Director Christian-Jacque’s sunny, sweet-natured French 1952 swashbuckling romantic comedy adventure stars the dashingly handsome young Gérard Philipe as Fanfan, a cheeky soldier who enrolls in the wars of Louis XV (King of France from 1715 to 1774) to avoid marrying the young woman he has compromised in a tussle in a haystack.
Philipe’s lovemaking is as memorable as his rooftop duel under Christian-Jacque’s engaging direction. The playing is spot on, with Gina Lollobrigida as Philipe’s lover Adeline La Franchise, Genevieve Page as Madame Pompadour, Silvie Pelayo as the king’s daughter Henriette de France, Noël Roquevert as La maréchal des logis Fier-à-Bras, Marcel Hérrand as Louis XV and Olivier Hussenot as Tranche-Montagne.
The screenplay by Christian-Jacque, René Wheeler, René Fallet and Henri Jeanson (adaptation and dialogue) is warm, friendly and fun, and its spoofy tone is exactly right.
The production by Christian-Jacque and Alexandre Mnouchkine is elegant and graceful, with the movie beautifully shot in black and white by Christian Matras, all adding up to an enchanting movie.
© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6391
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