The Man in the Iron Mask (1939 film)

The Man in the Iron Mask is a 1939 American film very loosely adapted from the last section of the novel The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas, pre, which is itself based on the French legend of the Man in the Iron Mask.

The 1939 adaptation alters history significantly by making Fouquet Joseph Schildkraut a thoroughly evil, scheming mastermind. He, Colbert Walter Kingsford, dArtagnan Warren William and the musketeers are the only ones who know of the existence of a twin brother, and Fouquet uses his influence to keep everyone silent. The main story was changed by portraying Louis XIV as selfish, cruel, and incompetent, and Philippe the kindhearted brother who is raised by dArtagnan and the musketeers and does not even know that he has an identical twin.When the truth is discovered, Louis XIV has Philippe imprisoned with an iron mask placed on his head, hoping that Philippes beard will grow inside the mask and eventually suffocate him. Philippe is rescued by the musketeers, who break into the sleeping Louiss chamber and imprison him in the mask. The guards drag off Louis and lock him in the Bastille, mistaking him for the escaped Philippe. ........

Source: Wikipedia