Marie Antoinette

W. S. Van Dyke's 1938 American film tells the story of the Austrian princess from her arrival in France as a bride to the guillotine. It centres the view of a young woman caught inside a marriage made by political calculation. The film was among MGM's most expensive productions; the costumes and palace sets are among the most lavish of their era. Norma Shearer's performance carries the character's move from shallowness to maturity and was nominated for an Academy Award. The film is selective about historical accuracy, and the causes of the revolution are barely told; the crowd is painted as a threat. Who it's for: viewers who like classic Hollywood period films and the visual display of the studio era. Who it's not for: anyone wanting historical accuracy, or who finds narratives over two and a half hours wearing.