The Wife of Monte Cristo *** (1946, John Loder, Lenore Aubert, Martin Kosleck) – Classic Movie Review 11,943

Director Edgar G Ulmer’s 1946 American adventure film The Wife of Monte Cristo stars John Loder, Lenore Aubert, Charles Dingle, Fritz Kortner, Eduardo Ciannelli, and Martin Kosleck.

In 19th-century France (it is 1832), De Villefort (John Loder), the Paris Prefect of Police, wages a one-man war against masked man The Avenger, who is none other than an undercover Edmund Dantes, Count of Monte Cristo. Dantes is seeking revenge on those who imprisoned him in the Château d’If and justice for the Parisians mistreated by the Prefect of Police and his associates, the crooked doctors who are exploiting the poor.

Martin Kosleck is very stirring as the swashbuckling Count of Monte Cristo, still trying to right social wrongs, and Lenore Aubert brings style and allure to the role of The Count’s wife, Haydée, the Countess of Monte Cristo, who takes his place as The Avenger when he is wounded.

Sharing little with the original story of the famed Count, this tale ventures where many have gone before, but there are enough high jinks and drama in this action-packed Boy’s Own adventure to satisfy the young at heart.

The Wife of Monte Cristo is handsome and well done on a small budget, a deserved big hit for small studio Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC).

It is written by Dorcas Cochran, with adaptation by Edgar G Ulmer, based on the novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas père.

It runs 83 minutes and was released on 23 April 1946.

Lenore Aubert was coached by Ralph Faulkner, sabre and epee Olympic champion of 1928 and 1932, for her duelling scenes.

The cast are John Loder as the Paris prefect of police De Villefort, Lenore Aubert as Countess of Monte Cristo Haydée, Fritz Kortner as Maillard, Charles Dingle as Danglars, Eduardo Ciannelli as Jacques Antoine, Martin Kosleck as Edmund Dantes, Count of Monte Cristo, Fritz Feld as Bonnett, Eva Gabor as Mme Lucille Maillard, Clancy Cooper as Baptiste, John Bleifer as Louis, Egon Brecher as Proprietor, Anthony Warde as Captain Benoit, Colin Campbell as Abbe Faria.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 11,943

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