The King on Main Street (1925) User Reviews

Bittersweet love story that is dated but still charming

[georgigems · 8/10 · 16 August 2005]

The ever elegant Adolphe Menjou portrays an impoverished King from a mythical country who comes to the USA to broker an oil deal. He escapes his regimented schedule and runs off to Coney Island (my favorite childhood place being from Brooklyn, New York) where he meets the girl, played by Bessie Love. Although they have a "love affair" their relationship is platonic but nevertheless intense. Hollywood had a thing for kings who socialize with the masses in the 1920's and 30's but this story (because of the superb direction by Monta Bell) is an exception. There is a real chemistry between the two leads which is missing in a lot of other king and commoner films. You can really sense the depth of their feelings for each other. A real bittersweet love story of the silent era. Too bad this is not on DVD or VHS.

The King on Main Street review

[JoeytheBrit · 6/10 · 8 May 2020]

Adolphe Menjou is the king of a foreign land who neglects his business mission to woo cuter-than-cute Bessie Love. The plot is a familiar one from 20s/30s Hollywood, but the cast add enough to keep it watchable.

Rather flat social comedy

[psteier · 4/10 · 6 August 2001]

Adolphe Menjou is king of a small European country. He comes to New York to help secure a contract to develop his country's oil, but then sneaks away from his hotel for some fun in Coney Island, meets young woman Bessie Love, and accepts an invitation to a county house to be with ordinary people.

Adolphe Menjou has his typical rich playboy role but doesn't do much playing. Bessie Love doesn't answer the question 'why was she a big star in silent pictures?'.

Some Coney Island location shooting, including a roller coaster ride, but the Coney Island atmosphere is better seen in many other movies, for example some of the Fatty Arbuckle pictures.