palace, but when the Burgundians break down the city gates, he escapes to rally the common people to rout them and the defeated enemy then lift the siege. Not knowing the part he has played, Louis has Villon arrested again. It is only when Katherine and Father Villon testify on his behalf that the King realizes what he owes François and goes personally to liberate him. He and Villon now have some grudging respect for each other, and Villon admits to the King that Louis' job is harder than he once thought. The King on his side now feels obligated to reward Villon again. But wanting less aggravation in his life, Louis decides to pardon Villon only by exiling him from Paris. François leaves on foot, headed for the south of France, but Katherine squeezes this information from Father Villon and follows in her carriage at a discreet distance on the road, waiting for François to tire out. Cast Ronald Colman as François Villon Basil Rathbone as King Louis XI Frances Dee as Katherine DeVaucelles Ellen Drew as Huguette, Villon's girlfriend C. V. France as Father Villon Henry Wilcoxon as Captain of the Watch Heather Thatcher as the Queen Stanley Ridges as Rene de Montigny Bruce Lester as Noel de Jolys Alma Lloyd as Colette Walter Kingsford as Tristan l'Hermite Sidney Toler as Robin Turgis Colin Tapley as Jehan Le Loup Ralph Forbes as Oliver le Dain John Miljan as Grand Constable Thibaut D'Aussigny William Haade as Guy Tabarie Adrian Morris as Colin de Cayeulx Montagu Love as General Dudon Lester Matthews as General Saliere William Farnum, as General Barbezier. He starred as Villon in the first, silent film version of If I Were King, made in 1920. Paul Harvey as Burgundian Herald Barry Macollum as Storehouse Watchman May Beatty as Anna Winter Hall as Major Domo Francis McDonald as Casin Cholet Ann Evers as Lady-in-Waiting Jean Fenwick as Lady-in-Waiting Darryl Hickman made his film debut in the uncredited role of a child. Production Nine months in France were required to prepare for If I Were King, and the French government cooperated by allowing a replica to be made of the Louvre Palace throne. Whether Preston Sturges, who at the time was Paramount's top writer, had a collaborator in writing the script is unclear: some early drafts have the name "Jackson" on them as well as Sturges', but the identity