Bardelys the Magnificent

Bardelys the Magnificent is a 1926 American romantic silent film directed by King Vidor and starring John Gilbert and Eleanor Boardman. The film is based on a novel by Rafael Sabatini. It was the second film of the 19yearold John Wayne, who had a minor role.

Bardelys, as Lesperon, encounters the kings soldiers who are hunting Lesperon, fights them, and escapes, badly wounded, to the castle of Lavedan. Roxalanne hides him from the kings soldiers and tends to his wounds. She nurses him to health and pledges her love, but when the guiltridden Bardelys refuses to marry her, and in the belief that he is betrothed to another lady, she angrily turns him over to the kings men. Bardelys, still believed to be Lesperon, is brought to trial for treasonwhere Chtellerault is the judge. Chtellerault refuses to admit his identity and condemns him to death. Roxalanne finds Bardelys in prison, confesses her love, and agrees to marry Chtellerault in a desperate effort to save Bardelys life. Bardelys escapes from the gallows just as the King arrives to confirm his identity. Chtellerault commits suicide rather than be executed by Louis men. Roxalanne learns of the wager and, mortally insulted, refuse to believe Bardelys when he protests his love. He offers to save the life of her father, who is indicted for treason, if she agrees to marry him. She agrees. He fulfills his part of the bargain but tells her he will not require her promise of her. She confesses her love and begs him not to leave.The film was considered a lost film for many years, with only the trailer and a brief excerpt in Vidors Show People 1928 surviving. According to Robert Osborne on Turner Classic Movies, MGM signed a contract with Sabatini in 1926, giving MGM the rights to his novel foryears. In 1936, MGM chose not to renew the rights, and destroyed the negative and all known prints per the terms of the contract. ........

Source: Wikipedia