Martine Carol stars as notorious 19th century Mexican circus performer Lola Montes, who in her heyday counted among her lovers the crowned heads of France, Italy, Poland, and Russia. The film dwells upon Lolas' extended affairs with King Ludwig of Bavaria (
Anton Walbrook) and composer
Franz Liszt (Will Quadflieg). We learn of these various amours in flashback form, for the film is framed by a prologue and epilogue in a tawdry New Orleans circus, where an old and faded Lola is exploited by a slimy nickel-and-dime ringmaster (
Peter Ustinov). Ophul's use of the CinemaScope format will be lost on un-letterboxed television; long available only in an abortive 90 minute version,
Lola Montes was restored to its full directors' cut of 110 minutes in 1969. The film is based on a book by Cecil St. Laurent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide