Il viaggio di Capitan Fracassa

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.

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 .

Ettore Scola is an avant-garde director, Il Viaggio di Capitain Fracassa is really fabulous, set on seventeenth century an itinerant theatrical troupe are heading to Paris, during a storm they reach a crumble castle of the blighted Baron of Sigognac (Vincent Perez) to get a shelter, the faithful servant Pietro sees the great opportunity to send his young poor Baron to Paris hoping a meeting with the King Louis XIII which the Sigognac's father had saved Louis XIII's father at Paris's siege in the past and may returning all his wealth, the lineup of Troupe are leaded by Tyrant (Tony Ulci), the unloved and beauty Serafina (Ornella Muti), the dreamer sweet Isabella ( Emmanuelle Béart) and the volatile Zerbine (Tosca D'Aquino), the veteran actor Matamore (Pierrer), the versatile Pulcinella (Massino Troisi) the vain old lady Leonarde (Masiero) and the leading character Leandre (Wertmuller) , Pietro bribes Pulcinella to protect his Baron along the journey, they running across many places which they acting their theatre play, always paid by food, in the travel the young Baron knows the love, however all them have to share sorrows, starvation and some fun occasionally, further all this told in sparse flashbacks by Pulcinella to an eager health civil servant, all in small details, Ettore masterfully exposes the hardness period to the scenic arts, their aches and pains, a journey to celebrate the art, almost perfect!!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 9

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.