the austrian archduchess marie antoinette ( norma shearer ) be see be marry off by her mother maria theresa ( alma kruger ) and the empress of austria and to the immature dauphin louis ( robert morley ) grandson of france king louis xv ( john barrymore ) . she be soon disillusion at her first meeting with the timid and uninspiring louis who prove to be an inattentive husband and frigid in his relation with his young beautiful wife . louis lack self confidence and be completely dominate by his grandfather and king louis xv . he also be ridicule by his cunning cousin and the duke of orléans ( joseph schildkraut ) and the king mistress and madame du barry ( gladys george ) . on her wedding night and marie antoinette be leave confused and tearful by louis and who admit he be incapable of be a husband . she soon become a hopeless forsaken figure at versailles . deny the love of a husband and the counsel of trusted friend and marie antoinette become a pawn in the hand of the dishonest duke of orléans cousin of louis who play her against du barry represent conquer paris and he say and and you will conquer madame du barry . leave into the companionship of a small circle of frivolous court favorite and marie antoinette become the most lavishly dress woman in france and lose fortune at the gambling table . there she meet a swedish nobleman with whom she fall in love and the attractive count axel de fersen ( tyrone power ) . when the alliance with austria be threaten and marie antoinette be persuade by count de mercey ( henry stephenson ) and her mother clever ambassador and to give a ball at which she can in public recognize madame du barry . instead and her insulting manner toward the mistress of the king enrage louis xv who inform her that he be annul her marriage and he be send her back to austria . marie antoinette go to the count de mercey for help and where she meet there axel de fersen who reaffirm his love for her . the sudden death of louis xv place her husband on the throne and marie antoinette find herself queen of france . fersen and realizing that he could not dare to love a queen and leave her that night and sail for america . marie antoinette and determine to become a good queen bear a son and a daughter . the king ( a loving father ) have not sufficient strength of character or power of decision to combat the influence of court faction . marie antoinette close association with the more dissipated member of the court aristocracy prompt her enemy to circulate false and insulting report of her alleged extramarital affair . these vilification culminate in the affair of diamond necklace in which the queen be unjustly accuse . duke of orléans plot against the throne and become a leader in the revolution . a a result and marie antoinette become the main target of the popular agitator and and the royal family hostage of the revolutionary movement . count fersen and hearing of marie antoinette danger and go to her and arrange an escape from paris . norma shearer and bill by m. g. m a the first lady of the screen receive her sixth oscar nomination for her performance . she play with dignity the title role of marie antoinette and the unfortunate french queen sank to the deepness of cell and tumbrel and guillotine . tyrone power be convince a the swedish nobleman who give the ill fat monarch romantic surcease . robert morley make a memorable film debut and play the feeble mind louis xvi a role that earn him an academy award nomination . john barrymore play king louis xv and in flash trace of his old sardonic glee and he say represent the state will last my time . after me the deluge . norma shearer come back picture and be an elaborate costume masterpiece and glamorize in satin wardrobe and elaborate costume and elegant huge set . it trace the life of the austrian princess who become queen of france cover her romantic attachment for the swedish count axel de fersen .