The Son of Monte Cristo 1940

In 1865, the proletarian Gurko Lanen becomes the behind-the-scenes dictator of the Grand Duchy of Lichtenburg, a Balkan realm where he suppresses the clergy and the free press and even imprisons the Prime Minister Baron Von Neuhoff. The rightful ruler of the Grand Duchy, Grand Duchess Zona, clings to the hope of aid from Napoleon III of France and makes a daring escape, pursued by Gurko’s Hussars. During a hunting trip, the visiting Count of Monte Cristo rescues her, and the Count escorts the Grand Duchess Zona to a neutral country. Yet Gurko’s Hussars ignore international neutrality and press on, returning Zona and her lady-in-waiting to Lichtenburg against the odds.

The Count, now smitten with Zona, returns to help her and joins forces with the palace guard’s loyal Lt. Fritz Dorner, who knows a network of secret passages from the Grand Ducal Palace to the catacombs below. When they learn that Baron Von Neuhoff is to be executed, the Count assumes a daring disguise as a cowardly, foppish international banker and gains entry to the palace after Gurko had previously pressed a loan request for French francs. Inside, he overhears Gurko conferring with the French Ambassador, Georges Renavent, who raises concerns about human rights in the realm. Gurko counters by hinting at a non-aggression pact with Russia, claiming it will shield Lichtenburg from French interference, and he schemes to secure loyalty by marrying the Grand Duchess while keeping the Russia alliance secret.

With danger mounting, the Count takes on a new identity as the masked freedom fighter known as The Torch, named after the underground newspaper that rallies resistance. His mission is clear: to free Lichtenburg from Gurko’s grip, expose the conspiracies surrounding him, and win the heart of the woman he loves. The story blends political intrigue, peril in palace corridors and secret tunnels, and a romance that tests loyalties on every side.