Madame Dubarry (Warner Bros.) (1934)

ADAPTED FROM THE WARNER BROS. PICTURE STARRING DOLORES DEL RIO CHAPTER I OUIS XV, King of France, was unhappy. He sat in the magnificent throne room in the Palace of Versailles, watching his ministers and secretaries file out slowly. Only the Due de Choiseul, his Prime Minister, and the sly Due de Richelieu remained behind. Louis gazed gloomily about the elaborate room, the throne room—the symbol of all the glory and pomp that was France. The room from which the King ruled his loyal subjects. His loyal subjects! Louis knew all too well how loyal they were. ‘He had just listened to dozens of tales of corruption and open revolt, brought about by the rotten regime that surrounded the French Court of the eighteenth century. The peasants in some quarters were refusing to work, saying that their masters were too extravagant and profligate. “T am the unhappiest man in Europe, Richelieu!”, said the King with a deep sigh. “Surely not, your majesty!” “Ah, yes. The king is getting old. He cannot find even a fleeting moment of loyalty from any of his subjects. As for love—ah, that seems to be a closed book to me. Since the death of my beloved Madame Pompadour... Tell me, Richelieu, is there—in my entire kingdom—a woman who would be willing to love a tired old king without murmuring ‘Your majesty, I have a cousin!’ ” The Due de Richeliew smiled his sly smile and winked at the “Your majesty, Prime Minister. have you forgotten the Deer Park?” “Bless my soul!” exclaimed the King. “How are the little deers? I haven’t been there in months! We’ll go tonight!” The Deer Park, as one astute nobleman put it, was a “memorial’ to Madame Pompadour. There she had devoted a great deal of time and energy to the training of beautiful young girls for the exclusive delight of the King, girls from all provinces of France, as well as girls from noble families. Pompadour knew the weakness of her royal lover —but she did not intend to let it interfere with her power! When Louis arrived at the Deer Park, the girls were brought out for his inspection. None would do! One was too coy; one was too bold; one was too frightened, and another immediately mentioned the fact that she had an unele. The King was even more depressed than before. In another room of the Deer Park sat a_ beautiful, simply dressed brunette, with her hands in her lap, listening intently to the powerful Due de Richelieu. “Remember, Jeanne,” he was saying. “You are the Countess Du Barry. Jean Vaubernier, the little milliner’s assistant, is gone forever. So is the Jeanne who is known so well on the boulevards of Paris!” : The new Countess Du Barry smiled sweetly. “The .Countess Du Barry will succeed,” she replied, as the Duke left the room to prepare the king for the newcomer. “Your Majesty,” said the Duc de Richelieu, “I have found the perfect Cinderella! An _ extraordinary creature! I have taken the liberty of inviting her to a supper at the palace. Louis was skeptical. He wanted to believe someone; wanted even more to believe in someone, and was particularly desirous to have someone believe in him—as a man, rather than as a King. He was no fool, this royal wastrel, although he frequently allowed himself to be fooled. He did not believe Richelieu when that wily schemer began to extoll the charms and virtues of a young woman whom he had invited to meet the King. Nevertheless, Louis was bored. His visit to Deer Park had been thoroughly disappointing. He welcomed an opportunity to confound Richelieu by disapproving of his friends. He told the Due to bring the lady to supper. * * * The supper was a huge success. Du Barry proved to be all that the Duc de Richelieu had said of her. She completely captivated the King. The next morning Jeanne awoke—in the Palace of Versailles, to find Lebel, the King’s valet, standing by her bed. Jeanne looked at him. “What is that noise?” she asked, sleepily. “Noise, madame?” “Has the populace come to murder me — so soon?” said Jeanne, with a yawn. “No, madame! Outside your door are the: merchants of Paris —ordered here by the King for Madame’s pleasure!” “Oh-h-h!” said Jeanne, hap“Then I’m staying for a Lebel bowed solemnly. “Yes, patron after their own hearts! A footman entered the boudoir. “His Majesty, the King!” he announced, sonorously. — Lebel motioned to the merchants. “Out, gentlemen!” he | Gifts to a Goddess Du Barry was like a child in the midst of a glorious dream. She ordered everything! (Dolores Del Rio, as wanted everything! She the famous favorite of a famous king, in a scene from Warner Bros. great new picture, “Madame Du Barry,” coming to the Strand Theatre.) madame, I should judge that you are to become a permanent resident of Versailles. Shall I bring in the merchants?” “Yes, Lebel—bring them all in! Can I have anything I want?” “Anything, madame — by the king’s orders!” The Parisian merchants filed in slowly, laden with precious goods. There were priceless brocades — fabulous jewels — caseades of fine lace — pets, toys, expensive