Madame Dubarry (Warner Bros.) (1934)

DU BARR ADAPTED FROM THE WARNER BROS. PICTURE STARRING DOLORES DEL RIO CHAPTER VII gee which revealed many of the charms that had won D U BARRY sat in her boudoir dressed in a black negli the King. She gazed into the fire, a tiny smile on her lips. She was waiting for her worst enemy, the Due de Choiseul, Prime Minister to the King. The rain fell steadily outside—it was a bleak, cold night. But Du Barry’s mood did not depend upon the weather. She was planning to revenge herself upon the Duke. She heard a knock on the door, and arose to answer it. There stood the Prime Minister. “Tt is so nice of you to come —and on such a fearful night, too!” “A pleasure, Madame!” “But you are so wet!” said Du Barry. “Look in that closet, my friend, and you will find a wonderful assortment of robes—and slippers — fit for a King! But His Majesty won’t be here to night and we can have a nice long — chat —. Make yourself comfortable.” The Duke smirked self-eon sciously at the King’s mistress and. then went into the little closet to change his wet clothes. Du Barry glided to the outside door, and locked it, hiding the key in the folds of her negligee. When the Duke returned, Du Barry was again sitting in front of the fire. She smiled as he entered. “T asked you here because I need your help and advice,” she said, confidentially. “onam. ab your “service; Madame,” said the Duke. “Madame, Indeed! Call me Jeanne!” The Duke bowed. “Jeanne!” “T know,” said Du Barry, artlessly, “that your sister hates me — but I had hoped that you would be my friend! J’m_ so tired, of quarreling with people! All I want is peace and quiet!” The Duke’s face was expressionless. “Yes, Madame?” “Jeanne! ... But Monsieur, I need a friend so badly—someone to advise and protect me in this intriguing court! Just look what happened tonight! Do you know why the Due d’Aiguillon gave me his arm in court? It wasn’t because he was my friend — he has told me that he hates me! It was only because his horrid plans against me had failed!” The Prime Minister looked properly amazed, although he Du Barry looked up at him. Wine and a Woman “I knew you would be my friend,” she said sweetly.” (Dolores Del Rio has something up her sleeve in this scene from Warner Bros.’ important new comedy, “Madame Du Barry.” The innocent victim of her wiles is Henry O’Neill, who is responsible for one of the most amusing scenes from this highly amusing film. The picture will be shown soon at the Strand Theatre, starting next Thursday.) was inwardly choking with glee. This Du Barry was not so bright after all — that much was certain. “Yes, Monsieur,” continued Jeanne, “that villainous d’Ai guillon tried his best to prevent my being received at court. He had my court gown stolen, my carriage wrecked, and my godmother, the Countess Bearn, kidnapped! But, I must have my revenge! I wish that scoundrel dismissed from court! He ecannot insult me! my friend?” The hypocritical de Choiseul arose to his feet. His face was Will you help me, stern. “Yes, Jeanne,’ he said sternly. “I shall ruin d’Aiguillon! An insult to you is an in sult to the King!” Du Barry looked up at him. “TI knew you would be my friend!” she said, sweetly. “But, Jeanne — I must have my reward—” Modestly she lowered her eyes and tried hard to blush. But it was too much of an effort — so she merely murmured “Your Gracesva. sol! Suddenly there was a commo tion *n the anteroom. A man’s indignant voice called out, “Jeanne!” Du Barry blanched. “The King!” she said, in terror. The Due de Choiseul started. “But you said he would not be here tonight!” he whispered, unbelievingly. Du Barry threw back her head and laughed quietly. Then she seized her own negligee and ripped it away with one fierce gesture. With a sardonic smile on her beautiful face, she began to scream, loudly and as if in terror. The Prime Minister stared at her, in amazement. “Jeanne, what does this mean?” he cried helplessly. The King was pounding furiously at the door. “Jeanne, what is happening?” he roared. Du Barry only screamed the louder. Suddenly the door crashed in. The King tumbled into the room, followed by Zamore, Du Barry’s little adjutant. He regained his feet instantly and took in the situation just as Du Barry had planned. There was his beautiful mistress, her negligee almost torn from her body, and there was the villainous Due de Choiseul, a look of the blackest guilt on his face! Du Barry rushed to the King and threw her arms about his neck. “Oh, Louis,” she whimpered. “You are just in time!” The King was speechless. He glared at Choiseul. “You dog!” he bellowed. “Louis!” sobbed Du Barry, “he came here, saying that he was wet and I let him dry himself! Then he—” “That. is untrue, Choiseul, indignantly. “Silence. Consider under arrest!” “Oh, Louis!” moaned Du Barry, as she buried her head on his shoulder. sire!” said yourself (Continued tomorrow) — ADAPTED FROM THE WARNER BROS. PICTURE STARRING DOLORES DEL RIO CHAPTER VIII Choiseul, one of her worst enemies at court, but pre ‘ ND so, Du Barry not only rid herself of the Due de vented an impending war between France and Eng