Film / The Man in the Iron Mask (1939)

The Man in the Iron Mask is a swashbuckler film that was released by United Artists in 1939. It is based loosely on Alexandre Dumas' novel The Vicomte de Bragelonne, using its characters — Louis, Philippe, D'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, Aramis, Nicolas Fouquet, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louise de La Valliere — and allusion to the Man in the Iron Mask legend but for a very different storyline. Nevertheless, later screen adaptations would use the tropes of this production more than the novel: Louis the villain and Philippe the hero, the Musketeers getting a heroic sendoff, etc. Produced by Edward Small and directed by James Whale (with a screenplay by George Bruce), the film stars Louis Hayward (in the dual role of the twin brothers), Joseph Schildkraut, Joan Bennett, Walter Kingsford, and Warren Williams, Bert Roach, Alan Hale Sr., and Miles Mander as the Four Musketeers.

France 1638. Louis XIII's joy of the birth of an heir to the throne is lessened when he learns the Queen had given birth to twin sons. Foreseeing the possibility of Civil War by ambitious men using the two sons against each other for supremacy, Minister Colbert persuades the King to give one of his sons to his friend D'Artagnan who will keep the child in hiding, ignorant of his birthright.

Twenty years pass. Philippe, the son spirited away, has grown into a good, heroic figure thanks to D'Artagnan and his Musketeer friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Meanwhile, the son left to Royalty grows up to be King Louis XIV, a spoiled, cruel tyrant who makes the populace suffer under taxes and punishments. Fouquet, his self-seeking Minister of Finance, has Philippe and the Musketeers arrested and taken to the capital to be imprisoned. Certain situations force Louis and Fouquet to use Philippe to masquerade as the King. For the protection of his imprisoned father-figures, Philippe complies. This includes evading assassination attempts by the persecuted people and spending time with (and falling for) Louis' future bride Maria Theresa of Spain. Once the truth about Phiippe's birthright comes out, Louis decides to permanently imprison his twin brother, locking his features away in an Iron Mask, to be worn forever.

However, the newly-released Four Musketeers have something to say about that...

George Bruce’s adaptation would be later remade into The Fifth Musketeer, a German-Austrian film released by Columbia Pictures in 1979. It was directed by Ken Annakin and starred Beau Bridges (as the twin brothers), Sylvia Kristel, Ursula Andress, Rex Harrison, Ian McShane, Olivia de Havilland, and Cornel Wilde, José Ferrer, Alan Hale Jr., and Lloyd Bridges as the Four Musketeers.

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Tropes shared by both films:

• Actionized Adaptation: More swordplay.
• Adaptational Badass: Raised by the Four Musketeers, Philippe becomes a skilled swordsman capable of defending himself.
• Adaptational Heroism:
  • Aramis is stripped of any antagonist character and is portrayed as heroic as his fellow Musketeers in both adaptations.
  • Colbert, an ambitious schemer in the Novel, becomes a positive figure.
• Adaptational Villainy:
  • Louis XIV becomes The Caligula.
  • Fouquet becomes The Dragon to the villainous Louis XIV.
  • Louise de La Valliere becomes a villainous mistress with no connection to Athos.
• Ascended Extra: A minor character in the Novel, Philippe becomes the leading protagonist and gets a love interest.
• Assassination Attempt: Philippe is forced to impersonate Louis XIV so that he can be killed by assassins targeting the King. Fortunately, he evades the attack and defeats the assassins.
• Broken-Window Warning:
  • The 1939 version has peasants throwing rocks at the palace windows, interrupting Louis XIV's dinner with Maria Theresa.
  • The 1979 version has peasants throw objects at Madame de la Valliere's coach, among them a doll of Louis XIV with a noose around its neck.
• Canon Foreigner: Both versions bring Maria Theresa of Spain as a love interest.
• The Coup: For the good of the State (the people, the economy, the marriage alliance) the heroes decide that Philippe must secretly replace Louis as King Louis XIV.
• Death by Adaptation:
  • In the Novel, Louis XIV remains King and Philippe goes to prison (wearing the Mask) for the rest of his life. In these two adaptations, Louis XIV gets imprisoned, escapes and is killed off, while Philippe takes his identity.
  • Likewise, whereas Fouquet gets imprisoned in the Novel, both adaptations have him stabbed to death by D'Artagnan.
• Dies Differently in Adaptation: The film adaptations have the Musketeers die in combat.
• Final Battle:
  • The 1939 version has Philippe and the Musketeers Vs Louis, Fouquet, and his personal guard.
  • The 1979 version cleaves this down to two duels: Philippe VS Louis and D’Artagnan VS Fouquet.
• Historical Badass Upgrade: The historical Maria Therese was a more passive figure in real life. The person in both versions is politically-minded, sensitive to the people’s welfare, defiant to the powers that be, and resourceful. The 1979 version makes The Coup her idea!
• Leave No Witnesses: Both versions give the fate of any who knows about Philippe.
  • In the 1939 version, Colbert implies the fate of the physician and midwife who witnessed the birth of the other son:

    It’s a pity there is no D’Artagnan for them.

