''Captain Fracasse'' (French: ''Le Capitaine Fracasse'', Italian: ''Capitan Fracassa'') is a 1961 French-Italian
historical
History is the systematic study of the past, focusing primarily on the human past. As an academic discipline, it analyses and interprets evidence to construct narratives about what happened and explain why it happened. Some theorists categ ...
adventure film
The adventure film is a broad genre of film. Some early genre studies found it no different than the Western film or argued that adventure could encompass all Hollywood genres. Commonality was found among historians Brian Taves and Ian Cameron in ...
written and directed by
Pierre Gaspard-Huit and starring
Jean Marais,
Geneviève Grad and
Gérard Barray.
The scenario was based on the 1863 novel ''
Captain Fracasse'' by
Théophile Gautier
Pierre Jules Théophile Gautier ( , ; 30 August 1811 – 23 October 1872) was a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, and art and literary critic.
While an ardent defender of Romanticism, Gautier's work is difficult to classify and rema ...
.
[Klossner p.55] It was shot at the
Epinay Studios in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
and
on location in the
Forest of Rambouillet and the
Château de Maintenon.
Plot
In 17th-century France, Baron Philippe de Sigognac lives a modest life in his crumbling castle, the last scion of a noble lineage fallen into disrepair. One winter day, while out riding, he encounters a group of traveling actors whose wagon has broken down. Offering them hospitality, Sigognac is drawn to their world, especially to Isabelle, the ingénue of the troupe.
Despite the challenges of the road and the dangers they face, including skirmishes with highwaymen and the loss of one of their actors, Sigognac decides to join the troupe on their journey to Paris. Renaming himself "Captain Fracasse" and taking on a role in their performances, Sigognac finds himself increasingly enamored with Isabelle, who reciprocates his feelings.
However, their budding romance is threatened by the Duke of Vallombreuse, a cunning nobleman who also desires Isabelle. Vallombreuse, willing to resort to underhanded tactics, orchestrates various plots to eliminate Sigognac and claim Isabelle for himself.
Despite Vallombreuse's interference and the challenges they face, including attempts on Sigognac's life and Isabelle's abduction, the troupe perseveres. Eventually, it is revealed that Isabelle is the daughter of the Prince of Moussy, and her true noble heritage removes the obstacles to her union with Sigognac.
In the end, with Vallombreuse defeated and Isabelle's true identity recognized, Sigognac and Isabelle can finally marry and live happily ever after in Sigognac's restored castle, which transforms from a "Castle of Misfortune" to a "Castle of Happiness". Surrounded by their friends from the troupe, they embark on a new chapter of their lives together, leaving behind the trials and tribulations of their past.
Cast
*
Jean Marais as Baron Philippe de Sigognac, alias "Le Capitaine Fracasse"
*
Geneviève Grad as Isabelle, an actress in the troupe
*
Gérard Barray as Duke of Vallombreuse
*
Louis de Funès as Scapin, an actor in the troupe
*
Philippe Noiret
Philippe Noiret (; 1 October 1930 – 23 November 2006) was a French film actor.
Life and career
Noiret was born in Lille, France, the son of Lucy (Heirman) and Pierre Noiret, a clothing company representative. He was an indifferent student a ...
as Hérode, the representative for the troupe of actors
*
Jean Rochefort as Malartic
*
Riccardo Garrone as Jaquemin Lampourde
*
Anna Maria Ferrero as Marquise de Bruyères
*
Robert Pizani as Blazius, an actor in the troupe
*
Danielle Godet as Sérafina, an actress in the troupe
*
Bernard Dhéran as Knight of Vidalenc
*
Jacques Toja as an actor in the troupe
* as Agostin, the pitcher of knives
*
Sacha Pitoeff as Matamore, an actor in the troupe
*
Maurice Teynac as Marquis Édouard des Bruyères
*
Jean Yonnel as Prince of Moussy
*
Renée Passeur as Dame Léonarde, the duenna of the troupe
*
Paul Préboist
Paul Préboist (21 February 1927 – 4 March 1997) was a French actor. He appeared in more than hundred films, mostly in supporting roles, and is best known as a comic actor.
Filmography
Theater
References
External links
*Paul Préboista ...
as a killed guard
References
Bibliography
* Klossner, Michael. ''The Europe of 1500-1815 on Film and Television: A Worldwide Filmography of Over 2550 Works, 1895 Through 2000''. McFarland & Company, 2002.
* Moine, Raphaëlle. ''Cinema Genre''. John Wiley & Sons, 2009.
External links
*
Le Capitaine Fracasse (1961)at the ''Films de France''
1961 films
1960s historical adventure films
French historical adventure films
Italian historical adventure films
1960s French-language films
Films directed by Pierre Gaspard-Huit
Films set in the 17th century
Films based on Captain Fracasse
Films shot at Epinay Studios
1960s French films
1960s Italian films
French-language Italian films
French swashbuckler films
Italian swashbuckler films
Films scored by Georges Van Parys
French-language historical adventure films
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