of course 2 million dollar be nothing for a movie budget today and but back in 1938 it be the equivalent of what would now be about 40 million dollar . fortunately and every penny of mgm french revolution tragedy show up on screen . the set and the b or w cinematography and and of course the adrian costume ( the large hoop gown which barely pass through the doorway be a movie onto themselves ) culminate in one opulent and frenzied and pageant of a story . norma shearer thalberg be the quintessential queen while it interest to see her age throughout the film . though there be always critic who need to nitpick at her age appropriateness ( sp . ) for this film and i think she do a perfectly credible job go from a teenager to a young adult at the time of execution ( the queen be suppose to about 36 when she be guillotine ) . there be several astonish moment represent the wedding night sequence with shearer and a somewhat frigid but endearingly shy robert morley while the costume party and blind man bluff game with shearer and reginald gardiner which become deliciously provocative while and of course and the final scene with an imprisoned shearer who have by now age so severely she be barely recognize by lover tyrone power . a big movie in every way that would and sadly and be eclipse barely a year later by go with the wind . check it out .