Fracass, der freche Kavalier

The 1955-65 era was the French swashbuckler heyday and Jean Marais was the hero of that generation.He had given up his artistic ambitions of the Cocteau period ("la Belle et la Bete" " les parents terribles" ),but his panache and his charisma remained intact.Pierre Gaspard-Huit is not much of a director ,but it's adapted from a Theophile Gautier novel and there's a good cast featuring Louis de Funes and Gerard Barray (later,Duvernois in "abre los oyos")who was some Marais 's alter ego and who plays the villain here.The ending is melodramatic to a fault -but so was Gautier's novel-and anyway Marais's acrobatic feats (no stunt double,what contemporary actor can say the same?)are all that counts.

just nice. for cast. for clothes and atmosphere. for solutions of adaptation. for charm. but , after its end, it remains only nice. slice of a period art, French at all, almost a Gauthier, it is the kind of innocent delight film. not serious or profound,convincing or extraordinary, wise or full of nuances. only a game , crumbs of literature, good actors acting for pure joy and a director for who measure is basic rule. nothing more. but it is enough ! because the film remains fresh and the performance touching. because it is only joke. and good occasion to remember not only the silhouettes of great names of French art but a dusty novel of an old age.

Entertaining, colorful romp from a much-filmed source – including three versions by distinguished film-makers: in 1929 (directed by Alberto Cavalcanti; available on DVD from Image), 1943 (directed by Abel Gance) and 1990 (directed by Ettore Scola; I actually watched this one some time ago, and I recall it being more of a meditative fantasy on role-playing than the unassuming romantic swashbuckler the 1961 film under review emerges to be!).

Jean Marais looks more at home here than he did in PONTIUS PILATE (1961), which preceded this viewing: he's typically dashing and athletic and, despite being 48 years old, is said to have done all his own stunts. Since the plot revolves around a traveling theatrical troupe and culminates in a revelation which links one of its members to the villain of the piece, it probably influenced Rafael Sabatini's classic "Scaramouche" (itself filmed numerous times, and whose titular figure even makes a fleeting appearance at one point in the film!). This version, then, suffers from generally uninspired handling (it doesn't help that I'm not at all familiar with the director) – though the plentiful action sequences are admittedly energetic.

Leading lady Genevieve Grad is decent enough (although the supporting role of the gypsy girl Chiquita, played by Joelle La Tour, is a far more interesting character) and Gerard Barray appropriately slimy as Marais' nemesis. The supporting cast, luckily, features a number of reliable character actors – among others, Philippe Noiret, Louis De Funes, Riccardo Garrone (his duel at night with Marais is a definite highlight) and Jean Rochefort; interestingly enough, rather than showing the film's happy ending in full, all four actors are involved in a mocking re-enactment of it!

Finally, however, the film is overlong since we also get too many subplots and contrived situations – for instance, Chiquita (who, with her lover, had intended to rob the troupe) and a couple of hired assassins (Garrone and Rochefort) conveniently reform and decide to help in the hero's cause!

This is a fun combination of sword-play, love stories, stage performances and filled with villainy and heroism. Under the reign of Louis XIII, in Gascogne, the last descendant of a noble and ruined family, the Baron de Sigognac (Jean Marais), is bored in his ruined castle where he lives with his servant Pierre. The tired Baron Philippe de Sigognac, meets one day a troupe of traveling actors (Sacha Pitoëff , Philippe Noiret, Geneviève Grad, Louis de Funès..) and join them . One day some wandering comedians knock on his door and ask for shelter for that night. Attracted by Isabelle (Geneviève Grad), and by the enthusiasm of his acting companions, he leaves his aristocratic life to the theatrical adventure. Along the way, Marais has to confront an evil man, Duc de Vallombreuse (Gérard Barray), who has also set his sights on Isabelle and even kidnaps her.

A delightful naive adventure, as the film is fairly entertaining and, as can be expected from a grade-A French production of the sixties, handsomely mounted but it mainly survives nowadays on its high quotient of nostalgia. Captain Fracassa is a rousing, moving, stirring tale, above average , and adding action as well as thrills with a great sense of wonder, including attractive scenarios. It is an amusing Swashbuckler with plenty of action , thrills , colorful cinematography by cameraman Marcel Grignon , wonderful camera work , luxurious costumes , catching score; all meld together under Pierre Gaspard-Huit 's competent direction . Although the story has been told before, tight filmmaking and splendid acting win out. The picture is fast-moving , exciting and thrilling right up with climatic final confrontation between good guys and bad guys. Highlighting the continuous confrontations between Jeana Marais and Gérard Barray, the latter was a notorious swordsman too. Based on the novel by Theophile Gautier, which had already been screened seven times before. Then filmmaker Pierre Gaspard decided to create his own adaptation of this classic adventure novel. For this, Pierre decided to give the main role to the French actor who became known in the film Beauty and the Beast (1946) directed by his lover Jean Cocteau. As Jean Marais is nice as a friendly Baron who after meeting some stage actors joins the troupe and that's why he decides to leave his castle. Enjoyable acting acting by Jean Marais , he gives a charming acting and manages to use his fists, swords and to do some acrobatics . Marais was a prestigious actor being special relevancy his relation to Jean Cocteau, as they remained close friends until Cocteau's death. Cocteau had a major influence on life and career of Jean Marais who appeared in almost every one of Cocteau's films. Together they made such classics as Beauty and the Beast (1946) , Orfeo (1950) and testament of Orfeo (1960) , to name a few . This was not the actor's first foray into swashbuckling cinema, as he had played in "The Intrepid Latour" (1959), or The Count of Montecristo (1954). He also starred several adventure movies mostly directed by Andre Hunebelle such as 1962 Mysteries of Paris , 1961 The miracle of the wolves , 1960 The captain and 1959 The hunchback . During the 1960s and 1970s, Marais went on to star in several popular comedies, such as the Fantomas (1964) trilogy -along with Louis de Funes- by director André Hunebelle . Lavish spectacle and good casting overcomes the somewhat sluggish storytelling that combines a number of familiar faces. Main cast is franky excellent as well as the support cast with full of prestigious French and Italian actors, such as: Anna Maria Ferrero, Riccardo Garrone, Danielle Godet, Sacha Pitoëff, Philippe Noiret, Jean Rochefort and Louis de Funès

It is worth highlighting the soundtrack by Georges Van Parys, responsible for the scores of important films, such as "Paris, Underworld", Fanfan the invincible¨ ¨The golden age¨ or ¨Diabolique¨. This French spectacle was compellingly directed by Pierre Gaspard-Huit (Les lavandières du Portugal, Gibraltar, Amoríos , Sophie et le crime , Little B. B.). In any case, this satisfactory viewing has brought back fond childhood memories of similar costume pictures and has certainly whetted my appetite for more.

Classic cloak-and-dagger film from France with Jean Marais in a typical role!

Jean MARAIS plays Captain Fracasse, who experiences numerous adventures in the 17th century with a troupe of comedians. The really good antagonist Duc de Vallombreuse is played by the dashing Gerard Barray (SCARAMOUCHE). Louis de Funes (Der GENDARM von St. TROPEZ), Philippe Noiret, Sacha Pitoeff and Jean Rochefort can be seen in additional supporting roles. Love is also not neglected in the form of Genevieve Grad as beautiful Isabelle and Anna Maria Ferrero.

Nothing special, but definitely worth seeing for fans of the genre!