Cartouche

There were some fun scenes to be found in Cartouche, but I found the way it was all put together pretty awkward. Even if there's always something happening in each individual scene of the film, those scenes just don't flow together very well. It's not as breezy as the ideal kind of swashbuckling movie should be, but I can't deny it comes alive at certain points.

I also think it manages to be watchable because of the star power, and yeah, seeing Jean-Paul Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale in the same film is reason enough to check out Cartouche I guess. Hot take, though: I think Alain Delon was better in these sorts of roles than Belmondo. The latter is somewhat charming here, but I don't know; there's just something about his style and charisma that makes him so much better suited to 20th-century crime movies. He doesn't have iPhone face, but I guess he has the 1960s equivalent. I can't entirely buy him in this role, but I think that's more on the casting than him specifically. He does what he can.

Cardinale is as good as always, but as is often the case, she's a bit underused... so maybe the star power isn't all that? Eh, it's still something.

This movie is fine, is I think what I was trying to eventually get at.

Louis-Dominique Cartouche (1693-1721) was one of the two famous brigands in France of the XVIII th century the other being Mandrin the smuggler.Cartouche's "career" took place during the Regence (interregnum Louis the XIV th /louis the XV th) whereas his colleague appeared later under Louis the XV th 's reign.He was another Robin Hood ,stealing from the rich and giving to the poor (not only legend).He was a gallant man,seducing many women , collecting the lovers .In the movie ,"Venus" (Cardinale)might represent some of them.His relationship with an aristocratic woman (Odile Versois in the movie) is plausible for he had friends in the nobility .Once he had dinner with one of these high born ladies and he thought her champagne was undrinkable:the day after ,he sent a case of bottles to her.The tragic death of Cartouche is not shown in the movie:like Mandrin ,and like other brigands ,he perished on the wheel ,a terrifying torture .

Belmondo who was also De Broca's "L'Homme De Rio" is a dashing handsome chivalrous Cartouche .He gets good support from a stellar cast .The last scene,often praised ,is ,with the "burying at sea" scene of Enrico's "Les Aventuriers" ,one of the most beautiful scenes of the French cinema of the sixties!And,no,they were not Nouvelle Vague ,either De Broca or Enrico !

One of those movies I remember fondly watching in my youth. Cartouche is a fine swashbuckling costume drama set in the 18th century in France, a fine mix that gives us some Musketeers, some Robin Hood, some Cyrano de Bergerac. If you are interested in historical adventure movies, this one waits for you - and watching Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale is for sure not the worst way to waste some spare time.

Those who like the genre should not miss the (rare) occasion to see this movie. It is a splendid cloak and dagger story, full of adventures, fights and love. Of course, somewhat incredible at times. Unforgettable is the scene in which the bandit Cartouche (Jean-Paul Belmondo) with the corpse of Venus (Claudia Cardinale) in his arms demands jewels in ransom from French nobles, in order to have a treasure to be buried with his beloved Venus, who has been killed in a fight.

In the 18th century, Louis De Bourguignon nicknamed under the name of Cartouche , (Jean Paul Belmondo) is acting with the Malichot (veteran Marcel Dalio)'s band , but their manners are too unethical for him . He creates his own gang , turning into a French Robin Hood , including his Merry men (Jean Rochefort still today playing and deceased Jess Hahn) ; the thief Cartouche takes over the Parisian crime syndicate making dangerous robberies of the rich people, and even distributing the supplies with the poor people ; furthermore he falls the entrapments of love . Thus , Cartouche attracts the people's sympathies , Venus's love , and hatred from the authority and enemies . Later on , Cartouche and his partners participate in Seven Years War , France against Prussia, where are decorated and considered as heroes. Cartouche/Belmondo is cool as the adventurer who finds risked situations while trying rob the shipments and save mistress in distress . Cartouche is betrayed but he can getaway all the traps they set at him . Meanwhile , he falls in love with two women , Isabel (a ravishing Odile Versous) and his gypsy-girlfriend (a beautiful Claudia Cardinale) . Eventually , he will be saved by a girl , at her own cost .

This is an amusing film that contains noisy action , comedy , thrills , duels , audacious adventures , fencing and many other things . This is an agreeable entertainment juvenile romp well written by Daniel Boulanger , Charles Spaak and the same director Philippe de Broca . The movie displays in grandiose style swashbuckler , heroism , rousing action , swordplay , slapdash , overwhelming fights, fist-play and humor with tongue in cheek . This release has some nice and even hilarious moments here and there , though isn't always interesting , sometimes is diverting and fresh and on a couple of sympathetic occasions is frankly delicious . This adventure movie with a high budget packs breathtaking places , spectacular scenes , luxurious scenarios and amusing plot . Dashing Belmondo sports an inimitable smile while fights and loves ; as usual he combines action with comic episodes . It deals with Louis Dominique or Cartouche , splendidly performed by Belmondo , recently become a big star , he is fine as the hero of this exciting story . Jean-Paul is very nice , he ravages the screen , he jumps, leaps and bounds , hits and runs . Belmondo steals the spectacle , he's a complete show and as usual at the time he makes as his own stunts . Jean-Paul always performed all the stunts himself but ceased to do so after the accident during the filming of ¨Hold Up¨(1985) . Enjoyable acting by main star names , as a gorgeous Claudia Cardinale playing as his gypsy-sweetheart , she's in her splendor of Mediterranean beauty ; in addition Jean Rochefort and Jess Hahn as his two likable underlings . Special mention to sympathetic Marcel Dalio as roguish and mean Machilot .

It's enriched by glimmer cinematography reflecting spectacularly colorful outdoors and glamorous interiors by cameraman Christian Matras , shot on location in Aveyron, Béziers, Hérault, Guermantes, Seine-et-Marne, Lagny-Sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, Pézenas, and Senlis, Oise, France . Wonderful musical score by the classic George Delerue who composed a lively as well sensitive soundtrack . The motion picture was well directed by Philippe De Brocca , an expert on adventure genre , many of them starred by Belmondo , such as ¨That man from Rio¨, ¨Up to his ears¨, ¨Le Magnifique¨, ¨L'Africain¨, ¨L'incorregible¨ , ¨Le Bossu¨ and of course this ¨Cartouche¨. This standard and entertaining 6o's swashbuckling that combines with certain gusto all staples of the genre to be liked for Belmondo and Cardinale fans. Rating : Good , worthwhile watching .