In the 15th century, legendary French poet and rabble-rouser Francois Villon (Barrymore), “King of Fools,” is exiled from Paris by King Louis XI (Veidt) after a dust-up with the Duke of Burgundy (Butt). But Villon, undaunted by the order, hatches a plan to re-enter the city — by catapult! — and feed the city's poor. Conveniently, his landing spot is the bed chamber of lovely, smitten fiancée Charlotte (Day)...

The actor John Barrymore, still in his prime, delivers a dashing, full-bodied performance in this swashbuckling costume adventure based on the exploits of the real-life Villon, who roused the lowlifes of Paris to defend the city against invading Burgundians. Crosland's hugely entertaining tale of derring-do and court intrigue would not be such a grand late-silent effort, however, without the towering, majestic allure of William Cameron Menzies's magnificently expressive sets. What a “Rogue” indeed!