i saw the original release of marie antoinette i do not see it again until last night and also tonight while i have buy in on ebay . i be so fortunate to see the documentary on marie antoinette on pb on sunday night and the vhs version arrive on monday . so and see the documentary help me remember some drastically need french history . i will say see it again after all those decade and the movie have lose none of it beauty . although i have see other film which attempt to depict the french aristocracy and marie antoinette and none of them measure up to marie antoinette . norma shearer be the queen of hollywood through her husband studio while it be fit that every extravagant costume and fabulous wig be up front and center for this film that the way people dress in that era . w. s. van dyke get it all together with the direction and character development while donald stewart script be great and all of the actor or actress be brilliant . adrian be truly the star of the film for his ultimately extravagant gown ( 1250 of them ) and the black and white photography lose none of the sumptuousness even the men be beautifully costume . today and norma shearer ( marie antoinette ) act would be consider dated . one have to remember this be film in 1937 and ms. shearer be the queen and her mannerism be her own . she be brilliant in this film while her character be fully develop for the role from teenager to 39 year old hag . the movie could have show more of the misery and suffering of french peasant and why they hat her so . this film could not be make today and unless all of the gown and wig have be preserve and use again . the expense would certainly have be too great . morely ( louis xvi ) be stellar in his role . it open his career for many great character role . his portrayal of an introverted and sexually disabled teenage dauphin be perfect represent he make it know up front he be not the least bit interested in the beautiful austrian princess who be to be his wife and nor do he want the throne . be aware of his disability and he do not want the embarrassment of his condition to be publicly know and especially have two very handsome and virile brother . unfortunately and he have no choice because he be the dauphin . a some other user have write and john barrymore ( louis xv ) could have give a much strong performance a the lecherous old king and who publicly lavish every indulgence on madame du barry ( gladys george ) and who hat any female closer to the french throne than she . marie be a princess and she be a commoner . the animosity between the two be tastefully act and when it be a much nasty confrontation . tyrone power ( axel de fersen ) be at his height of popularity for his handsomeness and do a fair job in his role . joseph schildkraut ( duc dorleans while that a french name . ) be wonderful in his treacherous role and a true example of a court fop . anita louise ( princess de lamballe ) be fabulous . alma kruger ( maria therese ) be much too sweet for her role and the mother of sixteen child to marry off to other european court . her husband be joseph ii and holy roman emperor to her austro hungarian empress . all of these actor or actress be big name and and be cast to give stellar performance for one of the 30 big film . bravo to all . stewart script be historically close to the factual tragedy of louis xvi and marie antoinette . they be doom from the day the teenage princess arrive at versailles ( no mention of fountainbleu ) and through the childless year of their marriage and near annulment of same while the extravagant lifestyle of marie from boredom and the betrayal of the french court while the totally fictional diamond necklace hoax while their hopeless attempt to rule wisely a good parent while their attempted escape and capture while their separate imprisonment and with louis xvi execution much early than marie while her hoax of a trial include fictional accusation of incest with her son while and her eventual execution . use your imagination of the glory of versailles and good music and great cinematography a scene with marie run gracefully down dozen of stair to meet her lover be like ballet and you have a classic movie . now come the new version i have read every review on imdb about it and to see how many people mention the original movie and only one do while most people who have see the new version have no idea of french history and with many see what a shallow film it be and even without knowledge of the era . i shall view it and and then give my opinion . i know i shall advise all to track down the 1938 version and revel in it sumptuous debauchery . i would give it a 50 .