Debuting on Sunday 2 November 1958, this six-part BBC children’s series was adapted by Constance Cox from Rafael Sabatini’s 1937 novel of the same name about the disappearance of the little Dauphin, son of Louis XVI – the last King of France before the French Revolution.
Louis was guillotined in 1793, and his Queen, Marie Antoinette, was imprisoned with her daughter, Marie Therese, aged 15½, and her son Louis Charles (Louis XVII), aged eight-and-a-half.
Set in 1814, the story of passion, revenge, and betrayal told how the young child was not allowed to see his mother and was deliberately tutored in lies about her, and made to falsely accuse her in front of his sister to provide a reason for guillotining her.
The story subsequently followed his escape to Switzerland, where he plotted his triumphant return to claim the throne of France.
George Coulouris and Bee Duffell played the revolutionary cobbler Simon and his wife, who care for the Dauphin (played by Ronnie Raymond) after rescuing him from prison.
The series was repeated in 1959.
Louis-Charles, the Dauphin
Ronnie Raymond Baron Jean de Batz
Patrick Cargill Simon
George Coulouris Madame Simon
Bee Duffell Etienne La Salle
Barry Letts Chaumette
Michael Brennan Herbert
Alan Edwards J.L. David, the painter
John Serret Marie Therese
Sheila Burrell Madame de Breze
Phyllida Law Louis-Charles Deslys
Alan Dobie Fouche, Duke of Otranto
Michael Goodliffe Pauline de Castillon-Fouquieres
Patricia Healey Duchess de Castillon-Fouquieres
Marjorie Stewart Marquis de Sceaux
Eric Thompson Marquis de Chaboulon
Donald McCollum Louis XVIII
Felix Felton Fouche, Duke of Otranto
Michael Goodliffe Chaumette
Michael Brennan Chassenon
Patrick Blackwell Desmarets, Captain of the National Guard
Patrick Crean Baron Von Ense
Peter Bull Karl von Ense
Colin Jeavons Justine Perrin
Jeannette Sterke Madame Perrin
Ann Heffernan Joseph Perrin
Geoffrey Hibbert Abbe Fleuriel
Peter Sallis Captain von Weissenstein
Alan Edwards Lieutenant Ulrich
Richard Carpenter Fritali
Len Royle Ouvrard, a banker
Eric Philips Le Brun, a lawyer
Andre van Gyseghem Marshal Ney
Jack Lambert Jeannette
Audrey Foat Volant
Jack Smethurst Landlady
Rosamund Greenwood Landlord
Jack Lambert
Episodes
The Royal Prisoner | The Flight to Geneva | Monsieur Charles Deslys | Enter The King | The Path to The Throne | The Road Back
