The Vagabond King (1930 film)

The Vagabond King
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLudwig Berger
Written byHerman J. Mankiewicz
Based onJustin Huntly McCarthy (novel and play)
William H. Post and Brian Hooker (operetta)
Produced byAdolph Zukor
StarringDennis King
Jeanette MacDonald
CinematographyHenry W. Gerrard
Ray Rennahan
(Technicolor)
Edited byMerrill G. White
Music byRudolf Friml
W. Franke Harling
John Leipold
Oscar Potoker
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • February 17, 1930 (1930-02-17)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,250,000

The Vagabond King is a 1930 American Pre-Code musical operetta film photographed entirely in two-color Technicolor. The plot of the film was based on the 1925 operetta of the same name, which was based on the 1901 play If I Were King by Justin Huntly McCarthy. The play told the story of the real-life renegade French poet named François Villon. The music of the film was based on a 1925 operetta, also based on the play If I Were King by McCarthy. The operetta is also titled The Vagabond King with music by Rudolph Friml and lyrics by Brian Hooker and W.H. Post. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction.