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10 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
Not an image less than than interesting to be found., 14 March 2002
8/10
Author: rsoonsa (rsoonsa@bandbbooks.com) from Mountain Mesa, California

Victor Sjostrom's final directorial effort is made in England by the resourceful silent film taskmaster, and he is aided by a competent cast, magnificent score (Arthur Benjamin) and a clever scenario (Arthur Wimperis) in this engrossing historic drama which deals with the efforts of Cardinal Richelieu (Raymond Massey) to quell rebellious Huguenots in 17th century southeastern France. To achieve his purposes, Richelieu employs the services of Gil de Berault (Conrad Veidt), a dashing swordsman, to serve as a spy for Catholic King Louis XIII, assigning the duellist to travel to Foix in order to infiltrate the castle of the Huguenot leader, the Duke of Foix, wherein Berault falls in love with Lady Marguerite (Annabella), the Duke's sister, and where many adventures take place during the course of this romantic, witty and exciting film.

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7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Enjoyable Period Drama with Plenty of Intrigue, 30 January 2006
Author: Snow Leopard from Ohio

This is an enjoyable period drama that combines a little history, some action, some romance, some dry and occasionally macabre humor, and most of all plenty of intrigue. It has an interesting historical setting, centering on the devious Cardinal Richelieu, one of history's more interesting (if hardly admirable) figures. While there isn't much here to take seriously, it is good light entertainment.

Conrad Veidt stars as a dreaded duelist under sentence of death, to whom Richelieu offers a pardon if he can bring in a Huguenot duke whose plans for an uprising have the Cardinal in a panic. Raymond Massey is very well cast as the Cardinal, and he does full justice to the role. Veidt is believable as Gil, and his deadpan style works rather well with some of the occasional lines of dry humor.

Veidt's character is accompanied by a slippery servant played with good humor by Romney Brent. The heart of the movie comes in Veidt's interactions with the duke's sister, played by Annabella, who makes her a worthy adversary for the swordsman, both with her beauty and with her brains.

Beyond the basic details of the anticipated conflict, the story relies less on the historical background than on the easily understood human drams among the characters. Veidt finds himself torn between his word, his affection for Annabella, and his fear of death. The servant and the duke's sister likewise have their own dilemmas to face, and these give some depth to the story, which is nothing deep, but is rather entertaining and interesting in its own right.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
"I see you are a scoundrel on the right side.", 18 July 2007
7/10
Author: classicsoncall from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Even though I was quite entertained by this film, I couldn't help thinking about who the target audience might have been back in the late 1930's, or who, other than old time film nuts like myself might be the slightly bit interested in it today. It's part of an eclectic genre that might appeal to a fan base of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" or any other movie dealing with stories of sixteenth century France, which is to say, virtually non-existent. Still, it's an interesting story on a number of levels, including mystery, intrigue, and romance, with a cast that includes a host of well known professionals.

This was my first look at the actress Annabella, and quite honestly, I think she could have held her own against some of the current greats of the day in the looks department. She's the romantic interest at the center of the story as Gil de Berault's (Conrad Veidt) mission to arrest the Duke of Foix (Wyndham Goldie) is met with one challenge after another. Berault's nick name is 'The Black Death' as regards his skill with the sword, and he's spared his life following an edict against dueling if he brings in the rebel Huguenot leader to Cardinal Richelieu (Raymond Massey). For Berault it would have been a relatively easy task if not for Lady Marguerite (Annabella), but alas, love is blind. His nobility and loyalty is severely tested, to the point of sending the Duke on his way instead of certain death at the hands of the Cardinal. That he himself is spared at the film's finale might be considered almost a twist ending considering the temperament of the power lusting Richelieu. Chalk one up for the romantics.

Actor Romney Brent provides just the right amount of comic relief in an otherwise rather serious enterprise, utilizing a pick pocket routine and clever conversation with his mentor Berault. He's at the center of the old missing bag of diamonds trick, which Berault uses to his advantage when his back's against the wall. It's another humorous diversion that cements the relationship between the undercover swashbuckler and his lady love, and it pretty much works. I guess the only question I would have, given all the subterfuge at the Foix castle, is why was the missing Duke's sister calling all the shots instead of the Duchess?

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3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Cheers for the Victor, 2 December 2007
6/10
Author: wesconnorsehny from Earth

Congenital swashbuckler Conrad Veidt (as Gil de Berault) can't keep his sword in its sheath, despite a law against dueling; so, he is sentenced to death. Mr. Veidt receives an offer of exoneration from ruthless and powerful Raymond Massey (as Cardinal Richelieu); but, he must first capture Mr. Massey's enemy, a revolutionary Duke. Veidt manages to install himself as a guest in the Duke's castle, with its master away. While waiting for his prey to return, Veidt becomes smitten with the Duke's sister, Annabella (as Lady Marguerite).

Notable as Victor Sjöström final film as director; and, the direction of "Under the Red Robe" is certainly a highlight. The performances of the three leads are also excellent, intensified by Mr. Sjöström, a master filmmaker. Unfortunately, this re-make of a 1923 swashbuckling silent doesn't offer very much action, which doesn't help its already slow-moving story. Romney Brent (as Marius) contrasts the intense lead performances, as Veidt's light-heeled lackey.

****** Under the Red Robe (5/31/37) Victor Sjöström ~ Conrad Veidt, Annabella, Raymond Massey

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7 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
A disappointing final effort, 27 November 2003
5/10
Author: Mattias Thuresson from Stockholm, Sweden

With the aid of the Swedish Film Institute, a collection of Victor Sjöström's movies will "tour" around the world to various film clubs and like so I have had the pleasure of watching most of the movies he directed. Sadly though, Sjöström's final effort proves to be the most disappointing. Conrad Veidt is without a doubt less dashing than Errol Flynn playing a debonair French swordsman - with a German accent.

He's not the only one though with an accent, Annabella with a thick French one, her sister the countess speaks the Queen's English and the men at the inn sounds like peasants from the English countryside. It is all rather confusing.

I don't know why Sjöström accepted the direct this movie, perhaps he was eager to direct again but too many constraints were put on him. The end result looks like any movie that includes musketeers or cardinal Richeliu.

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Good and pretty much unknown adventure yarn, 25 February 2008
6/10
Author: dbborroughs from Glen Cove, New York

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Conrad Veidt plays Gil De Berault, a duelist and rogue who occasionally helps Cardinal Richelieu (Raymond Massey). Needing to have an opponent to the crown found and killed, Richelieu sends De Berault on a mission. However De Berault finds romance with his enemies sister and must find away to keep everyone, especially himself, alive.

Veidt makes an odd swashbuckling hero. To be honest he may have been a bit too long in the tooth, but he still manages to give a good performance as man who knows his way around a sticky situation. His witty delivery and occasional bits of daring do make up for any short comings his age may have inferred. While far from perfect it is the sort of thing thats perfect at 1am when you can't sleep, though odds are you'll be like me and end up really past your bad time waiting for the no always certain conclusion.

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