The Vagabond King (1956 film)

The Vagabond King
Film Poster
Directed by	Michael Curtiz
Produced by	Pat Duggan
Written by	Ken Englund Brian Hooker (book of stage musical) Noel Langley
Starring	Kathryn Grayson Oreste Kirkop Rita Moreno Sir Cedric Hardwicke Walter Hampden Leslie Nielsen
Music by	Rudolf Friml (Operetta) Johnny Burke Brian Hooker
Cinematography	Robert Burks
Edited by	Arthur P. Schmidt
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release dates	August 29, 1956 (1956-08-29)
Running time	86 Min.
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1.4 million (US)[1]

The Vagabond King is a 1956 musical film adaptation of the 1925 operetta The Vagabond King by Rudolf Friml. It starred Kathryn Grayson and Oreste Kirkop, with early roles for Rita Moreno and Leslie Nielsen. Sir Cedric Hardwicke played a notable supporting role. It was Kathryn Grayson's and Walter Hampden's last movie. Hampden, who played King Louis XI, died more than a year before its release. Mary Grant designed the film's costumes.

Plot

In fifteenth century France, the irreverent beggar François Villon (tenor Oreste Kirkop) is crowned "king for a day" by King Louis XI (Walter Hampden). He patriotically rallies his fellow beggars to fight when Paris is invaded by the Burgundians. Kathryn Grayson stars as the high-born heroine, and Rita Moreno as the lusty low-born wench, whose love for Villon eventually costs her life.

Cast

• Kathryn Grayson as Catherine de Vaucelles
• Oreste Kirkop as François Villon
• Rita Moreno as Huguette
• Sir Cedric Hardwicke as Tristan L'Hermite
• Walter Hampden as King Louis XI
• Leslie Nielsen as Thibault
• William Prince as Rene
• Jack Lord as Ferrebouc
• Billy Vine as Jacques
• Vincent Price as the narrator

Music

Music composed by Rudolf Friml, lyrics by Johnny Burke unless otherwise indicated.

• "Bon Jour" - Sung by Oreste Kirkop
• "Vive La You" - Performed by Rita Moreno (dubbed by Eve Boswell) and Vagabonds
• "Some Day" - lyrics by Brian Hooker - Sung by Kathryn Grayson
• "Comparisons" - Sung by Kirkop and Vagabonds
• "Huguette Waltz" - lyrics by Brian Hooker, Sung by Rita Moreno (dubbed by Eve Boswell)
• "Only A Rose" - lyrics by Brian Hooker, presented by Kirkop and Grayson
• "This Same Heart" - sung by Kirkop
• "Watch Out For The Devil" - sung by Kirkop, Grayson and chorus,

danced by ballet dancers at the King's Court

• "Song of the Vagabonds" - from the original operetta, performed by Kirkop, Moreno and Vagabonds

See also

• The Beloved Rogue, 1927 film
• If I Were King, 1938 film
• Jack Lord filmography

References

External links

• The Vagabond King at the TCM Movie Database
• The Vagabond King at the Internet Movie Database
• The Vagabond King at AllMovie