superb silent version of the story of francois villon . although remade in the thirty a if i be king and with frank lloyd directing and preston sturges script and ronald colman star and this version be even well . barrymore and with a cohort of comedian and play the comic fool and the wine depress villon with a verve that colman could not match . the photography be startle in it beauty and innovation and the support cast and particularly conrad veidt in his american premiere and the incredibly beautiful marceline day and and the support comic and slim summerville and hank mann and steal every scene they be in . it be a shame that barrymore do so few first rate comedy . among his sound film and only his lead in twentieth century and his support role in midnight can compare to this and and those stand up only because of his superb voice . in this silent movie and barrymore must tell his tale without benefit of word and and he do so and alternately hilariously unrecognizable a the king of the fool and tenderly a villon in love . he even get to leap around in the swashbuckling style of fairbanks and most convincingly . he also let his support cast have their share of glory and capering in this ensemble work like any talented comic of the era . finally and a brief word about alan crosland and a director know today only for direct the first talk feature and the jazz singer in the same year this be release . crosland be a careful and innovative and delightfully original director and and it be a shame that more of his work be not know . perhaps this movie and far more interesting a a movie than his best know work and will be your introduction to his other talent . if so and you could do far bad .