What Is Du Barry, Woman of Passion About?
The premise of Du Barry, Woman of Passion in 307 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the glittering yet uneasy world of eighteenth‑century France, aristocratic splendor and simmering unrest coexist beneath the gilded façades of palaces and gambling houses. The atmosphere shimmers with powdered wigs, delicate silk, and a relentless pursuit of pleasure, while whispers of discontent ripple through the streets beyond the court’s illuminated salons.
Jeannette Vaubernier is a spirited millinery shopgirl whose restless imagination is filled with visions of luxury and love. Dissatisfied with the confines of her modest shop, she dreams of a life bathed in opulence. One day, while delivering a hat, a sudden plunge into a forest pool leaves her submerged and vulnerable, only to be rescued by the dashing guard Cosse de Brissac. Their encounter ignites an immediate, passionate connection, setting the stage for a romance that bridges the gap between commoner and the regal world she has long admired.
Soon, the cunning court adventuress Jeanne du Barry spots the radiant newcomer and, recognizing a potential ally in her quest for influence, escorts her to the famed La Gourda’s. Within the lavish halls of this renowned gambling house, Jeanne du Barry orchestrates a dazzling entrance for Jeannette, thrusting her into the orbit of the most powerful figures of the realm. The young woman’s charisma and fiery temperament quickly capture the attention of the monarchy, and she soon finds herself favored by King Louis XV himself, a position that both elevates her status and draws the scorn of a populace growing weary of excess.
Amid the intoxicating lights, sumptuous costumes, and the constant hum of political intrigue, Jeannette must navigate the delicate balance between desire and duty. The alluring promise of courtly grandeur beckons, yet the underlying tensions of a nation on the brink hint at complexities that will test her heart, ambition, and the fragile ties that bind her to the world she has long coveted.
What Happens in Du Barry, Woman of Passion?
The complete story of Du Barry, Woman of Passion, from the first scene to the last, in 622 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 5 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In the 18th-century Kingdom of France, Cosse de Brissac, Conrad Nagel, a private in the King’s Guard, frees Jeannette Vaubernier when she gets stuck in a pond, and he is instantly charmed by her beauty and spirit. Jeannette Vaubernier, Norma Talmadge, dislikes working in a millinery shop but loves beautiful things, wealth, and the prospect of being in love.
Cosse and Jeannette begin courting. However, their relationship is put in jeopardy when Jeannette is hired to be an “attraction” at the opulent gambling house frequented by aristocrats. She gains the admiration of multiple high-ranking noblemen, and King Louis XV, William Farnum, is intrigued by her reputation. Despite Cosse disapproving of Jeannette’s new employment, he proposes marriage, which she accepts.
The King meets Jeannette while he is disguised as a messenger. When she tries to leave the gambling house, Count Jean Du Barry, Ullrich Haupt, sees her as his ticket to greater wealth and the King’s court. As Jeannette fights Du Barry off, the King is excited by her fiery temperament. He removes his disguise and declares his love, offering her the position of his favorite mistress. Cosse overhears this and, mistakenly believing Jeannette has already accepted the offer, he angrily breaks off the engagement.
Jeannette becomes the King’s mistress and moves into his palace. Count Du Barry claims that she now needs a title, and he offers to sell his exiled brother’s title to her. She refuses but, nonetheless, Jeannette becomes known as “the Countess Du Barry.” She spends money extravagantly and amasses a collection of jewels. The King knows that she is still in love with Cosse, and he insists that she forget him as he will never return to her.
Jeannette meets with the Duc de Brissac, who is both Captain of the King’s Guard and Cosse’s father. The Duc, Hobart Bosworth, informs her that Cosse has likely died, but his whereabouts are unknown. He further mentions that there is starvation in France and commoners hate Jeannette for living an aristocratic lifestyle. Finally, he claims that the last words Cosse spoke to him expressed hate toward her.
The distraught Jeannette decides to get rid of her jewels. Meanwhile, the King’s advisors beg him to repeal the Pacte de Famine to curb the growing rebellion. The King refuses to do so. The Duc discovers Cosse is alive and has become the leader of the rebellion. The King is shocked to learn this, as he imprisoned Cosse months prior.
