As described in a film magazine,[1] Madame Jeanne Du Barry (Bara) becomes the reigning favorite of Louis XV (Clary) and enjoys this distinction until the sudden death of the king. The lavish mode of living by the king and Jeanne Du Barry arouse the wrath of the peasant class, and after the death of the king a revolution breaks out. Jeanne is made to suffer through the revolution and pays the ultimate price on the guillotine.
Like many American films of the time, Madame Du Barry was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. The Chicago Board of Censors required a cut of Madame Du Barry lying on the guillotine and the closeup of the blade.[2]