see Fidelia just as she is posing for a painting dressed in her gypsy costume, which she thinks will please him. However, he sends her back to her gypsy tribe. Returning back to war and winning Brussels for Leopold, he tells him that although he promised he would win him the crown he doesn't intend to keep it there! Ever more powerful GENERAL CRACK's army then takes over and Leopold and Maria Luisa become fugitives. However, they are found, captured and brought to him. GENERAL CRACK tells The Emperor that he must balance the books but unfortunately he doesn't have a wife! Leopold is taken away and Luisa is left alone with GENERAL CRACK. (Now this is one of my favourite scenes in the film.) GENERAL CRACK tells Luisa that gypsies have a quaint custom - an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth! He then forcefully kisses Luisa but she slowly puts her arms around him. (I thought this kiss/embrace shows much more passion than the famous Sea Beast kiss!) Mystified by her reaction, she tells him that she loves him. Alas, his revenge has fallen flat on his face and he lets the Emperor and Archduchess free. Returning back to his seat as Duke of Kurland, GENERAL CRACK accepts Maria Luisa's offer to be elevated as Archduke of Kurland.
The film was shot immediately after he and DOLORES COSTELLO returned from their honeymoon cruise. Barrymore looks wonderful in this film even though he was drinking heavily and was hospitalised during the shooting for an ulcer. There are some wonderful profile and posing shots of Barrymore, and again he's added a few of his own comic mannerisms to the film, which made me laugh!! (If you KNOW Barrymore, you'll KNOW what I mean!) No doubt, copies of this film will eventually get around so hopefully everyone can enjoy it as much as I do.