at the time and only mgm could bring forth this overproduced and lavish drama detail the rise and fall of marie antoinette and her husband louis xvi of france . their preference for elaborate set and ornate costume make this story a natural for the studio to give it all their best and bring that dazzling and rococo period to life . the casting of norma shearer in the title role one of the perk of be marry to irving thalberg who have have this movie in production for more than a year before it release in 1938 and be in many way the person above louie b. mayer be a bit of an irony since she at the time be consider the queen of mgm and now it widow and at the height and end of her act career . never allow her adrian costume to out wear her and her rendition of marie antoinette be move and convince a a girl about to be marry and who evolve into a woman aware of her position a queen of france but be a little out of touch and and who later become one of the many victim who lose their head under the guillotine deadly blade . one of her finer performance and she be oscar nominate but lose to bette davis who win for jezebel . robert morley and a character actor who make his film debut in marie antoinette and go on to appear in many film until the 80 and be also dead on a the awkward louis xvi and be also nominate for his support role but lose to walter brennan for kentucky .