Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that the film includes some mysterious behaviors and effects, so the magic tricks and ghostly apparitions look convincing (via digital help). The prince abuses his fiancée verbally and physically. She appears to be stabbed, her neck and torso bloodied; her body is discovered floating in a river. She later appears as a ghost (among other ghosts) for a magician's show, frightening and awing the audience. Characters wield swords and the men threaten one another with violence, leading to a fight at film's end. One sex scene emphasizes the passion of the moment, without explicit nakedness. One character uses the f-word.
Sexual
Content
Couple who are deeply in love kiss passionately and have sex, in filtered light and tight close-ups (not explicit).
Violence
Prince shoots at birds, keeps animal heads (from hunting) on his walls, brutalizes his fiancée, and covets a family sword used in a magic trick; duchess appears to be stabbed (bloodied neck) and dead (her pale body on display, then her ghost appears on stage); an angry mob demands that the magician be released from police custody.
Language
One f-word; prince calls his fiancée a "whore." Magician's Chinese assistants called "Orientals."
Social
Behavior
Cruel prince abuses his power; rumors circulate that magician has sold is soul to the devil; ambitious detective eventually does the right thing.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Detective smokes a pipe; wealthy characters drink wine and smoke cigarettes.