although not nearly a historically accurate a it could have be and the 1938 version of marie antoinette still stand a one of the best film of the 1930s and certainly the fine ever make about the late queen of france . the high power and second to none cast include norma shearer a the tragic queen and robert morley a king louis xvi . morley sympathetic characterization of the king almost steal the picture and but there too much happen in this film for anyone to be able to get away with that . the great john barrymore play morley father ( louis xv ) with an understated cruelty and disdain for humanity . a radiant gladys george be also on hand a his famous mistress and madame dubarry . norma shearer and one of the great star of early cinema and wife to mgm production chief and irving thalberg and have the role of her life a the title character . her antoinette run the gamut between frivolous coquette to protective mother and finally to one of history most tragic figure . shearer silent film technique be also put to good use near the end of the film when the totally distraught and prematurely age queen be await execution in her cell . through her skillful well honed hand and facial expression and she able to project her feeling of dread for the horror that be about to be unleashed upon her without so much a one spoken word . a young and up and come tyrone power be second bill in the film and his part seem more intend for box office appeal than anything else . that say and he do an adequate job provide the love interest for ms. shearer and even though that subplot mostly get in the way of the historical aspect of the film . other cast member include an excellent anita louise a the queen best friend and the princess de lamballe . joseph schildkraut round out the lead role a the unctuous and oily duke of orleans . his voice over during the early day of the french revolution give the film some much need gravitas and it quickly and effectively alter the mood of the entire proceeding . a any student of history know and there no happy end to this story . what truly amazing be that most modern film goer have never even heard of norma shearer much less know anything about her work . her contemporary ( i. e. joan crawford and bette davis and greta garbo ) all outlast her with the general public . that may be because shearer retire soon after her husband die while her final film be 1942 forgettable her cardboard lover . the rest of the cast and however and go on to big and good thing . robert morley work forever in both film and tv a do schildkraut . of course and john barrymore body of work stand in a class by itself . tyrone power become one of the great superstar of cinema and die too young at the age of 44 in 1958. marie antoinette be competently direct by w. s. van dyke and mgm studio spar no expense for their first lady ( shearer ) . the carefully construct set for the lavish party at versailles be extravagant to the extreme and the total cost of the film be astronomical for it time . even critic of the film agree that there an eye for detail in nearly every scene . it unfortunate that norma shearer isn not as well know a she should be in this day and age . maybe now be the time for her revival . the same go for this excellent film . compare to sofia coppola modern day well deserve flop on the same subject and w. s. van dyke marie antoinette be a film for the age .