Angélica, a Marquesa dos Anjos

Although I'm not French but Russian... who actually lives in Australia but wants to travel around the world and go to France one day to improve her French ;-) But I love this movie... even more than I loved the book... It's absolutely brilliant and always inspires me so much. I think through all the years the main character has influenced my own character so much... that my friends sometimes say I act and even look a bit like Angelique.

So I don't really think that the movie isn't well known... It beats all the modern Hollywood soapy dramas. And I absolutely vote for it!

The story takes place in France around 1650. Angelique (Michèle Mercier) is in love with the young, handsome, but also poor Nicholas (Giuliano Gemma), yet is forced to marry the rich Count Peyrac (Robert Hossein) who has a stiff leg and bears an ugly scar across his face. After she got to know him better, Angelique recognizes an amazing, strong character behind that face, though, and falls in love with her husband despite his outer appearance, better late than never... After some time of peace and happiness, coming events cast their dark shadows before. The Holy Inquisition mistrusts Peyrac's scientific experiments, and the couple also makes enemies at the King's court. Peyrac is accused of sorcery. Can Angelique do anything to save him at the trial?

Classic costume drama which spawned no less than 4 sequels, though none of them exceeded the qualities of the first part. One reason for its success is most likely that it had a female lead character whereas other movies of the genre, from Robin Hood to the 3 Musketeers, usually had male stars. With a good deal of love story added, it appealed a lot more to a female audience in the 1960s, but the action scenes are also well paced and directed. I voted 8/6/7/6/6 for the 5 movies of the series.

I have not seen this movie for many years but I remember it fondly. I used to be a huge fan in my early teenage years. Along with my friends, we had seen "Angélique, marquise des anges" no less than ten times at the cinema, and we all fell in love with green-eyed, sensual Angelique, her mysterious and brilliant husband, the Count Jeoffrey de Peyrac (Robert Hossein), her sharp and clever friend, Desgrez (Jean Rochefort), with the atmosphere of 17th century's France, its picturesque country sides, splendor of Paris and Versailles and dark secrets of the Lous XIV court. Very French movie at its best. I also would like to mention that the movie is based on the first book in the series by Anne and Serge Golon, and all books are absolutely marvelous.

I really do not understand how it is possible that one of the greatest movie series of 1960`s has got such a small amount of comments on this site. This opening movie of the five-part series is in my opinion one of the best. We can see a successful portrayal of rural France of 17th century, the splendour of the golden age of Lous XIV., the debauchery of the court of Versailles etc. Michelle Mercier is simply beautiful, Toja as Louis XIV. is very good as well. The film features some very well-acted scenes. I can recommend it to anyone who loves historical spectacles. This is one of the best ever filmed, I have doubts whether the present film-makers would manage to match it!

I have seen this movie, and all the others of the series. They are excellent if you liked the books, and also like the atmospher of adventure, 17th century, royal court affairs, etc. I would advise to see this movie.