Il viaggio di Capitan Fracassa

One of films in which every aspect gives a special state. From performances to the inspired use of story, from nostalgia to the refreshing humor, from the dialogues to the love story. A homage to theater and a great adaptation of a fascinating novel. And, sure, Massimo Troisi .

One of the reviews here is that it is one of the best films of the great Italian director Ettore Scola. I would say more: it's one of the best movies ever. Top 20 in the History of cinema IMHO.

Comedy, drama, romance, history, poetry and literature in one of the most simple and beautiful tributes made to theater and the love of acting. This movie is proof that you can make a great work without much money or production. In fact, simplicity is its greatest virtue.

And as icing on the cake it still allows us to enjoy the stunning beauty of Ornella Muti throughout its projection. 10/10

Although it does not follow Theophile Gautier's novel slavishly, this movie gets the essentials all right. (The very next day after seeing the movie in 1990 in France, I went to the nearest bookstore o buy the book, which I hadn't read yet; and which proved a delight, too.) While many US and UK movies do period pieces like the Three Musketeers in near-parody or camp, this one treats the story with respect. Think Cyrano de Bergerac, but with a more even and varied cast of characters, and a big twist of a happy ending. It's particularly fun for anyone who does amateur theater, as the plot involves a nobleman (down on his luck in the south) who swallows his pride long enough to join a troup of travelling actors (at the time, denied the right of burial), for a trip to Paris. Fortunately, despite being in the sticks, his tutor at sword fighting was the best.

IMDb should write into their software one little button that says, "If the studio would sell this film, I would BUY IT!" Then, if enough people signed up to buy a film, the studios could produce copies and sell them - or even sell them digitally online.

This excellent period film about the early traveling theatrical troupes of the Renaissance has not been available since its release, and I have been waiting for them to come out with a purchase copy. And it even stars the supreme actor Massimo Troisi, who was better in this than in Il Postino. Now is the time, since the studios can exploit the digital revolution by not having to produce and ship disks.

This is a moneymaker, folks! And with Facebuchenwald and other social networking sites, the number of people wanting to buy might grow exponentially.

So why doesn't IMDb do this?????

In pastel colours of a fairy-tale sort, mostly in mist, Scola weaves his masterful adaptation of the classic of French literature (written by Theophile Gautier in 1861-63), slowly approaching towards the end's magnificent "realistic" twist (which - I dare to say - would not make the author angry). "Il viaggio di Capitan Fracassa" is cinema that cannot offend anyone, full of great emotional(as well as intellectual)pleasures. I found the new French blu-ray with English subtitles great, as well as companion releases of Scola's "La nuit de Varennes", "Splendor", and "Che ora e ?". My only complaint is that Massimo Troisi's voice was dubbed in French.