The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)

43% of users liked it
(30 ratings)

Producer and director (Alexander Korda) followed up The Private Life of Henry VIII (one of the first internationally successful British films) with this historical comedy. After years in exile, the great lover Don Juan (Douglas Fairbanks) returns to Seville, the city of his salad days. However, Don… More Producer and director (Alexander Korda) followed up The Private Life of Henry VIII (one of the first internationally successful British films) with this historical comedy. After years in exile, the great lover Don Juan (Douglas Fairbanks) returns to Seville, the city of his salad days. However, Don Juan is now married and middle-aged, and his days as a spoiler of women seem to be behind him. When he learns that a young man in town (Barry McKay) has been posing as him and making time with the local ladies, Don decides to prove who the great lover truly is and attempts the seduction of Antonia (Merle Oberon), a beautiful dancer. However, Don's doctor informs him that girl-hunting will tax his fragile health, and his wife Dolores (Benita Hume) will no longer turn a blind eye to his infidelity. When the impostor is killed by a jealous husband, Don is relieved, as his "death" allows him to retire from his career as a rake with his reputation intact. But when the old itch returns, Don makes the sad discovery that if he can't convince women he's Don Juan, they simply aren't interested in him. The Private Life of Don Juan provided one of the few speaking roles for silent screen swashbuckler Douglas Fairbanks, and proved to be his last picture. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Alexander Korda
Genres: Drama, Classics

On DVD: May 12, 2009

Critic Reviews

Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
It really is a nice change to see Fairbanks in a movie where his activities don't resemble those of a hopped-up cokehead.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Not a great movie, nor one of fairbanks' best, but it's enjoyable and very funny, I liked it. The story is pretty good, but it could have been better.

Cast

            Douglas Fairbanks as Don Juan

            Merle Oberon as Antonia

            Binnie Barnes as Rosita

            Joan Gardner as Carmen

            Benita Hume as Dolores

            Barry MacKay as Roderigo

            Clifford Heatherley as Pedro

            Melville Cooper as Leporello

            Bruce Winston as Cafe Manager

            Athene Seyler as Theresa

            Hindle P. Edgar as Husband

            Gibson Gowland as Don Ascanio

            Lawrence Grossmith as Guardian

            Margaretta Scott as Tonita

            Edmund Breon as Author

            Annie Esmond as Dolores' Duenna

            Patricia Hilliard as Girl in Castle

            Diana Napier as Would-Be Wife

            Spencer Trevor
            
            Claud Allister as Duke

            Virginia Bradford
            
            Rosita Garcia as Wife of Tired Businessman

            Morland Graham as Don Juan's Cook

            Elsa Lanchester as Maid

            Gina Malo as Pepita

            Owen Nares as Actor

            Hay Petrie as Manager of the Golden Pheasant

            Abraham Sofaer as Street Bookseller

            Heather Thatcher as Actress

            Edmund Willard as Prisoner

            Veronica Brady as One of Don Juan's Early Loves
See full cast