  • In the 1979 version, the Company of soldiers sent to arrest Philippe and the Four Muskteers are secretly executed. Their Captain, who ordered the execution, is subsequently killed by a minion of Fouquet.
• Lighter and Softer: The original Novel was a sad affair, considering what happens to the characters. This adaptation, however, displays this trope. Sure, the Ending moved from Downer to Bittersweet, but it is still uplifting instead of depressing.
• Nice Job Fixing It, Villain:
  • Although his motivations differ, both versions make it Fouquet’s idea to arrest Philippe and the Musketeers, taking them from their secluded home in Gascony to Paris. Because of this, Philippe learns his birthright, subsequently causing the fall of Louis and Fouquet. This could have all been avoided if Fouquet left them alone.
• Perfectly Arranged Marriage: Subverted. Maria Theresa can’t stand the real Louis but she falls for the impostor Philippe. When Louis is removed, the two get married.
• Preferable Impersonator: Maria Theresa falls for Philippe. She’s all for replacing the hated Louis for him.
• Runaway Fiancé: Revolted by Louis, Maria Theresa rejects the arranged marriage and runs away. Colbert, seeing the ramifications of this, convinces Philippe to intercept and persuade her to return.
• Slipping a Mickey: Maria Theresa does this to Louis:
  • In the 1939 version it is to get the key around his neck that will unlock the Iron Mask.
  • In the 1979 version it is to allow the Musketeers to transport Louis to the Bastille and switch places with Philippe (as well as to keep the cad from raping her).
• A Taste of Their Own Medicine: Louis has his brother Philippe's head imprisoned in an Iron Mask. Later, this encasement is given to Louis.
• Ungrateful Bastard: Realizing the switcheroo, Fouquet releases Louis. Is he grateful? No. The 1979 version has Louis attacking the minister.
• Wedding Smashers: The Wedding of Philippe (as Louis XIV) and Maria Theresa of Spain is temporarily interrupted. By Fouquet in the 1939 version, and Porthos in the 1979 version.
• Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?: On learning the truth, Louis initially refuses to kill his twin. The 1939 version has his narcissism prevent harming a person who has his face. The 1979 version is warned by the Queen Mother about the link she shares with Philippe: harm to one will bring pain to the other.

Tropes exclusive to the 1939 version:

• All About Me: Louis and Fouquet.
• Beard of Sorrow: Philippe is revealed to have grown this in his 1-month time in the Iron Mask.
• Death by Adaptation: Madame de La Valliere. Shot to death by Fouquet.
• Distinguishing Mark: Posing as Louis XIV, Philippe is able to prove himself to the Musketeers by a sword scar a Tax Collector gave him.
• Exact Eavesdropping: Desiring information for his own career advancement, Fouquet the Messenger secretly follows Louis XIII and Colbert and learns the truth about the King's twin sons.
• Frame-Up: Fouquet attempts to frame Colbert for embezzlement.
• Heroic BSoD: Subverted. Although the post-Mask Philippe has several traits of this trope- Beard of Sorrow, the Thousand-Yard Stare, a somber persona from his earlier one- he is still focused on defeating Louis and help the country.
• Homage: The ending showing the deceased Four Musketeers riding in Heaven is clearly a homage to The Iron Mask.
• Laser-Guided Karma: In his post-Mask confrontation with Louis, Philippe hues to this trope, making the metaphor of a pendulum: Louis making the people suffer has pushed the pendulum one way; now it will swing back for retribution.
• Please Shoot the Messenger: Revolted by Louis, Maria Theresa sends a courier with a letter to her father denouncing the French King and declaring her return. Fouquet’s men intercept and follow this trope.
• Post-Victory Collapse: D’Artagnan gets fatally shot by Louis. However, he manages to hold on until Louis is killed and Philippe & Maria Therese are married before succumbing to his wounds.
• Time-Passes Montage: Philippe’s time as the Man in the Iron Mask is abbreviated with scenes of a sun dial’s shadow quickly turning superimposed with Philippe’s suffering and Louis’ glee.
• Torture Always Works: Fouquet has one of protestors tortured. The man confesses to overhearing a plan to assassinate Louis XIV. Louis admits the tortured always say everything.
• You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Madame de La Valliere tries to join Fouquet in his plan to restore Louis XIV. Fouquet shoots her to death.

