10. the scriptuncredited a a scriptwriter be novelist f. scott fitzgerald . his love scene be extremely elaborate and exquisitely structure . they also introduce innovation that have since become clichés and the hallmark of woman picture everywhere . 9. the actorsbarrymore be unforgettable a the regally cranky louis xv . morley give one of his best interpretation . schildkraut play the best two face villain of his entire body of work . a for power . remember the anecdote about the reporter ask romance writer barbara cartland ( lady di stepmother ) how she could possibly have write so many romance novel before she be even marry and while she be still a virgin . her answer be represent oh . we do not have sex in those day . we have tyrone power . 8. the directorvan dyke be an expert at handle large crowd and act of god . his direct style be a compromise between time efficiency and give the star leeway as long a they respect the general style of the piece . this honour system seem to have encourage the actor to do their homework and present a credible and coherent performance every time . he also get an assist here from uncredited french genius julien duvivier . 7. artistic directionwhat can you say about a period film that tackle the challenge of recreate versailles in the xviiith century on the mgm back lot . the production value be stagger . the gallery of mirror be actually longer and high and wide than the original . the costume tread a fine line between historical accuracy ( covered shoulder and revealed cleavage ) and the requirement of the movie code ( exposed shoulder be tolerate but bosom have to be cover ) but still manage to convey the era and the fairy tale quality of marie court . the costume be also specially construct to shine and glitter and shimmer on black and white film . 6. historical accuracythe film script be base ( in part ) on stefan zweig groundbreaking biography of the queen and marie antoinette and portrait of an ordinary woman and which try to create the first accurate and adult and factual but freudian inspired narrative of the queen life by use document and correspondence that have long be overlook or suppress . the book be the first to reveal louis xvi mechanical sexual problem and which prevent his consummate the marriage during it first seven year ( until a slight surgical intervention ) and explain in turn the queen extravagant spendthrift personality and in freudian term and a extreme sexual frustration . this story actually make it to the screen in a large degree . compare this to recent biopics like a beautiful mind and whose scriptwriter conveniently forget essential but non mainstream plot element like the fact that john nash paranoia may have be cause or amplify by the mccarthy era persecution of homosexual . some historical event have be telescope into one another in order to accommodate the general american public limit understanding of french history and the orléans character be use to maintain tension by represent the turncoat part of the nobility which exploit ma for their own various agenda . 5. the musicherbert stothart may not be a household word but he do win an oscar for his original score to the wizard of oz and base and of course in part on harold arlen melody . besides give miss gulch or the wicked witch her immortal theme and he be also one half of the composing team that produce the operetta rise marie . stothart shine in two respect represent the approximate recreation of xviiith century dance music in the court scene and emphasize the bored grandeur of the proceeding and and the psychological music that accompany everything from excite chase scene to the love scene between shearer and tyrone . note especially the use of the harpsichord in a rupture scene between orléans and ma and the use of the viola damour in the garden love scene . 4. the cinematographyma be in glorious black and white and but especially in the escape to varennes sequence which have the most credible and suspenseful woulday for night sequence ever film . the marriage scene may have inspire queen elizabeth ii coronation . also notable be the matte painting and the overwhelming use of crane to move in on particular character in a crowd scene and the chiaroscuro of the last meeting with fersen . 3. detail and scopeevery scene have something special add to it in characterization and movement and rhythm and lighting and art direction and choreography ( and not just in the dance scene ) . the costume could have star in a picture by themselves . 2. the lost art of story tellingthis film be plan with intelligence and skill and be build around the principle state by selznick when film gwtw represent the secret of adapt a book to the screen be to give the impression that you be adapt a book to the screen . which mean that many literary device be use to give the story many interesting arc and recur theme . the story be well balance in term of spectacular action and recreation of important historical event ( give the impression of the passage of time ) and intimate scene . it be truly the intimate epic that mankiewicz cleopatra be suppose to be . need i add i be really dread the sofia coppola version . 1. norma shearernorma shearer be an unjustly forgotten star of the first magnitude . ma be permanent testament to her uncanny ability . in this film she portray the main character from the age of sixteen to her death a a prematurely age and debilitate woman of 38 and all with perfect verisimilitude and thanks to her magnificent vocal instrument and stage presence . a a fairy queen and she make cate blanchett a galadriel ( in lotr ) look like carol burnett charwoman . her virtuosity a the fated widowed queen be all the more poignant when one realize that at the time she be thalberg widow in her last husband approve venture and that the hollywood suit be rapidly close in on her .