Marie Antoinette (1938) in Color — Starring Norma Shearer & Tyrone Power

Marie Antoinette (1938) — Buy This Classic in Color

Marie Antoinette (1938) is a lavish, sweeping historical drama starring Norma Shearer in one of her greatest performances as the ill-fated Queen of France, with Tyrone Power as the dashing Count Axel de Fersen and a scene-stealing Robert Morley as the hapless King Louis XVI. Directed by W.S. Van Dyke for MGM, this professionally colorized version brings the spectacular opulence of Versailles and the terror of the Revolution to dazzling new life. Buy your colorized copy today for €15.00 and own this stunning classic movie in color.

Plot Summary

The young Austrian Archduchess Marie arrives at the glittering, treacherous French court to marry the awkward, painfully shy Dauphin Louis — a match arranged entirely for political advantage between two great empires with no regard whatsoever for the feelings of either young person involved. Marie finds herself stranded in a world of suffocating court etiquette, vicious political intrigue, and relentless gossip, married to a kind but hopelessly inept husband who has no idea how to be either a lover or a king. Lonely, frustrated, and desperate for genuine human connection, she falls under the spell of the devastatingly handsome Swedish Count Axel de Fersen and begins living a life of reckless, spectacular extravagance — the legendary balls, the gambling, the breathtaking gowns — that earns her the undying hatred of the starving French people who call her Madame Deficit. The classic movie chronicles the full, tragic arc of her extraordinary life as revolutionary fervor sweeps across France with unstoppable, terrifying momentum: the fall of the Bastille, the mob’s invasion of Versailles, the royal family’s desperate attempted flight, their capture and imprisonment, Louis’s execution, and finally Marie’s own trial before the Revolutionary Tribunal — where the woman who once cared only for pleasure and fashion faces her accusers with a courage, dignity, and moral strength that transforms her utterly in the audience’s eyes. Norma Shearer delivers a towering, Oscar-nominated performance that takes Marie from frivolous, naive girl to martyred queen with absolute emotional conviction, while Robert Morley is heartbreakingly sympathetic as the well-meaning Louis, John Barrymore is magnificently corrupt as the scheming King Louis XV, and Tyrone Power brings romantic intensity to the doomed love affair that haunts Marie’s entire life.

Cast & Crew

Director: W.S. Van Dyke

Stars: Norma Shearer, Tyrone Power, John Barrymore, Robert Morley, Joseph Schildkraut, Gladys George, Anita Louise

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This colorized version of Marie Antoinette finally reveals the breathtaking opulence that MGM lavished on its most ambitious costume drama in the full visual splendor it has always deserved. The original black and white photography captured the elaborate palace sets and stunning costumes with impressive scale, but the professionally colorized restoration transforms the experience entirely — revealing the rich gold leaf and crystal chandeliers of the Versailles throne room, the sumptuous silks and jewel-encrusted fabrics of Marie’s legendary wardrobe, the deep royal blues and crimson reds of the court furnishings, and the stark, terrifying grey stone of the revolutionary prisons — all rendered with meticulous frame-by-frame precision. The visual contrast between the dazzling excess of the pre-revolutionary court and the grim, colorless austerity of the Terror becomes overwhelmingly powerful in color. Now also available in colour.

Buy Marie Antoinette in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Marie Antoinette is a classic film of remarkable ambition and emotional power. Norma Shearer earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her magnificent, career-defining performance, and Robert Morley received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in his American film debut as the tragically inadequate Louis XVI. The film was a deeply personal passion project for MGM’s legendary producer Irving Thalberg, who had championed it for years as a starring vehicle for his wife Shearer — but Thalberg died in 1936 before production could begin, and the film was completed as a tribute to his vision. The production employed over 1,500 extras, constructed some of the most elaborate and expensive sets in MGM history, and featured costumes designed by Adrian that remain among the most celebrated in all of cinema. At 149 minutes, it was one of the longest and most expensive films of its era, and its combination of intimate human drama and epic historical sweep remains deeply impressive. The restored colorized version allows modern audiences to watch this magnificent historical epic with the visual richness that its extraordinary production values have always deserved.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 149 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is this the complete version of Marie Antoinette?
A: Yes, this is the full 149-minute theatrical release starring Norma Shearer and Tyrone Power, professionally colorized frame-by-frame from the restored original.

Q: How does the colorization enhance the viewing experience?
A: The colorization is transformative for this film — MGM spent a fortune on elaborate costumes, palace interiors, and grand crowd scenes specifically designed to convey opulence, and seeing them in full color finally delivers the visual impact the production team intended.

Q: Is this a historically accurate film?
A: The film takes some creative liberties, particularly with the romance between Marie and Count Fersen, but captures the essential sweep of Marie Antoinette’s extraordinary life and the French Revolution with impressive scope, genuine emotional power, and meticulous period detail.

Q: Who else is in the cast?
A: John Barrymore delivers a memorable, wickedly entertaining performance as the dissolute King Louis XV, Joseph Schildkraut is chillingly effective as the scheming Duke of Orleans, and Gladys George brings warmth and compassion as Madame du Barry.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: DRM-free MP4, compatible with virtually any device or media player.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: €15.00 for instant download. The colorization process ensures every scene looks stunning in color.

Q: Can I watch on multiple devices?
A: Absolutely. The file is DRM-free, so you can watch on your TV, tablet, phone, or computer.

Related Colorized Classics

• City for Conquest (1940)
• The Valley of Decision (1945)
• The Bride Wore Red (1937)
• Ladies of Leisure (1930)
• The Champ (1931)