Tropes exclusive to The Fifth Musketeer:

• Almost Dead Guy: The mortally wounded Porthos manages to get from the Bastille to the Cathedral to warn his friends about Louis’ escape before dying.
• Answer Cut: When Colbert asks D'Artagnan about the boy (Philippe), D'Artagnan laughs. Cut to Philippe in a mock duel with Porthos and Aramis.
• Attempted Rape: Poor Maria Theresa has to face this in executing the plan to drug Louis. Fortunately she manages to fend him off and get him to drink the drugged wine before he tries again.
• Bird Of Prey: Louise de La Villiere sports a Hawk during a hunting party with Louis. When Maria Theresa intercepts them by accident, Louise tried to intimidate the princess by threatening her with the bird.
• Color-Coded Characters: The Four Musketeers- D'Artagnan wears Red, Athos wears Green, Porthos wears Brown, and Aramis wears Blue.
• Death by Adaptation: Surviving in the 1939 version, the Spanish Ambassador is killed by Louis in this film (trampled to death by a wild horse).
• Dive Under the Explosion: Impersonating Louis XIV, Philippe stands upon a floating platform to greet Maria Theresa on her barge. Realizing the platform is about to explode, Philippe commits this trope.
• Dramatically Missing the Point: Maria Theresa lures Louis so she can trick him into drinking drugged wine. At one point, Louis points to her shoulder. Oh, the Princess obliges, he wants to hold the jeweled brooch on her gown. She gives it to him. Louis throws it aside. No, he wants to see her breasts! At which he starts ripping open her gown.
• Evil Gloating: Doubly Subverted. Fouquet arrests Colbert and has him roughed up at the Bastille. He then takes him to a cell to present him Philippe in the Iron Mask to show off how all his plans to use the twin have come to ruin. What Fouquet doesn’t know is that the Musketeers have pulled a switcheroo: the Man in the Iron Mask claiming to be the King- and whom Fouquet orders to be whipped- is ACTUALLY Louis! Colbert suspects this and decides to play along, cursing Fouquet and the King.
• Faint in Shock: Philippe in the Iron Mask casts his eyes on Louis XIV. The reaction to the man’s resemblance to himself causes this trope.
• Hostage Situation: Philippe and the Four Musketeers more than hold their own against their captors, but when the Captain grabs their housekeeper Marianne, they are forced to surrender.
• Hotter and Sexier: A bigger emphasis on skin and sexuality on this one; more so in the Uncut version!
• Indy Hat Roll: Escaping the Bastille to warn his friends, Porthos releases the falling gate and manages to roll under it before it closes completely, cutting him off from his opponents.
• Language Barrier: Colbert accompanies Maria Theresa as she is escorted by guards. They converse in Spanish so the guards won't understand them.
• Loving a Shadow: Zig Zagged. Maria Theresa will judge if Louis XIV is the right husband for her, Alliance or not. She meets “Louis” (Philippe) and falls for him. Then she meets the real Louis and is disappointed. Then she meets Philippe and learns the truth and her love resurfaces.
• Make It Look Like an Accident: When Maria Theresa runs away, Louis questions then kills the Spanish Ambassador by locking him in a stable with a wild horse. Later, Louise de La Valliere tells the returned Maria her Ambassador was killed in a riding accident. Maria doubts this, knowing the man suffered from Equinophobia- fear of horses. She knows it was murder.
• Metaphorically True: At the Wedding, Madame de la Valliere tries to out Philippe. The Queen Mother then enters the scene and tells the unknowing Cardinal and public that the man before her IS her son. Philippe is biologically her son; She leaves out the fact that he is not her other son Louis.
• Ms. Fanservice: Ursulla Andress and Sylvia Kristel. This is more explicit in the European version, which grants them full frontal nudity.
• Nobody Here but Us Birds: At the Palace Celebration for Maria Theresa’s arrival, Philippe receives this signal from the hidden D’Artagnan to join him and the Musketeers.
• P.O.V. Cam: This camera position is on Philippe, peering through the eye holes of the Iron Mask, as he sees Louis for the first time.
• Prank Punishment: The Four Musketeers implement a punishment on Fouquet for imprisoning them and nearly getting Philippe killed. They bound and gag him with a bucket over his head.
• The Reveal: The 1939 version begins with the birth of the twin brothers and the necessary action toward the second child. This film begins when the brothers are adults. So the trope begins when the viewer sees Louis XIV for the first time after seeing Philippe. The revelation of their relationship happens in the middle of the film. Here it is two scenes: In hiding, the Musketeers tell Philippe the truth. At the palace, Fouquet has the Queen Mother tell Louis.
• Spared By Adaptation:
  • D'Artagnan and Athos.
  • Madame de La Valliere. Shot to death by Fouquet in the 1939 version, she departs this film unharmed.
• Stood Up: Madame de La Valierre waits for Louis for a private dinner. However, Louis never comes (Maria Therese has lured him away & drugged him for a kidnapping by the Musketeers). Realizing the trope, she leaves the suite drunk.
• Synchronization: Louis, learning Philippe is his brother (and rival to his throne), demands his death. The Queen Mother warns him of the spiritual link that twins share. Harming Philippe will bring harm to himself as well.
• Where's My Gun?: A group of soldiers surprise the Musketeers at their kitchen. Their swords are unfortunately out of reach, blocked by the enemy. Fortunately averted by Philippe jumping toward the supply and throwing them to his friends.