In 17th-century England, Charles II, the rightful heir to the kingdom, is driven from his country by militants working for rogue leader Oliver Cromwell. Charles ends up in the Netherlands, where he falls for local beauty Katie and spends his days happily in the quiet countryside. Unfortunately, Cromwell's associate Col. Ingram and his men track Charles down, and the would-be monarch must resort to swashbuckling his way to freedom.
Direction
Ophüls' tracking shots make 95 minutes feel like floating.
Cinematography
Deep-focus compositions that swallow you whole.
Costume
Montez gets wardrobes worth every Technicolor penny.
Director
Max Ophüls
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ophüls reportedly hated this assignment from Universal and called it 'a stupid costume picture'—yet his craft elevates every frame.
Made during Hollywood's postwar conservative turn, Charles II's restoration conveniently mirrored American political desires for 'normalcy' after upheaval.
US
