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Director Robert Vernay adapted the screenplay of Le Capitan from a novel by Michael Zevaco. Set during the reign of Louis XIII, this opulent costume drama concerns a devil-may-care nobleman (Jean Paqui) who endeavors to foil a plot against the life of the king. Intended as a two-parter, with each chapter running approximately 100 minutes, the film was premiered in Paris in its full 200-minute form. Audiences were enthralled, complaining not at all about the excessive length (though critics were less politely inclined). For its American release, Le Capitan was trimmed by nearly 90 minutes and extensively redubbed to compensate for the many continuity gaps.