The 1938 MGM epic that spent millions to recreate a doomed queen's final days
In short: With a budget of nearly three million dollars, the 1938 production of Marie Antoinette remains one of the most extravagant films of its decade. Starring Norma Shearer, the historical drama spared no expense on period-accurate details, including gowns so heavy they weighed over one hundred pounds each.
Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the film was the final project overseen by Irving Thalberg before his death in 1936. While originally intended as a showcase for Marion Davies, the role of the French queen ultimately went to Thalberg's widow, Norma Shearer, who reportedly considered it her favorite performance. The production was marked by extreme financial ambition, with a total budget reaching 2.9 million dollars—a staggering sum for the 1930s. This massive expenditure was driven by a commitment to historical authenticity, leading the studio to purchase genuine French furniture and ship it to Hollywood.
Costume designer Adrian led the effort to replicate the opulence of the era, traveling to Europe in 1937 to source antique materials and study original paintings under a microscope. The resulting wardrobe was legendary for its weight and complexity; Shearer’s costumes alone totaled over 1,768 pounds. The most demanding piece was a wedding dress made of white silk satin and gilt thread, weighing 108 pounds. Despite these efforts, the film ultimately recorded a loss of 767,000 dollars, as the high costs of production—which even forced the studio to abandon plans for Technicolor—outpaced its global rental earnings.
The film’s narrative, adapted from Stefan Zweig’s 1932 biography, follows the queen from her arrival in Vienna to her execution during the French Revolution. It depicts her complex relationship with Louis XVI, her tragic affair with Count Axel Fersen, and the political machinations that led to her downfall. The premiere, held on July 8, 1938, at the Carthay Circle Theatre, featured grounds landscaped to mimic the gardens of Versailles. Though it failed to turn a profit at the time, the film’s elaborate costumes were later recycled for other period productions, and many pieces have since been preserved in international museum and private collections.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Marie Antoinette (1938 film)
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