AllMovie

Based on a story by 17th-century Spanish playwright Calderon de la Barca, A Night of Love is based on the ancient (and historically suspect) tradition of droit du seigneur. Ronald Colman stars as gypsy prince Montero, whose wedding night is rudely interrupted by the despotic Duke de la Garda (Montague Love). Exercising his prerogative as a titled landowner, the Duke abducts Montero's young bride and "has his way" with her. The poor girl dies from the disgrace, whereupon the hot-blooded Montero swears revenge. So it is that during the Duke's subsequent wedding party, in rides Montero to kidnap the new duchess, Princess Maria (Vilma Banky). Though fully intending to rape Maria in the same manner that his bride was violated, Montero is too honorable to take advantage of his lovely captive. Accordingly, Maria slowly falls in love with her handsome abductor, leading to a magnificently melodramatic climax as the heroine pleads for the hero's life when the Duke sentences Montero to burn at the stake.