When a mob tries to storm the palace, Cosse enters Jeannette’s room and she hides him in her bed. He tells her that he became a rebel due to his false imprisonment by the jealous King. Soldiers arrive to search Jeannette’s room and the Duc finds Cosse. Jeannette is horrified that the Duc would betray his own son, but he holds firm in his loyalty to “King and God.”
The King holds a grand party, during which he plans to publicly execute Cosse. He announces that the Duc killed himself shortly after handing over his son. To save Cosse’s life, Jeannette declares her loyalty and love for the King. However, she cannot keep up the charade and breaks down crying. Cosse claims he will bravely face death knowing that she truly loves him. As the soldiers prepare to execute him, Jeannette opens the palace gates and lets in the angry mob. In the midst of the chaos, Cosse escapes.
During the French Revolution, Jeannette is imprisoned due to her connection to the ancien régime. She is condemned to death, but remains hopeful that Cosse will fetch her once she is pardoned. However, he is unable to overturn her sentence. He renounces his loyalty to the French Republic so they may be executed together.
Du Barry, Woman of Passion Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “First meeting by the pond” to “Cosse renounces loyalty to the Republic”. 12 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
First meeting by the pond
Cosse, a private in the King's Guard, frees Jeannette Vaubernier from being stuck in a pond and is instantly charmed by her beauty and spirit. Their encounter sparks a quiet, budding romance. Jeannette shares her longing for beauty, wealth, and the possibility of being in love, despite disliking her current millinery work.
Where:Pond
- 2
Courting begins
Cosse and Jeannette begin courting, drawn to each other's spirits and dreams. She expresses dislike of her millinery job but loves beauty, wealth, and the prospect of being in love, which deepens their bond. Their romance grows amid social pressures.
- 3
Jeannette becomes a gambling-house attraction
Jeannette is hired as an attraction at an opulent gambling house, where nobles fawn over her beauty and charm. Her rising charisma earns the admiration of high-ranking noblemen, and King Louis XV takes notice. Cosse disapproves of her job but the bond between them remains tested.
Where:Opulent gambling house
- 4
Cosse proposes marriage
Cosse, despite his misgivings about Jeannette's new life, proposes marriage in the hopes of formalizing their bond. She accepts, setting the stage for a future that might bridge their worlds. The couple is soon drawn toward a more complicated relationship with the royal court.
- 5
King meets Jeannette in disguise
The King meets Jeannette while disguised as a messenger in the gambling house and openly declares his love, offering her the position of his favorite mistress. Cosse overhears the exchange and, believing she has accepted, angrily breaks off the engagement.
Where:Gambling house
- 6
Jeannette becomes the King's mistress
The King removes his disguise and takes Jeannette as his mistress, and she moves into the palace. Count Du Barry presses for a title, even offering to buy an exiled brother's title, but Jeannette refuses while becoming known as Countess Du Barry. She spends lavishly, though the King knows she still loves Cosse and urges her to forget him.
Where:King's palace
- 7
Duc de Brissac reveals Cosse's fate
Jeannette asks the Duc de Brissac about Cosse; he reveals Cosse is likely alive but whereabouts are unknown, and that there is growing hunger in France. He also notes that commoners hate Jeannette for living in aristocratic luxury and claims Cosse's last words to him expressed hate toward her.
Where:Palace
- 8
Jeannette contemplates her jewels; famine pact
Distraught, Jeannette decides to shed her jewels to ease guilt and distance herself from excess. Meanwhile, the King's advisers urge him to repeal the Pacte de Famine to curb the rebellion, but the King refuses. The Duc remains fixated on Cosse's supposed fate and the widening rift between the crown and the people.
Where:Palace
- 9
Cosse revealed as alive rebel leader
The Duc de Brissac reveals that Cosse is alive and has become the leader of the rebellion, shocking the King who imprisoned him months earlier. This deception fuels the growing conflict between the crown and the people. Jeannette's sympathies are increasingly divided between love and loyalty to Cosse.