land. de Choiseul had been planning this war for some months, and Du Barry, the common little milliner’s apprentice, had accomplished what the cleverest statesmen in all Europe had failed to do! For a time, everything was smooth sailing for the King’s favorite. There were other enemies at court, but all knew that Du Barry was responsible for the ruin of the Prime Minister, and naturally they hesitated to arouse her anger. Now the entire court was in a states of expectant excitement over the impending arrival of Marie Antoinette, the Dauphin’s fiancee, and daughter of Austria’s Queen, Maria Theresa. The marriage would mean an important alliance between the two most powerful countries in Europe. With the King and the rest of the court, Du Barry went to meet Marie Antoinette, who was traveling across France towards Versailles. It was a splendid scene, this formal reception of the daughter of the Queen of Austria, marred only by one incident. The two elaborate carriage trains met on a beautiful stretch of road some miles away from Versailles. Marie got out of her carriage and walked over to the King, greeting him gravely. She was a slim girl of fifteen, a rather pretty child, pretty but prim. He presented her to her future husband, the doltish Dauphin, to each of his daughters, Adelaide, Victoire and Sophie. Then he took Du Barry by the hand. “This is my very dear friend, the Countess Du Barry,” he said smiling. Marie Antoinette’s slim little figure stiffened. She looked at Du Barry, who was smiling cordially. “My mother told me I had to speak to you, but I do not wish to,’ said Marie Antoinette, primly. Jeanne did not change expression. “IT am happy to weleome you, Your Highness,” she said. Marie Antoinette rudely turned her back. Louis shrugged his shoulders. “More trouble,” he said. The King and his party entered their carriages and started back to Versailles, where elaborate festivities had been arranged in honor of the marriage. Spectacular fireworks were set off, a great ball was given in the magnificent ballroom at the Palace of Versailles, the populace was showered with gifts in honor of the approaching marriage. Louis was in his glory. In spite of his contempt for his stupid grandson, he was proud that the boy was to be married at last. Perhaps he would live to see a great-grandson worthy to mount the throne of France! It was in this proud mood that Louis sent for the Dauphin, full of grandfatherly words of wisdom regarding matrimony and the pitfalls that beset it. But it did not take him long to discover that the Dauphin hadn’t the slightest idea of the duties of a husband! In a rage, he sent for the Dauphin’s tutor, Monsieur De La Vauguyon. “What,” he demanded of the cowering tutor, “have you taught this idiot?” “The subjects, sire!” “What subjects?” “Geography, sire, matics—” “But what about his emotions? Has he ever done any experimenting along those lines?” “No, sire,’ said the _ tutor, dropping his gaze. “I can assuré Your Majesty that if His Highness had shown any signs of emotions—I should have rooted them out at once!” The King’ exploded. fool!” he roared. “But Your Majesty, I was not told to educate His Highness to be a family man!” said the tutor. Louis looked at him, then changed his mood. “I see,” he said, slowly. “Well, this is an excellent time to start. Monsieur —do you know what happened to me on my wedding night?” “No, Sire!” “T will tell you! I had a man like you for a tutor. Consequently I was as stupid as he was! But my grandfather saved me. He had a series of pictures drawn. Natural paintings — primitives! They were so good that I’ve kept them all these years in my private galleries. Here is the key. and mathe “You Take your pupil, Monsieur, put a torch in his hand, take him there, then leave him alone! “For how long, Sire?” “Tt depends on how long it takes for the pictures to pene the tense activity of the fete. Despite himself, he was a trifle excited. He did not think highly of the Dauphin, but that obese youth was, after all, Louis’ only grandchild and the heir to the Dance of the Sirens oS On the wedding night, the king gave an intimate little party for four or five hundred of his courtiers. (The lovely Albertina Rasch dancers execute the delightful “Dance of the Moonbeams” in War ner Bros. important new comedy, “Madame Du Barry.” Dolores Del Rio heads the cast which includes such notables as Victor Jory, Osgood Perkins, Reginald Qwen, Verree Teasdale and many others.) trate his brain. Give him half an hour!” But the pictures made little impression on the Dauphin, who emerged from the private galler ies looking singularly wunimpressed. On the wedding night, Louis gave an intimate little party for four or five hundred of his courtiers. Louis enjoyed the party. He liked the dancing, the singing, throne of France. Then, too, the union with Austria was a masterstroke of diplomacy. The King was pleased — with himself and with the world. Not so the Dauphin, however. Dancing and revelry interested him not at all. The Dauphin spent his wedding night explaining the laws of physics to his young bride. (Continued tomorrow) Page Twenty-one