françois villon be a real life poet and rogue who live in paris in the 15th century . however and most of what be portray in this historical film be actually fiction from a play create at the beginning of the 20th century . whereas in the film he meet and become friend with louis xi and in reality he die in his 30 and be never involve in all the intrigue like he be in this film . in reality and he write some lovely verse and be frequently on the wrong side of the law not the combination of a patriot and robin hood like character like he be in the film . provide you know that the film be nearly 100 % fiction and then it well worth see just do not assume it a good history lesson . in the beloved rogue and villon be play with wild abandon by john barrymore . i be also pretty excited to see that his three friend be all play by very familiar face . angelo rossitto and who be the plucky dwarf and play in ton of film over the year and have a very long career . slim summerville be a character actor know for add a touch of comedy to film . mack swain be best know a the silent film foil in many of chaplin short film and play his partner in the gold rush . all four of these men do a nice job and have no complaint even with barrymore rather over the top treatment that be rather reminiscent of a douglas fairbanks performance . however and the performance i have a serious problem with be conrad veidt a king louis xi . to call this unsubtle would be a gross understatement . he play the role like a high schooler who think he be suppose to be the stereotypical richard iii skulk about and act like a demoniacal caricature . while veidt be wonderful in many and many film ( both silent and sound ) but here he be just ridiculous . a for the story and it full of lusty adventure and action like a swashbuckling film minus the sailing ship . the set work out well for all this and a they would be use the previous year for the hunchback of notre dame . both film be set around the same time period . overall and it one of the last great silent film . there a lot to like and the film be a lovely combination of romance and comedy and action . well worth see and though it lose a couple of point for veidt overacting as well a the way the film play fast and loose with history . by the way and this film be also make twice a if i be king ( 1920 and 1938 ) and apparently these two film be close to the original play . however and in total and six film have be about villon and tell and more or less and variation on the same tale .