Royal Affairs in Versailles (French title: Si Versailles m'était conté) is a 1954 French-Italian historical drama directed by Sacha Guitry. Described as "a historical film showing Versailles from its beginnings to the present day", it tells some episodes through portrayal of the personalities who lived in the Palace of Versailles. Its sister films are Napoléon (1955) and If Paris Were Told to Us (1956).
The film is notable for the presence of a great number of well-known French actors, often appearing in short parts. One unknown actor playing a major character is Gilbert Bokanowski (credited as Gilbert Boka) portraying Louis XVI. Bokanowski was actually the film's production manager and was cast because of his strong resemblance to the monarch.
Its English translation title is If Versailles Were Told to Me. Despite French production, the film is best known by its English title Royal Affairs in Versailles.
Plot Historical human stories in connection with the Royal Palace, the Chateau of Versailles.
Cast
Michel Auclair as Jacques Damiens Jean-Pierre Aumont as Cardinal de Rohan Jean-Louis Barrault as François Fénelon Jeanne Boitel as Madame de Sevigné Annie Cordy as Madame Langlois Gilbert Bokanowski as Louis XVI Bourvil as museum guide Gino Cervi as Cagliostro Jean Chevrier as Turenne Aimé Clariond as Rivarol Claudette Colbert as Madame de Montespan Nicole Courcel as Madame de Chalis Danièle Delorme as Louison Chabray Yves Deniaud as Le paysan Daniel Gélin as Jean Collinet Fernand Gravey as Molière Sacha Guitry as old Louis XIV Marcel Journet as Monsieur de Beydts Pierre Larquey as Un guide du musée de Versailles Jean Marais as Louis XV Georges Marchal as young Louis XIV Lana Marconi as Marie-Antoinette Mary Marquet as Madame de Maintenon Gaby Morlay as Madame de la Motte Giselle Pascal as Louise de la Vallière Jean-Claude Pascal as Axel de Fersen Édith Piaf as Woman of the People Gérard Philipe as D'Artagnan Micheline Presle as Madame de Pompadour Jean Richard as Du Croisy/Tartuffe Tino Rossi as Le gondolier Raymond Souplex as Le commissaire-priseur Jean Tissier as Le guide du musée de Versailles Charles Vanel as Monsieur de Vergennes Orson Welles as Benjamin Franklin Pauline Carton as La Voisin Jean Desailly as Marivaux Gilbert Gil as Jean-Jacques Rousseau Marie Mansart as Madame de Kerlor Nicole Maurey as Mademoiselle de Fontanges Jean Murat as Louvois Jean-Jacques Delbo as Monsieur de la Motte Louis Seigner as Lavoisier Brigitte Bardot as Mademoiselle de la Rosille
Reception It was the biggest hit of the year in France and earned an estimated $900,000 US. References
External links
Royal Affairs in Versailles at Films de France