More interested in playing checkers with the servants than in governing his people, King Eric VIII is dominated by Martha, his queen, a humorless woman who believes in doing her royal duty above all else. Her daughter, Princess Anne, however, loves commoner Freddie Granton, the king’s secretary, and refuses to marry her mother’s political choice, the foppish Prince William. After the queen leaves for a promotional tour of America, a long-fomenting revolution erupts on the night of Anne’s birthday ball, and the palace is bombed. The king agrees to meet with the revolution’s leader and, after hearing his cause, promises him that if the revolutionaries lay down their arms, he will oust General Northrup, the powerful, dictatorial premier. After some manipulation and collaboration, the king rids the country of Northrup, while insuring better living conditions for his subjects. With the uprising squelched and the queen back from America, Anne’s wedding to William proceeds as planned, though under protest from the princess. Minutes before the ceremony, however, the rejuvenated king, in final defiance of his wife, secretly marries Anne and Freddie himself and arranges for their passage to common freedom.
The Royal Bed 1931 HD | Comedy film directed by & starring Lowell Sherman | Mary Astor & Anthony Bushell
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Movie Info
The Royal Bed is a 1931 American pre-Code satirical comedy film produced by William LeBaron and distributed through RKO. The film was directed by and starred Lowell Sherman, along with Mary Astor and Anthony Bushell. The screenplay was adapted by J. Walter Ruben based on the 1928 play by Robert E. Sherwood titled The Queen’s Husband. It would be one of a handful of RKO pictures which was produced in both English and French language versions.
Plot
Princess Anne plans to run away with Freddie Granton, the commoner secretary of her father, King Eric VIII, once her domineering mother, Queen Martha, has left for a vacation in America. Anne is therefore aghast when the Marquis of Birten brings news that he has negotiated her political marriage to Prince William of Grec, a man she has never even met. Dismissing Anne’s vehement protests, the Queen is delighted, a feeling not shared by Anne’s loving but ineffectual father.
Meanwhile, the Premier and General Northrup warn that a revolution is brewing. He wishes to execute large numbers of political prisoners, but cannot without the King’s signature. The Queen wholeheartedly approves of these stern measures. The King promises to attend to it, but after Northrup and the Queen leave, he orders his secretary to misplace the death warrants. Led by Laker, the rebels rise up after Northrup gets Parliament to grant him dictatorial powers. Anne seizes the opportunity to try to flee with Granton, with her father’s approval. However, when she believes that the King is in real danger, she refuses to leave him.
Doctor Fellman, a moderate rebel leader, comes to see the King to demand his abdication, but agrees to stop the fighting in favor of negotiation. Then Northrup insists he is in charge now and laughs in derision when the King claims the people are stronger than Northrup’s army and navy. Next to arrive is Prince William. Despite his admission that he dislikes Anne, he is prepared to do his duty and go through with the wedding. Then Fellman and Laker show up. The King surprises Northrup by dismissing him from his service and putting Fellman in charge, ordering him to set up general elections as soon as possible.
The Queen, newly returned from America with a much-needed loan, tells her husband in private that she knew the whole revolution was a bluff to force Northrup from power. The King has one last deception planned (of which she is unaware). After she leaves for the wedding, he has Granton brought to him. He speedily marries Anne and Granton and sends them on their way to “exile” in France.
Cast
- Lowell Sherman as King Eric VIII
- Mary Astor as Princess Anne
- Anthony Bushell as Freddie Granton
- Hugh Trevor as Crown Prince William of Grec
- Nance O’Neil as Queen Martha
- Robert Warwick as Premier and General Northrup
- Gilbert Emery as Phipps
- Alan Roscoe as Marquis of Birten
- Frederick Burt as Doctor Fellman
- Carrol Naish as Laker
- Desmond Roberts as Major Blent
- Nancy Lee Blaine as Lady in Waiting
- Lita Chevret as Lady in Waiting
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