Queen Margot (La Reine Margot) (1994)

75% of critics liked it
(24 reviews)
85% of users liked it
(7,613 ratings)

The historical novel by Alexandre Dumas was adapted for the screen with this lavish French epic, winner of 5 Césars and a pair of awards at the Cannes Film Festival. Isabelle Adjani stars as Marguerite de Valois, better known as Margot, daughter of scheming Catholic power player Catherine de Medici… More The historical novel by Alexandre Dumas was adapted for the screen with this lavish French epic, winner of 5 Césars and a pair of awards at the Cannes Film Festival. Isabelle Adjani stars as Marguerite de Valois, better known as Margot, daughter of scheming Catholic power player Catherine de Medici (Virna Lisi). Margot is an heiress to the throne during the late 16th century reign of the neurotic, hypochondriac King Charles IX (Jean-Hugues Anglade), a time when Protestants and Catholics are vying for political control of France. Catherine decides to make an overture of good will by offering up Margot in marriage to prominent Protestant Huguenot Henri of Navarre (Daniel Auteuil), although she also schemes to bring about the notorious St. Bartholomew's Day massacre of 1572, when tens of thousands of Protestants are slaughtered. The marriage goes forward but Margot doesn't love Henri and takes a lover, the soldier La Mole (Vincent Perez), also a Protestant from a well-to-do family. Murders by poisoning follow, as court intrigues multiply and Catherine's villainous plotting to place her son Anjou (Pascal Greggory) on the throne threatens the lives of La Mole, Margot and Henri. The American release version was cut to 145 minutes. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Patrice Chéreau
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 9, 1994 Wide
On DVD: Jul 1, 2003
Studio: Miramax Films

Critic Reviews

John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
will linger in memory long afterwards
Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
Everything's scenery, even the story.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Lively as spectacle shot at authentic locales.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Serving as opening night of the 1994 Cannes Festival, this bloody account of French royalty divided critics, often along national lines, eliciting debates of French versus Hollywood cinema; good production values help this overlong violent saga.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Cinematic Dessert....Very Tasty
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Tough to sit through, and not really worth all the effort.
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online
Lavish and disturbing, if somewhat cold. Adjani is typically solid.

Read all 7 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Michael S

This film should be considered a classic, but instead, I'm afraid, it's considered completely underwatched, underappreciated, and underrated, and it's deserving of so much more!
hawk l

Historical drama of epic proportions, sumptuous yet gritty, held together by fine performances from Isabelle Adjani, maidenly, distant, yet passionate and Virna Lisi as the villainous Catherine de Medici. Labyrinthine yet compellingly flamboyant.

Cast

            Isabelle Adjani as Margot

            Daniel Auteuil as Henri of Navarre

            Jean-Hugues Anglade as Charles IX

            Vincent Perez as La Mole

            Virna Lisi as Catherine of Medici

            Dominique Blanc as Henriette of Nevers

            Pascal Greggory as Anjou

            Claudio Amendola as Coconnas

            Miguel Bosé as Guise

            Asia Argento as Charlotte of Sauve

            Julien Rassam as Alencon

            Thomas Kretschmann as Nancay

            Jean-Claude Brialy as Coligny

            Jean-Philippe Écoffey as Conde

            Emmanuel Salinger as Du Bartas

            Laurent Arnal
            
            Richard Bohringer as Voice of Coconnas [uncredited]

            Valeria Bruni Tedeschi
            
            Gregoire Colin
            
            Philippe Duclos
            
            Marina Golovine
            
            Johan Leysen as Maurevel

            Bruno Todeschini as Armagnac

            Ulrich Wildgruber as Rene

            Daniel Breton
            
            Jean Douchet
            
            Charles Nelson Reilly
            
            Barbet Schroeder as Advisor

            Jean-Marc Stehle as Innkeeper

            Bernard Verley as Cardinal

            Marc Citti
            
            Laure Marsac as Antoinette

            Otto Tausig as Mendes

            Tolsty as Hangman

            Carlos López
            
See full cast