Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette

Year: 1938

Runtime: 149 mins

Language: English

Director: W.S. Van Dyke

HistoryDramaEpic history and literatureLavish dramas and sumptuous royaltyEnduring stories of family and marital drama

Young Austrian princess Marie Antoinette is sent to France to marry the heir Louis XVI in a strategic alliance. Once queen, she embraces luxury, indulging in fashion, parties, and flirtations. Her lavish lifestyle and foreign origins provoke resentment among a struggling French populace, fueling the animosity that later contributes to the Revolution.

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Timeline & Setting – Marie Antoinette (1938)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Marie Antoinette (1938). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1769–1793

Set in the late 18th century, the film follows Marie Antoinette from her 1769 betrothal to Louis-Auguste through the height of royal excess and the rising chorus of revolution. It traverses weddings, confidences, scandals, and the early stirrings of upheaval. The era culminates in abdication, imprisonment, and execution as the ancien régime collapses.

Location

Vienna, Versailles

The story unfolds across the Austrian court in Vienna and the French royal court at Versailles. It follows Marie Antoinette’s ascent to queenhood and the opulent, scrutinized world of 18th-century royalty. The locations highlight the drama of court life and the public gaze on a princess turned queen.

🏰 Historical European setting 👑 Royalty drama

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:40

Main Characters – Marie Antoinette (1938)

Meet the key characters of Marie Antoinette (1938), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Marie Antoinette (Norma Shearer)

Archduchess of Austria, young and buoyant at court’s start but increasingly shaped by the pressures of marriage, succession, and public scrutiny. The film tracks her transition from optimistic betrothal to a queen scrutinized for extravagance and defiance of tradition. Her charisma masks inner conflict as she negotiates loyalty, love, and dynastic duty.

👑 Royalty ❤️ Romance ⚖️ Duty

King Louis XV (John Barrymore)

A indulgent monarch whose weakness and authority vacillate between indulgence and fear of losing control. His decisions shape the fate of court politics and set the stage for the dynastic struggles that follow. His declining health and detachment amplify the pressures on Marie and her future.

👑 Royalty 🕊️ Power ⚖️ Duty

The Dauphin Louis-Auguste (Scotty Beckett)

The shy heir to the throne, more at home with simple crafts than court rituals. His vulnerability and growth through adolescence frame the narrative’s exploration of heredity, succession, and the strain of monarchy on a child’s shoulders. He embodies the crown’s uncertainty as revolution looms.

👑 Heir 💙 Innocence ⚖️ Duty

Count Axel de Fersen (Tyrone Power)

A Swedish count and foreign lover who navigates court politics while offering Marie emotional support. His affections complicate the queen’s obligations and reflect the tension between personal desire and political alliance. He embodies romance amid political upheaval and exile.

💘 Romance ⚖️ Duty 🕊️ Loyalty

Duc d’Orléans (Joseph Schildkraut)

The shrewd noble pushing for influence at court, often clashing with Marie and King Louis XV. He embodies the political schemer who leverages public sentiment for power, catalyzing events such as annulment and abdication.

👑 Aristocracy 🗡️ Scheming 🧭 Power

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:40

Major Themes – Marie Antoinette (1938)

Explore the central themes of Marie Antoinette (1938), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👑 Power & Privilege

The film portrays monarchy as a system built on birthright, ritual, and political maneuvering. Marie navigates a court where loyalty shifts with favors, and the Duc d’Orléans manipulates events to influence succession. Public image and private ambition collide as privilege shields and destroys lives. The fragile scaffolding of power is exposed as the crown wavers under pressure.

❤️ Love & Duty

Romantic entanglements drive personal choices against the demands of state and reputation. Marie’s relationship with Count Axel de Fersen tests loyalty to Louis XVI and to France, while her marriage with Louis-Auguste sets the stage for dynastic expectations. Duty to family, crown, and country often clashes with personal happiness. The story probes whether love can survive in a world governed by ceremony.

⚔️ Revolution & Downfall

The narrative charts the decay of the Ancien Régime as public unrest and political scheming culminate in abdication and revolution. From court intrigues to the guillotine, the film traces how power is undone by collective anger and upheaval. The fate of Marie and the royal family becomes a symbol of a society forced to confront justice and change. The era’s violence and upheaval overshadow personal tales of romance.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:40

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Marie Antoinette Summary

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Marie Antoinette (1938) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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