Where:France / Palace
- 10
Cosse hides in Jeannette's room
A wounded Cosse enters Jeannette's room as soldiers search the palace, and she hides him in her bed. He explains his rebel motives and the injustice of his imprisonment. The Duc discovers Cosse, heightening the danger for Jeannette and the crown.
Where:Palace, Jeannette's room
Show the other 4 events of Du Barry, Woman of Passion Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Grand party and execution reveal
The King hosts a grand party with a plan to publicly execute Cosse. He claims that the Duc killed himself after handing over his son. Jeannette declares her loyalty and love in a bid to save Cosse, but the pretense breaks under strain as Cosse prepares to face execution.
Where:Palace
- 12
Jeannette opens palace gates; Cosse escapes
In the chaos, Jeannette opens the palace gates to let in the angry mob, providing cover for Cosse to escape. The crowd disrupts the execution, and Cosse slips away into the turmoil. The event marks a temporary reprieve from the crown's control.
Where:Palace gates
- 13
Jeannette imprisoned during the French Revolution
During the French Revolution, Jeannette is imprisoned due to her connection to the ancien régime. She is condemned to death and clings to the hope that Cosse will fetch her, but he cannot overturn her sentence. The fall of the monarchy seals her fate alongside the man she loves.
Where:France (revolution era)
- 14
Cosse renounces loyalty to the Republic
Cosse renounces his loyalty to the French Republic so that he and Jeannette may be executed together. This sacrifice underscores the depth of his devotion as the Republic moves to sentencing them. Their fates become tied in a final act of shared ruin.
Where:France
Who Are the Main Characters in Du Barry, Woman of Passion?
11 characters, among them Jeannette Vaubernier / Madame Du Barry, Cosse de Brissac and Louis XV: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- JV
Jeannette Vaubernier / Madame Du Barry
Played by Norma Talmadge
A milliner’s assistant who rises to become the King’s favored mistress, Du Barry is both radiant and calculating. Her love for Cosse clashes with the opulent demands of court life, forcing difficult choices that reveal her vulnerability and drive for status. She navigates loyalty and danger as she tries to protect Cosse and her own position at court.
- 💎 Noblewoman
- ❤️ Romance
- 🗝️ Ambition
- CD
Cosse de Brissac
Played by Conrad Nagel
A private in the King’s Guard who wins Jeannette’s heart and later leads a rebellion after being falsely imprisoned. His loyalty to Jeannette is tested by political realities, and his arc moves from romantic suitor to a determined, dangerous fighter. He endures captivity and danger, ultimately striving to secure a future for those he loves.
- 🗡️ Warrior
- ❤️ Love
- 🧭 Loyalty
- LX
Louis XV
Played by William Farnum
The King of France, who masks his desires behind disguises and palace pomp. He uses charm and political maneuvering to prize Jeannette as a mistress, while orchestrating events that affect the fate of the realm. His actions reveal a ruler torn between indulgence and the weight of ruling a nation.
- 👑 King
- 🧭 Politics
- 💰 Opulence
- CJ
Count Jean Du Barry
Played by Ullrich Haupt
A conniving court figure who sees Jeannette’s ascent as a path to greater wealth and power. He pushes for titles and influence, manipulating events to favor his own ambitions. His scheming destabilizes relationships at the palace and highlights the cutthroat nature of aristocratic politics.
- 🗡️ Manipulation
- 👑 Power
- 💰 Wealth
- DD
Duc de Brissac
Played by Hobart Bosworth
Captain of the King’s Guard and Cosse’s father, the Duc embodies loyalty to the crown but is haunted by the costs of factional strife. His actions and revelations influence the fate of Cosse and the safety of Jeannette. His ultimate decision marks a somber note in the tale of loyalty and sacrifice.
- 🛡️ Authority
- 👨👦 Family
- 💔 Honor
- LG
La Gourdan
Played by Alison Skipworth
A figure among the aristocratic circle who moves in the same orbit as the film’s central players. She represents the social milieu of the court and the interpersonal dynamics that color Jeannette’s ascent. Her presence underscores the era’s lifestyles and reputational stakes.
