Bed. Reception Photoplay complimented the plot, dialogue and acting, calling it a "fine talkie," while The Modern Screen Magazine said it was "... an amusing story ...". The Film Daily lauded the directing and the acting, stating that the film was an "Excellent satirical comedy", and said "The subtle but sure-fire humor of Lowell Sherman and the superb acting of Nance O'Neil are the outstanding features of this fine production". The magazine also complimented the French version of the play. Motion Picture Magazine liked the picture, calling it "Clever Satire - Cleverly Done", and they especially enjoyed Sherman's acting. Jack Grant of Motion Picture News gave the film high praise, titling it "Delightful Sophistry". He complimented the entire cast saying that it "... could hardly be improved upon", singling out the performances of Astor, Sherman, O'Neil, Warwick, and Emery. Grant also enjoyed Sherman's direction. Overall he described the picture "As simon-pure entertainment for intelligent audiences this talker has few equals in this class." Notes The Royal Bed was also produced by LeBaron in a French-language version entitled Echec Au Roi, directed by Léon D'Usseau and Henri de la Falaise, with a translation of Ruben's screenplay into the French language by Robert Harari. Leo Tover was the cinematographer on this film as well, which starred Françoise Rosay, Pauline Garon and Emile Chautard. At both the Los Angeles and Chicago screenings, the film was titled, Le Roi s'Ennuie. The play on which this film is based, The Queen's Husband by Robert E. Sherwood, was performed at the Playhouse Theatre in New York City from January through May 1928. It was produced by William A. Brady and Dwight Deere Wiman and directed by John Cromwell. It starred Roland Young as King Eric, Gladys Hanson as The Queen, Katherine Alexander as Princess Anne, and Gyles Isham as Freddie Granton. A one-hour radio adaptation of the play was presented on Lux Radio Theatre on December 30, 1935, featuring Frank Morgan. Gladys Hanson reprised her role as Queen Martha. In 1958, the film entered the public domain in the United States because the claimants did not renew its copyright registration in the 28th year after publication. References External links lobby card(archived) 1931 films 1931 comedy films American comedy films American black-and-white films American films based on plays Films directed by Lowell Sherman Films set in Europe American multilingual films 1931 multilingual films RKO Pictures films 1930s