The history of Versailles-from its 'umble beginnings as a hunting pavilion until the end of World War II-is presented by raconteur Sacha Guitry as one long bit of delicious gossip. And like the best gossip, this is based on material from the horse's mouth interpreted with a free hand: "Guitry was able to draw upon his own collection of autograph material by the French kings and their mistresses, their ministers, and all those who were associated with Versailles" (James Harding, Sacha Guitry). In a stroke of brilliant irony, Guitry has France's historical cavalcade of stars enacted by a contemporary constellation including (but not limited to) G?ard Philipe as d'Artagnan, Claudette Colbert as Madame de Montespan, Jean-Louis Barrault as F?elon, Micheline Presle as Madame de Pompadour, Fernand Gravey as Moli?re, Edith Piaf perched like a bird on the palace gates chirping "&Acedil;a Ira," Charles Vanel, Jean Marais, Gaby Morlay, Orson Welles...the list goes on, with the best role reserved for Guitry himself. HisLouis XIV was "a fragment of theatre, exquisite, ironic..." (Dilys Powell). The considerable proceeds from this "scandalous, erroneous, and preposterous version of history" (Le Figaro litteraire) went toward the restoration of Versailles, though its flaking and tarnished surfaces only made Guitry's film, shot in the palace and gardens, all the more believable.