Madame Dubarry (Warner Bros.) (1934)

————s DU BARE ADAPTED FROM THE WARNER BROS. PICTURE STARRING DOLORES DEL RIO CHAPTER III ME Palace of Versailles was teeming with excitement. i Snow in July? Who ever heard of such a thing! Lebel, the King’s valet, was wringing his hands in dismay—for the King had told Lebel that he would go for a sleigh ride with Madame Du Barry, his new favorite, at five that afternoon. And knowing Louis, everyone realized that it must be arranged! In the newly decorated boudoir of ‘Du Barry, the favorite and her royal lover were arguing furiously.. Du Barry’s enemies had brought stories of her “past” to the King, and he was endeavoring to get the truth from her: “ve heard about all of the men in your life, madame!” said the King sternly. : “But that was before we met, Louis!” “So many, Jeanne—” “None of them loved me, my sweet!” “None of them? the Duke d’Aumont? du Brissac?” “Pouff!” said Du Barry, airily. “They meant nothing. There is only my Louis—” The Due de Richelieu poked his head into the room. “I take the liberty’—he began. “Indeed you do!” roared the King. “But, Your Majesty, present Madame—” “Oh, yes,” said Louis. Igo Richekew*— The Due de Richelieu entered. He was followed by a huge serving man, bearing on a cushion, like a big dish — a tiny little What about The Count I must “Come negro attired in a turban. “Madame,” said the king, with a smile. “May I have the great pleasure of offering you — Zamore! The perfect lady’s maid —direct from the Congo!” The little negro rolled his big eyes wildly. Du Barry clapped her hands and squealed with excitement. “How marvelous, Louis!” she said. “Oh, my darling little Othello!” She tickled his chin. Suddenly Zamore bit her finger like an angry parrot. She screamed, and slapped wildly at him. Zamore ducked. The king roared with laughter. “You little beast!” cried Du Barry. Then she smiled. “Oh, Louis, what a lovely present! I adore him! I know, now that you’ve given me the province of Luciennes, we’ll make Zamore the governor! He will look beautiful in the governor’s robes — and he will take very good care of me — and bite nasty people. Won’t you, Zamore?” “Me bite!” ejaculated Zamore threateningly. “Never!” frowned the king. “Make a mockery of an office so distinguished. Of course MOt tease “Louis! You have given me Luciennes! Well, I want Zamore to be governor!” “Madame!” Zamore became governor of “You have given me Luciennes! ernor!”’ A Siren and a Slave o’clock promptly, as ordered by the King, the royal sleigh drove up to the door of the palace. The King had taken a nap, and had quite forgotten his order— Well, I want Zamore to be gov(Gorgeous Dolores Del Rio tells the King what’s what in this scene from “Madame Du Barry,” Warner Bros.’ film revolving about the famous woman who swayed an empire. This popular film is coming to the Strand Theatre with a cast including Victor Jory, Osgood Perkins and many others.) Luciennes. All France grew indignant, when the news was known — but Du Barry did not eare. Her unpopularity with the people began when she and Louis went sleigh-riding, that summer’s . day. For sleigh-riding they went— in July—during one of the hottest days of the year. At five until Du Barry came running in to him. “Louis, you darling!” she cooed. She seized him by the hand and made him run down the stairs. Once outside, Louis’ eyes grew large with wonder. The entire countryside was covered with glittering white. Du Barry threw around his neck. her “Louis, arms you darling!” she cried. just as I wanted!” “What?” demanded the astonished Louis. “What is it?” he gingerly wet his finger and bent “It’s snow— over. He tasted the white substance. “Mon dieu!” he exclaimed. “It is sugar!” “But it look just like snow!” said the delighted Du Barry. “Louis, now I believe that you lovecdmexie.5. 2 Louis turned to his sad-faced valet, Lebel. “Sugar?” he queried, incredulously. The valet shrugged his shoulders. “Every grain in Paris, sire,” he said. “So that Du Barry could gv for a sleigh ride,” finished Louis. He sighed. “Madame, you are costing France a pretty penny!” “Do you mind, mon cheri?” She smiled bewitchingly. The King scowled for a moment, then smiled. “Jeanne,” he said, “you are worth everything. You make me forget that I am getting to be an old man—” “You. are not an old man, Louis,” said Du Barry, happily. “You are a young, handsome lover, the youngest and. most handsome lover any girl could have! But come — help me into the sleigh...” Louis knew that all of Versailles was watching him drive off with his beautiful new mistress. He knew what the wagging tongues were saying, and he thought mournfully to himself, “Trouble — more trouble!” His face expressed his dismay. Du Barry the courtesan bhecame Du Barry the child. “What is it, Louis? Do you not like our sleigh-ride? Have you forgotten how to play? Come — let’s be children together — don’t look so serious, my lover!” The King looked into her