Theoretical public domain

Back in April 2020, TCM ran Bardelys the Magnificent in conjunction with the first of the stay-at-home TCM Film Festivals. It's a silent from 1926, and since today it January 1, 2022, it's the day on which anything with a 1926 copyright should enter the public domain. With that in mind, I sat down to watch the movie.

John Gilbert plays Christian, the Marquis de Bardelys, a nobleman in the France of Louis XIII (Arthur Lubin) who has the reputation of being a sort of French Don Juan or Casanova, although Casanova came rather later if memory serves. Indeed, we see Bardelys getting into a swordfight with another man in the film's opening scene over the honor of the other guy's wife. But he's both good enough with a sword, and so charming, that he's able to get away with what he does.

Meanwhile, also in the royal court is the Comte de Chatellerault (Roy D'Arcy). He's been pursuing Roxalanne de Lavendan (Eleanor Boardman), daughter of a provincial viscount who isn't the biggest supporter of the King. Roxalanne spurns Chatellerault's advances, and when Bardelys gets in on the humiliation of Chatellerault, the latter issues a challenge. If Bardelys can't woo Roxalanne in three months, he'll give up his landed holdings to Chatellerault.

So Bardelys sets out to see Roxalanne and her parents, but along the way comes along a man who has just been killed, Lesperon. Lesperon was an enemy of the King who was wanted for treason, but Bardelys doesn't know that. In order to keep the wager a secret, Bardelys takes on Lesperon's identity, not knowing the truth about Lesperon. He goes to see the Lavendans and fairly quicky falls in love with Roxalanne for real. But Chatellerault comes along to arrest Lesperon, and isn't about to let on that the man arrested is in fact Bardelys. Bardelys will have to make a swashbuckling escape.

Now, Bardelys the Magnificent having been released in 1926, it should be in the public domain. And I suppose a silent version of all the moving images would be. But the opening title has both the 1926 copyright and a notice that the restoration print has a 2008 copyright. (I assume the score was commissioned for the restoration and also has a 2008 copyright.) Therein lies a story. Apparently, Bardelys the Magnificent was considered a lost movie for many years until a print was discovered in France in about 2006. However, that print was missing one reel, which was reconstructed using the surviving intertitles as a guide and both production stills and scenes from the trailer.

As for the movie itself, it's a well-enough made movie with a story that probably engaged the public back in 1926 but doesn't seem particularly special nowadays. Gilbert shows why he was a silent star, and Boardman is pleasing enough to look at. I'm glad that I got the chance to watch Bardelys the Magnificent, but have to admit that there are other silent drams I'd recommend first, even movies in the swashbuckling genre like the Warner Bros. Don Juan.