Cardinal Richelieu

Cardinal Richelieu

Year: 1935

Runtime: 82 mins

Language: English

Director: Rowland V. Lee

RomanceHistoryDrama

Should CLERGYMEN Actively Participate in POLITICS? The cunning Cardinal Richelieu must save King Louis XIII from treachery within his inner circle.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Cardinal Richelieu yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Cardinal Richelieu (1935)

Trace every key event in Cardinal Richelieu (1935) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Lords appeal to the pope and the king's edict

Feudal lords representing the French aristocracy appeal to the pope for help against Richelieu's edict. They accuse Richelieu of being mad with lust for power and warn that the edict could spark civil war. While the pope weighs a decision, the king signs the edict, giving Richelieu greater leverage.

1630 Papal court, Rome
2

Baradas moves the queen mother to seek Richelieu's dismissal

Count Baradas persuades the queen mother to visit the king at the Louvre to demand Richelieu's removal. His maneuver aims to turn the king against Richelieu and rally opposition to his policy. The scene sets the court for a power struggle that follows.

1630 Louvre, Paris
3

Richelieu explains the bribe and his motive

Richelieu enters through a secret doorway to address the accusation, explaining he accepted 10,000,000 francs from the Duke of Normandy. He says the money was used to strengthen the king's army so France could later seize the duke's domain. He asserts his sole ambition is to make France a great power and vows loyalty to the king.

1630 Richelieu's palace
4

Lenore’s romance emerges

Richelieu's ward Lenore, newly out of a convent, has fallen in love with Andre de Pons whom she has met only once. Richelieu recognizes that this romance could threaten the political balance at court. The development adds a personal stake to the looming power struggle.

1630 Richelieu's palace
5

The king notices Lenore and moves to marry her

The king, inspecting Richelieu's palace, becomes interested in Lenore and orders that she be brought to court so she can be married. Richelieu suspects the marriage could be a pretext for the king to seduce Lenore and resists vehemently. The scene tightens the tension around Lenore's fate.

1630 Louvre Palace
6

Richelieu tests Andre's loyalty

Richelieu commands Andre to marry Lenore and tests his loyalty, threatening death if he refuses. Andre protests that he is in love and cannot comply, but Lenore's determination and revealed kinship with Richelieu complicate the choice. The test reveals the depth of Richelieu's political scheme.

1630 Richelieu's palace
7

Lenore and Andre wed

Lenore and Andre marry, a union orchestrated within the palace to secure political objectives and unite the realm. The event unsettles the court but is framed as a peace offering to the king. The king mourns the prospect of ruling without Richelieu but accepts the arrangement.

1630 Palace / court
8

Lords align with foreign powers and Paris pressure grows

The lords meet with representatives of England, Austria, and Spain and pledge their support against Louis. They push to keep the king's army from leaving Paris, leveraging crowd pressure to demand protection for the city. The foreign alliance intensifies the stakes for Richelieu's position.

1630 Paris
9

Richelieu leads troops out of Paris

Le Moyne refuses to move the troops due to an order preventing him from leaving Paris, so Richelieu takes command and leads the army out of the capital. This bold move aims to secure the field and force Le Moyne to take charge from afar. The maneuver shifts the balance of military power toward Richelieu's control.

1630 Paris
10

Baradas exposes the queen mother's treaty and Andre contemplates murder

Baradas tells Andre that Richelieu arranged his marriage as a peace offering and orchestrated his arrest to bring Lenore into the king's orbit. He then reveals that the queen mother is carrying a secret treaty to the Spanish, exposing a wider conspiracy. Andre weighs a deadly option in response.

1630 Paris
11

Andre learns he's been tricked

Andre discovers Lenore is tied to Richelieu and realizes he has been manipulated by Baradas. The revelation shifts his loyalties and undermines the planned assassination. The personal and political lines blur as hearts and power collide.

1630 Palace
12

Richelieu seizes the treaty and proclaims unity

Richelieu locates the queen mother and seizes the secret treaty, intending to present it to Louis as proof of treachery. Before he can reach the court, the king's troops move to seize him, forcing him to take a sanctuary stance with a cross to approach the king. He then presents the treaty and proclaims that France is now united as one great kingdom with Louis, while he remains Louis' shadow.

1630 Richelieu's palace / court

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 08:26

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Cardinal Richelieu

Don't stop at just watching — explore Cardinal Richelieu in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Cardinal Richelieu is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Cardinal Richelieu Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Cardinal Richelieu, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Cardinal Richelieu Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Cardinal Richelieu

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Cardinal Richelieu. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Cardinal Richelieu

More About Cardinal Richelieu

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Cardinal Richelieu: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Cardinal Richelieu

Similar Movies to Cardinal Richelieu

Discover movies like Cardinal Richelieu that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.