The Private Life of Don Juan

The Private Life of Don Juan
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Alexander Korda
Written by	Henry Bataille (play) Frederick Lonsdale Lajos Bíró
Produced by	Alexander Korda (uncredited)
Starring	Douglas Fairbanks Merle Oberon
Cinematography	Georges Perinal Robert LaPresle
Edited by	Stephen Harrison
Music by	Ernst Toch
Production company	London Film Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	30 November 1934
Running time	89 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Private Life of Don Juan is a 1934 British comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Korda and starring Douglas Fairbanks, Merle Oberon and Benita Hume. It was Fairbanks' final film role. The film is about the life of the aging Don Juan, based on the 1920 play L'homme à la Rose by Henry Bataille. It was made by Korda's London Film Productions at Elstree Studios and distributed by United Artists under an agreement Korda had recently signed with them.

Synopsis

After many years in exile, Don Juan returns to Seville in secret. His wife has threatened to have him thrown in prison. Next morning he is surprised to find that all the town knows he is back (not surprising really as he had a big sword fight on arrival). Rodrigo, an admirer of his, follows Don Juan everywhere, wanting to be just like him, and able to give a good impression of him. Don Juan prepares to flee to France but Rodrigo is killed by a jealous husband who believes he is Don Juan and all Seville now believes him dead. He attends his own magnificent funeral, but finds many discomforts now while pretending that Don Juan is dead, before finally sorting things out.

Cast

• Douglas Fairbanks as Don Juan
• Merle Oberon as Antonita, a dancer of passionate temperament
• Bruce Winston as the cafe manager
• Gina Malo as Pepita, another dancer of equal temperament
• Benita Hume as Dona Dolores, a lady of mystery
• Binnie Barnes as Rosita, a maid pure and simple
• Melville Cooper as Leporello
• Owen Nares as Antonio Martinez, an actor, as actors go
• Heather Thatcher as Anna Dora, an actress, as actresses go
• Diana Napier as a lady of sentiment
• Joan Gardner as Carmen, a young lady of romance
• Gibson Gowland as Don Alfredo, Carmen's Poor Husband
• Barry MacKay as Rodrigo, the Impostor, a Man of Romance
• Claud Allister as The Duke, as Dukes Go
• Athene Seyler as Theresa, the Innkeeper, a Middle Aged Lady of Young Sentiment
• Hindle Edgar as A Jealous Husband
• Natalie Paley as Jealous Husband's Poor Wife
• Patricia Hilliard as The Girl at the Castle, a Young Girl in Love
• Lawrence Grossmith as Pedo, Uncle of the Castle Girl, Who Knows Better
• Clifford Heatherley as Pedro, Don Juan's Young Masseur
• Morland Graham as Hector, Don Juan's Cook
• Edmund Breon as Cardona, the Playwright, as Playwrights Go
• Betty Hamilton as First Tired Businessman's Wife
• Rosita Garcia as Second Tired Businessman's Wife
• John Brownlee as Singer
• Annie Esmond as Dolores' Duenna
• Hay Petrie as Golden Pheasant Manager
• Margaretta Scott as Pepilla
• Abraham Sofaer as Street Bookseller

External links

• The Private Life of Don Juan at IMDb
• The Private Life of Don Juan is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
• The Private Life of Don Juan at the TCM Movie Database
• The Private Life of Don Juan at AllMovie