smiling eyes for a moment. Then he threw back his head and laughed a great, happy laugh. “Yes, Jeanne — we will play together — come what may!” (Continued tomorrow) ARR ADAPTED FROM THE WARNER BROS. PICTURE STARRING DOLORES DEL RIO CHAPTER IV fortune to placate the whims of his child-like mis W torts the infatuated King Louis was spending a tress, her enemies were not idle. The two leaders of the opposing faction, the Due de Choiseul and his sister, the Duchess de Grammont, were especially active. The Duchess told her brother, ‘‘Do you know why Du Barry has such a hold on His Majesty? I will tell you. He adores this creature because she is something new every day. She is diabolically clever — with the wisdom of the gutter. She is a thousand women — all in one! Can’t you see that we must destroy her? She is a menace to France —and especially to you, my brother.” “But how can I attack her? She—” “You must not attack her! You must destroy her!” said the Duchess. “TI tell you that she will be sitting on the throne of France —more powerful than even La Pompadour—as soon as she realizes her power!” “Very well,” said the Due de Choiseul, “she shall be destroyed. Tomorrow a flood of stories will sweep the country—all of which will reach the King. There will be petitions from Parliament, from the people. We will put an end to this scandal!” The Duchess de Grammont’s eyes narrowed. “That is right, brother—when we finish with Madame Du Barry, even the Page Twelve streets will refuse to take her back!” * * *% The campaign began in earnest. Soon the streets were filled with vile poems—the people were singing filthy songs about the King’s mistress—all instigated by the Prime Minister, who saw in her a threat to his own power. Du Barry cared not at all. She was entirely happy. She had everything she wanted. The King was a considerate lover. Her new apartments in the Palace were divinely comfortable. What did she care about the people? But one day, Du Barry burst into the King’s study just as he was interviewing the Duke d’Aiguillon, the governor of Brittany. D’Aigullon was a _ handsome, rugged young man, who held his office with serious dignity. And like the rest of France, he did not approve of the extravagant Du Barry. The King presented the governor to his mistress. “T have met Madame,” said d’Aiguillon deliberately, “ in a house in Paris—” “A gambling house,” said the quick-witted Du Barry, with the sweetest of smiles. “And I remember some gossip about you. It was during the war—someone had just returned from the battle of St. Cast. They said that they had found you hidden in a flour mill after the fight—” “Nonsense, Jeanne,’ said the King. Emmanuel was the hero of that battle. He covered himself with glory!” “And flour!” said Du Barry, as she curtseyed and left the study. The angry d’Aiguillon turned to the King. “Hundreds of thousands in your kingdom are slowly starving, sire, who know that Your Majesty gives fabulous jewels to Madame Du Barry—” The King looked annoyed. “Did you come all the way from Brittany to lecture me?” “No, sire—to give you my report! There is treason, rebellion, and hatred everywhere — graft and corruption—tyranny—” “Come, come, Emmanuel—” said the King. “You are unduly alarmed.” “But, sire—will not anyone tell you the truth? Do you ever read the songs and verses that are distributed every day about you and Madame Du Barry? They are arousing the populace against both of you! Using sugar as snow! Making a negro the governor of Luciennes! TI tell you, sire, the machine is cracking!” “T shan’t be here to see it, Emmanuel,” said the King, cheerfully. “And I am here to see Du Barry! She is charming, and I love her. She has the secret of making me forget that I am almost sixty—” d’Aiguillon bowed “Your servant, sire.” As he turned down the long briefly. A Question of Honor “Madame,” said d’Aiguillon, “are you so far removed from poverty that you don’t remember?” (Victor Jory, as the handsome Duke, pleads with Dolores Del Rio in a dramatic moment from Warners’ “Madame Du Barry” coming to the Strand. Others in the cast are Reginald Owen, Osgood Perkins, Verree Teasdale and Ferdinand Gottschalk.) eorridor of mirrors, Du Barry suddenly appeared at the door of a room. “Monsieur le Due!” she breathed. “Here!” Her hands were loaded with jewels of fabulous value. “I did not know about the conditions of the people! No one ever told me! Take these— and sell them to give money to those that need.” “Madame,” said d’Aiguillon, “are you so far removed from poverty that you don’t—remember?” (Fictionization continued on page 20.) “Oh!” said Du Barry, “you are hateful, Monsieur! I am only trying to please the King—and have a good time! Is that so wicked ?”’ “Madame — in spite of these jewels—I must look upon you as an enemy!” Du Barry shrugged her shoulders. “Oh, do!” she said, bitterly. “Please do! The shock of having a friend at court would be too much for me!” (Continued tomorrow)