Marie Antoinette (1938)

Joseph Schildkraut: Duke d'Orléans

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mme. du Barry : I could have made you the biggest man in Paris, but you weren't smart enough. I found you out.

  Duke d'Orléans : That has its pleasant side, madame. For to be frank, as these gentlemen would like to be, I am as weary of paying homage to the somewhat overblown charms of the ladies who rule our ruler as the people are of paying their bills.

  Mme. du Barry : You royal lout!

  King Louis XV : This is enough. You can't forget, cousin, that your great-grandfather was regent of France. You have his ambition but without his talent. No, I'm not afraid of you, nor of the nobles, nor of the people, nor of ideas. The state will last my time. After me, the deluge.

  Duke d'Orléans : [bowing]  With your permission, Majesty.

  King Louis XV : And take care, cousin. The liberals you encourage for your ends may destroy you for theirs.

• Duke d'Orléans : Forgive my interruption. I seldom venture to intrude. I know you prefer your solitude.

  Marie Antoinette : It's true. I don't care a great deal for balls and banquets. There's a certain futility to court life, don't you think?

  Duke d'Orléans : Hummm...? Oh, quite, quite...

  Marie Antoinette : My husband, as you know, has simple tastes and I am content with my books and music.

  Duke d'Orléans : Oh, and here I come blundering into your little oasis.

  [He gets up to leave] 

  Duke d'Orléans : Well, the least I can do is to take myself away quickly.

  Princesse de Lamballe : Oh, no! No, no, no!

  Marie Antoinette : Please don't go! Do sit down.

  Duke d'Orléans : [He sits down again]  Too kind.

  Marie Antoinette : You know perfectly well how things are! No one ever comes to see me. Except my husband, of course.

  Duke d'Orléans : Oh, of course.

  Marie Antoinette : No one dares. Why does she hate me so?

  Duke d'Orléans : Why? Perfectly simple. Because in motion you are grace itself and in repose a statue of beauty. You know, my little cousin, you should become alive... how quickly you would depose that milliner.

  Marie Antoinette : Rebel?

  Duke d'Orléans : Rebel...

  Princesse de Lamballe : [Utterly shocked by his suggestion]  Oh, my!

  Duke d'Orléans : Don't you dare?

  Marie Antoinette : No! Du Barry has every advantage! Why, she could make men or degrade them! Who would dare to offend her to be my friend? Who but you?

  Duke d'Orléans : Will you permit me to give a ball in the honor of the dauphine of France?

  Marie Antoinette : But cousin...!

  Duke d'Orléans : Paris is waiting for you... lights, music, dancing, the opera. A new world is waiting for you! Conquer Paris and you'll conquer Madame Du Barry.