- ⚜️ Courtesan
- 🏛 Court Life
- D
Denys
Played by E. Alyn Warren
A court figure who navigates the political landscape with a mix of discretion and influence. His role contributes to the web of decisions surrounding Jeannette, Cosse, and the royal circle. He embodies the quieter, behind-the-scenes forces at play in the palace.
- 🕯️ Mystery
- 🧭 Strategy
- D
D’Aiguillon
Played by Henry Kolker
A political actor within the court whose perspectives shape the policies and tensions of the era. His presence highlights the factionalism and strategic calculations that define the royal court. He represents the governance side of the kingdom’s innermost politics.
- 🤝 Politics
- 🧭 Strategy
- R
Renal
Played by Edgar Norton
A minor figure from the court whose interactions illuminate the social milieu of the palace. His brief presence adds texture to the world of Jeannette and the King. He personifies the many functionaries who move within the royal apparatus.
- 🕵️♂️ Surveillance
- 🧭 Role
- J
Jailer
Played by Knute Erickson
A prison official who plays a part in Cosse’s confinement and the subsequent unraveling of loyalties. His role underscores the brutal realities of political imprisonment in the era. His actions intersect with the fates of the film’s central characters.
- 🏚️ Imprisonment
- ⚖️ Power
- SD
Stage Director
Played by Earle Browne
A figure behind the theatrical elements of court life, guiding scenes that reveal the performative nature of power and romance at the palace. This role emphasizes how appearances and staging influence perception at the heart of the monarchy.
- 🎭 Theatre
- 🎬 Performance
Where and When Is Du Barry, Woman of Passion Set?
Du Barry, Woman of Passion is set in Kingdom of France and The King's Palace (18th century). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
18th century
The tale spans the late Ancien Régime, focusing on the life at the French court under King Louis XV. It depicts the allure and danger of courtly romance, wealth, and status in a period of growing famine and discontent. As the narrative progresses, the backdrop shifts toward the early stirrings of revolution, echoing the era's political fragility.
Where
Kingdom of France, The King's Palace
Set in the 18th-century Kingdom of France, the story unfolds around the lavish royal court and its surrounding aristocratic haunts. The palace serves as the center of power, romance, and political maneuvering, while aristocratic gambling houses highlight the era's opulence and decadence. The divide between the gilded world of the court and the starving commoners underscores the rising tension that leads to upheaval.
- 👑 Royal Court
- 🏛 Palace
- 💎 Opulence
What Are the Themes of Du Barry, Woman of Passion?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love and Power, Royal Intrigue and Justice and Revolt.
-
01
Love and Power
Jeannette’s rise from modest beginnings to favor at the King’s court is driven as much by love as by ambition. The romance with Cosse is tested by courtly politics and wealth-seeking, showing how affection can be entangled with social climbing. The relationship becomes a catalyst for dramatic choices that ripple through the royal circle.
-
02
Royal Intrigue
The court is a web of manipulation, disguises, and schemes led by the King and his allies. Du Barry’s scheming and the King’s concealed actions reveal how power is negotiated behind closed doors. Loyalty, betrayal, and calculated risk define the moves at the top of the social ladder.
-
03
Justice and Revolt
Famine and discontent fuel a societal backlash against the ancien régime. The film traces how public unrest and royal decisions intersect, pushing characters toward drastic acts to protect or destroy what they hold dear. The looming revolution casts a long shadow over personal loyalties.
-
04
Secret Loyalties
Characters grapple with competing loyalties—between lovers, family, and country. Hidden agendas and concealed truths drive pivotal moments, forcing truth to collide with appearances. The tension between personal desire and public duty is a constant undercurrent.
What Kind of Film Is Du Barry, Woman of Passion?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A sweeping, tragic historical romance that charts a woman's meteoric rise and devastating fall against the backdrop of a cruel aristocracy and the violent uprising of the French Revolution, creating a sense of passionate but ultimately doomed grandeur.
- tragic
- passionate
- oppressive
- melancholic
- fated
- angst-ridden
- ill-fated romance
- class disparity
- political revolution
- royal court
Content notes: public execution, mob violence, imprisonment, suicide (of a secondary character), starvation (as a plot point).
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