baubles. Du _ Barry was like a child in the midst of a glorious dream. She wanted everything! She ordered everything. The merchants were as pleased as Du Barry. Here was a royal demanded. “But leave everything!” “Everything, monsieur?” “Everything! Madame Du Barry will buy all of your goods!” The king charged into the room. Du Barry, who had exposed her charms quite freely to the merchants, now drew the bedeovers up to her neck with pretended modesty. “Your Majesty,” she said, “you have made me very happy!” “You must call me Louis,” he said. ae —. “Very well, Louis it shall be!” she replied with a flirtatious roll of her eyes. (Continued tomorrow) Tada ADAPTED FROM THE WARNER BROS. PICTURE STARRING DOLORES DEL RIO CHAPTER II Minister, the Due de Choiseul, hurried down the garden Px Duchess de Grammont, sister to the King’s Prime path, her beautiful brocade gown fluttering with her rapid walking. She was noticeably agitated, and dabbed at her eyes with a lace handkerchief. On the lawn before her she could see the king’s three daughters. They were playing quoits, one of the few sports allowed by the rigid court etiquette. Their elaborately — stiff gowns made it impossible to catch the quoits—so behind each girl stood a _ liveried footman, who wearily picked up _ each quoit as it was dropped by a clumsy Princess. Adelaide was the elder of the three, and, by rights, the first lady of the land, since the death of her mother, and her sister-inlaw, the Dauphiness. She dominated the three sisters, so it was to her that the Duchess spoke first. “Your Highness,” Duchess, “something has happened!” Adelaide dropped her quoits and hurried to de Grammont, closely followed by the Princesses Victoire and _ Sophie. “What is it, madame?” she asked, breathlessly. “The king,’ announced the Duchess, “is mixing omelettes again!” The three princesses gasped in unison. “Not omelettes!” they said the dreadful cried. “Oh!” ais age!” “A new mistress at Versailles? Impossible!” breathed the indignant Sophie. “But, duchess! Who demanded Adelaide. The Duchess lowered her eyes hypocritically. “If what they say is true, Your Highness, all France knows her!” “Shocking!” said the king’s daughters, like three trained magpies. “We shan’t acknowledge her! We shan’t speak to her! Oh, dear father—how could he?” The Duchess de Grammont, who had tried her best to ste}. inte the shoes of the king’s departed mistress, Madame Pompsdour, hurried back to her brother, the Due de Choiseul, to report her said Victoire. “Not at *s she?” progress. The intrigue against Du Barry had begun! * * * The King was mixing omelettes again! In the kitchens of Versailles, Louis was surrounded by his courtiers. The omelette for Jeanne, Countess Du Barry, and the new favorite of the king, toed it after some _ hesitation. Then the king himself had a happy idea. Omelet de Amour! The omelet of love — surely it was appropriate for the lovely Long Love the King! “Do you know,” asked Louis, “that I fall more violently in love with you every day?” (Reginald Owen, as King Louis XV of France, makes love to Dolores Del Rio, who plays the title role in Warner Bros.’ new film hit, “Madame Du Barry,” which comes to the Strand Theatre soon.) must be perfection itself. Each of the gentlemen-in-waiting had a suggestion. One _ suggested Omelet a la Reine, which would never do. Omelet Cupido was extremely tasty, but Louis ve new occupant of the rooms directly over Louis’ own! “T am the best cook in all France!” said Louis proudly, as he delivered his culinary effort to Du Barry, who got up in bed and smiled happily. Du Barry ate the omelet without comment. Inwardly she was quivering with delight — _ to think that the king had cooked her breakfast with his own hands. But it would never do to let him know that she was pleased. Jeanne knew how to handle men! She smiled up at him. Then she looked out of the window. There before her was spread the beautiful countryside near Versailles, basking under the warm summer sun. “T adore the summer,” said Du Barry. “Except for one thing. There is no snow!” Louis looked into Du Barry’s eyes. “Do you know,” he said, ‘that I fall more violently in love with you every day?” “Do you know, my dear,” said Du Barry, “that you are the biggest liar in the world?” Louis was indignant. “Very well, 0 prove it to you. Every day, from now on, I’ll send you a bouquet of roses tied with a string of diamonds!” “And JVll take them,” said Jeanne, not at all impressed. “Tll give you the Chateau of Luciennes. The Queen nagged me to give it to her every day she lived — but I refused her. It is yours!” “Thank you, Louis,’ said Du Barry, with a sigh. She again looked out of the window at the countryside. “T’ll even have you presented at court — in spite of all the sour faces! There! Does that prove that I love you?” “No, Louis—it does not prove anything to me!” “Mon dieu! roared the King. What does?” “IT want to go sleigh-riding this afternoon — in the snow!” said Du Barry, provocatively. (Continued tomorrow) Page Eleven