The taking of power by Louis XIV

Erlanger, Philippe, 1903-1987 (Added Author). Gruault, Jean. (Added Author). Rossellini, Roberto, 1906-1977 (Added Author). Patte, Jean-Marie. (Added Author). Jourdan, Raymond. (Added Author). Silvagni. (Added Author). Renn, Katharina, 1913-1975 (Added Author). Vincent, Dominique. (Added Author). Barrat, Pierre. (Added Author). Fabre, Fernand, 1899-1987 (Added Author). Ponty, Françoise. (Added Author). Laugeois, Joelle. (Added Author). Office de radiodiffusion-télévision française. (Added Author). Criterion Collection (Firm) (Added Author). Jean-Marie Patte, Raymond Jourdan, Silvagni, Katharina Renn, Dominique Vincent, Pierre Barrat, Fernand Fabre, Françoise Ponty, Joelle Laugeois. (Cast).

Summary: Cardinal Mazarin dies in 1661. The young Louis asserts his intention to govern as well as rule. Mazarin's fiscal advisor, Colbert, warns against Fouquet, who wants to be prime minister and is looting the treasury. Fouquet believes Louis will soon tire of exercizing power and overplays his hand. Louis' mistress reports this to the king who arrests Fouquet. Louis and Colbert design a brilliant strategy to keep merchants making money, nobles in debt, the urban poor working and fed, and peasants untaxed. Years later, in a coda, Louis exercises the power of the sun.

Record details

ISBN: 1604651083
ISBN: 9781604651089
Physical Description: 1 videodisc (94 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.
videodisc
Edition: [Special édition].
Publisher: [Irvington, N.Y.] : Criterion Collection, 2008.

Content descriptions

General Note:	Title from container. Originally released as a motion picture in 1966. Special features: New, restored digital transfer; "Taking power:" a multimedia essay by Tag Gallagher; "The last utopia:" a documentary about Rossellini's late career; video interview with artistic advisor Jean Dominique de la Rochefoucauld and script supervisor Michelle Podroznik; video interview with Renzo Rossellini; a new essay by critic Colin MacCabe.
Creation/Production Credits Note:	Cinematographers, Georges Leclerc, Jean-Louis Picavet ; editor, Armand Ridel ; costume designer, Christiane Coste.
Participant or Performer Note:	Jean-Marie Patte, Raymond Jourdan, Silvagni, Katharina Renn, Dominique Vincent, Pierre Barrat, Fernand Fabre, Françoise Ponty, Joelle Laugeois.
System Details Note:	DVD, full screen (1.33:1); Dolby Digital 1.0 mono.
Language Note:	French dialogue; English subtitles.