Main Cast: Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett, George Sanders, Florence Bates, Lionel Royce
Release Year: 1941
Country: US
Run Time: 102 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Though set in 1865, The Son of Monte Cristo is a thinly disguised indictment against 20th century dictatorships. Louis Hayward plays the title character, Edmond Dantes Jr., who while posing as an epicene dandy works tirelessly to topple the regime of fascistic Balkan despot Count Gurko (George Sanders). Under cover of night, Hayward dons mask and cape as "The Torch", a Zorro-like dogooder rallying the peasantry to rise up against Gurko and his ilk. As a bonus, he rescues the lovely Grand Duchess Zona (Joan Bennett) from an arranged marriage with the usurping Count. Produced by Edward Small as a followup to his 1939 version of Man in the Iron Mask, The Son of Monte Cristo benefits from a carefully chosen supporting cast, including Clayton "Lone Ranger" Moore and Ralph "Dick Tracy" Byrd. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Edward P. Lambert - Costume Designer, Rowland V. Lee - Director, Arthur Roberts - Editor, Edward Small - Executive Producer, Edward Ward - Composer (Music Score), John DuCasse Schulze - Production Designer, George Robinson - Cinematographer, Rowland V. Lee - Producer, Howard A. Anderson - Special Effects, George Bruce - Screenwriter
In 1865, General Gurko Lanen is dictator of "Lichtenburg" in the Balkans. The rightful ruler, Grand Duchess Zona, hopes to get aid from Napoleon III of France. The visiting Count of Monte Cristo falls for Zona and undertakes to help her, masquerading as a foppish banker and a masked freedom fighter. The rest is rapid-fire intrigue and derring-do. 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.
