Angelique and the King

Angélique lives through the death of her husband as she remains drawn into the political maze surrounding Louis XIV. When the king asks for her aid in shaping a delicate treaty with a distant empire, she finds herself navigating fire and flirtation at court, where appearances hide traps and shifting alliances. A dangerous envoy tests her wits and resolve, and as loyalties bend under pressure, a bold Hungarian prince arrives as an unlikely protector. The path is slippery, full of intrigue and double meanings, and Angélique must decide who to trust as plots tighten around her. The story unfolds against opulent palaces, glittering salons, and a realm where power, romance, and survival go hand in hand as rival powers loom.

Directed by Bernard Borderie, Angelique and the King arrived in 1966 as part of the popular Angélique cycle. It draws on the serialized literary material and stars Michèle Mercier as Angélique with Robert Hossein and Jean Rochefort in key roles.

The film proved to be a commercial draw, grossing about 52,800,000 dollars worldwide. Its robust box office reflects the enduring appeal of the Angélique saga across European and international markets, enjoying a broad reception that extended beyond French screens globally.

Angelique and the King helped solidify Michèle Mercier as a star of mid-century European cinema and reinforced a taste for lavish period epics. Its ornate costumes, palatial sets, and courtroom intrigue fed into later costume dramas and the French cinematic imagination. Its influence extended to fashion and staging later.

Critics of the time praised the film for its grand production, brisk pace and romantic texture while blending adventure with political drama. Set in Louis XIV's court, it explores loyalty, gendered power and how personal alliances shape a realm, presenting a vivid snapshot of the era for generations to come.