of "Jackson" has not been determined. In any event, Sturges finished a draft by February 1938. The final screenplay included Sturges' own original translations of some of Villon's poems. The film was in production from 12 May to mid-July 1938. Ralph Faulkner, who played a watchman, acted as stunt coordinator and coached the actors on swordplay, and about 900 extras were used for the battle scenes, one of which was cut by the director after the film had opened. Accolades If I Were King was nominated for four Academy Awards: Supporting Actor - Basil Rathbone Art Direction - Hans Dreier and John B. Goodman Music, Original Score - Richard Hageman Sound, Recording - Loren L. Ryder Other versions There is no connection, apart from the title, between the story and the 1852 comic opera by Adolphe Adam called Si j'étais roi (English: If I Were King). McCarthy's play premiered on Broadway in 1901 and was revived five times up through 1916. It was first adapted in 1920 as a silent film. In 1925, composer Rudolf Friml and librettists Brian Hooker and W.H. Post turned it into a successful Broadway operetta, The Vagabond King, which featured the songs "Only a Rose", "Some Day", and "Song of the Vagabonds". The operetta was filmed twice - in 1930, starring Jeanette MacDonald and Dennis King and in 1956, directed by Michael Curtiz. Both film versions used only a little of Friml's original score. The François Villon story was also filmed in 1927 under the title The Beloved Rogue, with John Barrymore in the lead role. The film was adapted as a radio play on Lux Radio Theater October 16, 1939 with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Academy Award Theater adapted it on May 11, 1946 with Colman reprising his part. References External links Streaming audio If I Were King on Lux Radio Theater: October 16, 1939 If I Were King on Academy Award Theater: May 11, 1946 1938 films 1930s English-language films American black-and-white films Films based on Irish novels Films directed by Frank Lloyd Films set in the 15th century Films about François Villon Paramount Pictures films Sound film remakes of silent films Films with screenplays by Preston Sturges Cultural depictions of François Villon 1930s historical drama films American historical drama films 1930s biographical drama films American biographical drama films Cultural depictions of Louis XI of France 1938 drama films 1930s American films