Capitaine Fracasse, Le (1943)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Abel Gance

Writers:

Gian Bistolfi (dialogue) (Italian version)
Abel Gance (adaptation)

Release Date:

December 1944 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel | Character Name In Title

Cast

Fernand Gravey	...	Le baron de Cigognac / Il barone di Sigognac
Assia Noris	...	Isabelle / Isabella
Jean Weber	...	Le duc de Vallombreuse / Il duca di Vallombrosa (as Jean Weber Sociétaire de la Comédie Française)
Roland Toutain	...	Scapin / Scapino
Lucien Nat	...	Agostin / Agostino
Alice Tissot	...	Dame Léonarde / Donna Leonarda
Paul Oettly	...	Matamore / Matamoro
Josette France	...	Zerbine / Zerbina
Mary-Lou	...	Yolande de Foix / Jolanda de Foix
Costantini	...	Léandre / Leandro
Jacques François	...	Vidalenc
Philippe Rolla	...	Malastic / Malastico (as Philippe-Rolla)
Pierre Labry	...	Hérode / Erodo
Jean Fleur	...	Blazius / Blazio
Roger Blin	...	Fagotin / Fagottino

Also Known As:

Captain Fracasse (International: English title)
Maschera sul cuore, La (Italy)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Lux Film

Movie Connections:

Remade as Viaggio di Capitan Fracassa, Il (1990)

If you 're a comedian,you'll be damned!

My generation knows the 1960 version starring Jean Marais directed by Pierre Gaspard-Huit.That version was closer to Gautier's plot:for instance,it's Vallombreuse who's seriously injured in the final duel ,and it's the duke's father who reveals the secret of Isabelle's birth.But it's minor quibble:Abel Gance's version is extremely superior to Gaspard-Huit's.

Gance warned us "it's "le Capitaine Fracasse" seen through Abel Gance's eyes.Abel Gance ,a director who always was a pioneer .He used models for the film sets and it shows: the old castle and its silhouette recalls a Disney Cartoon.There are elements which have not worn well,but some scenes remain impressive today:

-The Matamore's death -only a grave on the road in the 1960 version- is given a gloomy eerie treatment.

-The duel in the graveyard where Gance uses Alexandrians :he would repeat the process in "Cyrano et d'Artagnan" (1963) ,all the lines of which are in verse;it perfectly segues into the scene on stage where the comedians are playing Corneille's "l'Illusion Comique"

-The final scene which verges on fantasy.

Gaspard-Huit's movie was made "for the family" .Gance displays a much more demanding talent:he insists on the fact that if you were a comedian in those years,you were bound to be damned.When the troupe asks the baron for refuge ,his servant mumbles :"they are just heathens!";when the nobles go a hunting in the woods and meet them ,they say :"they are excommunicated!" .The Matamore will not have a priest to pray over his grave.Even the great Molière (1622-1673) did not have a church funeral.

Abel Gance was the true "researcher" of the French cinema.Godard,you can forget it!