THE SON OF MONTE CRISTO (1940) Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett & George Sanders | Drama, Romance | B&W

The Son of Monte Cristo is a 1940 American black-and-white swashbuckling adventure film from United Artists, produced by Edward Small, directed by Rowland V. Lee, that stars Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett, and George Sanders. The Small production uses the same sets and many of the same cast and production crew as his previous year's production of The Man in the Iron Mask. Hayward returned to star in Small's The Return of Monte Cristo (1946).

The film takes the same name as the unofficial sequel to The Count of Monte Cristo, namely The Son of Monte Cristo, written by Jules Lermina in 1881. Using elements from several romantic swashbucklers of the time such as The Prisoner of Zenda and The Mark of Zorro the production also mirrors the situation of Continental Europe in 1939–1940.

SYNOPSIS
In the Balkan country of Lichtenburg, General Gurko Lanen seizes power as dictator in 1865, suppressing clergy and free press, and imprisoning Prime Minister Baron Von Neuhoff. The rightful ruler, Grand Duchess Zona, seeks aid from Napoleon III with the help of the visiting Count of Monte Cristo, who rescues her from Gurko's Hussars. The Count escorts Zona to safety, but she is forcefully returned to Lichtenburg due to violation of international neutrality.

Romantically drawn to Zona, the Count joins the underground resistance against Gurko. He befriends Lt. Dorner of the palace guard, discovering secret passages and catacombs beneath the Grand Duchy. Infiltrating the palace disguised as a fopish banker, the Count overhears Gurko's schemes with the French Ambassador and plans to marry Zona to solidify his rule, hiding a pact with Russia.

Inspired by the underground newspaper "The Torch," the Count becomes a masked freedom fighter to save Lichtenburg and win Zona's heart, setting out on a daring mission to restore justice and love to the country.

CAST & CREW
Louis Hayward as Edmond Dantès, Jr.
Joan Bennett as Grand Duchess Zona
George Sanders as Gen. Gurko Lanen
Florence Bates as Countess Mathilde
Lionel Royce as Col. Zimmerman
Montagu Love as Baron Von Neuhoff
Ian Wolfe as Conrad Stadt
Clayton Moore as Lt. Fritz Dorner
Ralph Byrd as William Gluck
Georges Renavent as French Ambassador
Michael Visaroff as Prince Pavlov
Rand Brooks as Hans Mirbach
Theodore Von Eltz as Captain
James Seay as Lieutenant
Henry Brandon as Sgt. Schultz
Jack Mulhall as Schmidt
Edward Keane as Turnkey
Stanley Andrews as Turnkey
Charles Trowbridge as Priest
Wyndham Standing as Chamberlain
Lionel Belmore as Hercules Snyder

Directed by: Rowland V. Lee
Written by: George Bruce
Produced by: Edward Small
Cinematography: George Robinson
Edited by: Arthur Roberts
Music by: Edward Ward
Production Company: Edward Small Productions
Distributed by: United Artists
Release Dates: December 4, 1940 (New York City), February 10, 1941 (United States)
Running Time: 102 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Budget: $650,000
Box Office: 2,213,068 admissions (France, 1946)

NOTES
A sequel to The Count of Monte Cristo was announced almost immediately after the first film's success. At one stage Robert Donat, Melvyn Douglas and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. were named as stars; Jean Arthur was also being considered for a lead role.

The Son of Monte Cristo was widely panned by critics. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times called the film "just a routine retelling of a conventional sword-and-cape adventure tale" and "a juvenile masquerade, acted as such and strangely suggestive of a Flash Gordon serial in costume. The old Count should turn in his grave". Variety called it, "... (a) plodding offspring of a famed father ... Director Rowland V. Lee must share the pillory with writer George Bruce for 'The Son', although Louis Hayward and Joan Bennett in the top roles are not far from the stocks".

Harrison's Reports wrote: "Patrons who remember how entertaining was 'The Count of Monte Cristo' may flock to the box-office to see this picture. But if they expect to find this as exciting as the first, they will be disappointed. The story is routine and the plot developments obvious; moreover, even though the players try hard, they are not very convincing". Film Daily wrote: "Picture should entertain the average audience, although it has several faults. The dialogue is static in places and the situations are telegraphed. In addition, Miss Bennett and George Sanders are not overly animated in their characterizations". John Mosher of The New Yorker wrote: The Son of Monte Cristo seems to be arranged for young persons, or for those of arrested mental development, who also should have a place in our considerations at this season".

The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction by John DuCasse Schulze and Edward G. Boyle.