Professional Soldier (1935) in Color — Starring Victor McLaglen & Freddie Bartholomew

Professional Soldier (1935) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover Professional Soldier, the 1935 action adventure starring Victor McLaglen and Freddie Bartholomew, now available as a professionally colorized version. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Donovon Donovon, known simply as Donovon, is a tough, boisterous, hard-drinking mercenary soldier-of-fortune who has spent his entire adult life fighting in other people’s wars, hiring out his considerable military skills and his fearless courage to whoever pays the highest price. He has fought in revolutions across three continents, overthrown governments, defended others, and accumulated a lifetime of battle scars and colorful stories without ever developing an attachment to any cause, country, or person beyond the size of the paycheck at the end of the job. This time, a wealthy and ruthless revolutionary faction in a small European kingdom hires Donovon for what appears to be a straightforward assignment: kidnap the young King Peter, a boy monarch whose removal from the throne will clear the way for their political takeover. The scheme is simple enough for a man of Donovon’s vast experience, but the grizzled mercenary does not count on one critical thing: the boy king turns out to be a spirited, remarkably intelligent, and thoroughly brave youngster who idolizes soldiers and the military life and immediately attaches himself to his rugged captor with an enthusiasm and admiration that Donovon cannot resist. Instead of the terrified prisoner Donovon expected, he finds himself with an eager companion who peppers him with questions about battles and weapons, insists on learning military skills, and treats the kidnapping as the greatest adventure of his sheltered young life. As the unlikely pair spends time together in hiding, a genuine and deeply touching bond develops between the grizzled, world-weary mercenary who has never allowed himself to care about anyone and the lonely boy king who has been surrounded by protocol and courtiers his entire life but has never had a real friend who treats him as a normal boy rather than a royal figurehead. When the revolutionaries reveal their true and far more sinister intentions — they plan to harm or kill the young king rather than merely hold him until their political demands are met — Donovon faces the most important decision of his mercenary career: collect his substantial fee and walk away as he has done from every other job in his life, or risk everything to protect the brave, trusting child he has come to care for more than he ever thought possible. This classic movie is a rousing and heartwarming adventure about an unlikely friendship that transforms both a hardened soldier and a sheltered king.

Cast & Crew

Director: Tay Garnett

Stars: Victor McLaglen, Freddie Bartholomew, Gloria Stuart, Constance Collier, Michael Whalen

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Professional Soldier was originally filmed in black and white, capturing the excitement of its European adventure settings and the genuine warmth of the central friendship between a battle-scarred mercenary and a lonely boy king. This professionally colorized restoration brings new energy and visual richness to every scene with frame-by-frame precision, from the lavish royal palace with its gilded rooms and formal gardens where young King Peter lives in privileged isolation, to the rugged countryside hideouts and mountain retreats where Donovon and the boy forge their unexpected bond over campfires and military lessons, to the dramatic action sequences as the mercenary fights to protect his young charge from the very men who hired him. The colorization adds warm new dimensions to the period European settings — the rich royal furnishings, the military uniforms and decorations, the rustic countryside landscapes — while enhancing the visual contrast between the sheltered world of the palace and the rough, adventurous world that Donovon introduces the boy to. The colorized version adds visual richness to the adventure setting while preserving the heart and charm of this restored classic film. Now also available in colour.

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

Historical Significance

Released in 1935, Professional Soldier showcases two of the most distinctive personalities in 1930s Hollywood in a pairing that proved irresistible to audiences. Victor McLaglen, fresh from his Academy Award-winning performance in John Ford’s The Informer — one of the most acclaimed dramatic performances of the decade — here demonstrates his remarkable versatility in a lighter adventure role that capitalizes on his imposing physical presence, his natural charisma, and his gift for rough-edged comedy while still allowing moments of genuine emotional depth. Opposite him, the enormously popular and extraordinarily talented child star Freddie Bartholomew, who had captivated audiences worldwide with his performances in David Copperfield, Little Lord Fauntleroy, and Captains Courageous, brings intelligence, charm, and a maturity beyond his years to the role of the boy king. Director Tay Garnett, a skilled and versatile craftsman who would go on to direct the classic noir The Postman Always Rings Twice, created an entertaining and well-paced blend of rousing action, genuine humor, and heartfelt emotion that balanced its adventure elements with the touching development of the central friendship. The film was based on a story by Damon Runyon, the celebrated American author known for his colorful tales of Broadway characters, bringing his distinctive storytelling voice to this European-set adventure. Through modern colorization, this charming and entertaining adventure classic reaches new audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 75 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 a family-friendly adventure?
A: Yes, the film combines exciting action with the heartwarming relationship between a tough mercenary and a courageous young king, making it an entertaining and enjoyable adventure for viewers of all ages.

Q: Who is Freddie Bartholomew?
A: Freddie Bartholomew was one of the most popular and acclaimed child actors of the 1930s, known internationally for his starring roles in MGM classics including David Copperfield, Little Lord Fauntleroy, and Captains Courageous, bringing exceptional intelligence and natural charm to every role.

Q: Who wrote the original story?
A: The film was based on a story by Damon Runyon, the celebrated American writer famous for his colorful tales of Broadway characters and the sporting world, whose distinctive voice brought a unique flavor to this European adventure tale.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as an MP4 file that plays on virtually any device.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938)
• Bataan (1943)
• San Quentin (1937)
• Golden Salamander (1950)
• Rio Grande (1950)