Si Versailles m'était conté

[montagnarde1793]

I've never actually seen the whole film, but judging by these youtube clips, I think Sacha Guitry must have been on crack.

Exhibit A:

I do not approve of the pear-headed king's taste in art. >:(

Exhibit B:

...Because I'm sure that Robespierre hung out with the royals, Lavoisier, and André Chénier all the time. Because that would make logical sense. And Robespierre is probably the only one at this gathering who actually supported the abolition of the death penalty, so WTF, really. Also, the actor playing him looks nothing like him.

Still, I kind of want to see it now....

Comments

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

*headdesk* I highly doubt it's any more accurate for Dumas. Still, I'm sure I've seen it attributed to Robespierre in more than one Anglo-American book.

[sibylla-oo.livejournal.com]

Well, Dumas was odd enough to say something like that in the heat of a process. However, as you say, one can by no means rely on this kind of sources, they are generally pure fiction.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

For me, the most important thing is whether the source is trustworthy. Even if it were the most plausible thing in the world for him to say, coming from who knows where, there's no reason to lend it any credence.

[sibylla-oo.livejournal.com]

Of course. There's no doubt about it.
I just made that speculative remark, as you mentioned Robespierre's lightning case to show how improbable it would be for him to say such a thing about science.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

True enough. Everything needs to be judged, at a basis level by its sources. Somet things are just so ridiculously improbable, though, that it can be useful to point that out.