Vagabond poet François Villon rises to high office in 1463 Paris.Vagabond poet François Villon rises to high office in 1463 Paris.Vagabond poet François Villon rises to high office in 1463 Paris.
- Nominated for 4 Oscars
- 4 nominations total
- Director
- Writers
- Justin Huntly McCarthy
- Lou Smith(uncredited)
- Preston Sturges
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaRonald Colman was a frequent guest on Jack Benny's radio show, where he was supposedly Jack's next-door neighbor in Beverly Hills. A 1946 broadcast had Colman rehearsing his recital of the poem, "If I Were King," only to find himself being drowned out by Jack's violin playing from next door.
- GoofsThe idealized diet of a king includes hummingbirds, but those had not been discovered yet, as Columbus was still a few decades to come.
- Quotes
King Louis XI: If it is so easy to be king, how would you begin?
François Villon: First, by eating... my next step would be to clean house. The vermin who infest the palace I'd hang in clusters.
King Louis XI: What would you do next?
François Villon: Try to know my subjects and try to earn their devotion and loyalty instead of their loathing.
King Louis XI: By abolishing taxes, I suppose?
François Villon: No! By abolishing despair and substituting hope. By knowing the longings in their hearts as a man of the people would, seeing them as they are and admitting that their vices are as deep rooted as their virtues. I'd treat them as my children instead of as my enemies, so by knowing the worst in them, I'd bring out the best in them.
- Crazy creditsThe opening credits are displayed on the roofs and outside walls of houses.
- ConnectionsReferenced in So You Want to Be an Actor (1949)
Rathbone is a particular delight. Pre-Holmes, he revels in playing an unprepossessing cynic to whom everyone must bow because he happens to be the king. Colman is doing what he does best, playing an intelligent, superior man, without losing the common touch. A delight all the way around.
- juvenalxx
- Jun 15, 2005
- How long is If I Were King?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 41 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1