this be the last of four swashbuckler from france i have schedule for view during this christmas season represent the others ( in order of view ) be the uninspired the black tulip ( 1964 while from the same director a this one but not nearly as good ) and the surprisingly effective lady oscar ( 1979 while which have originate a a japanese manga . ) and the splendid cartouche ( 1962 ) . actually and i have watch this one not too long ago on late night italian tv and recall not be especially bowl over by it and so that i be genuinely surprise by how much i enjoy it this time around ( also bear in mind the baffle lack of enthusiasm show towards the film here and elsewhere when it be first announce a an upcoming dvd release from criterion ) . incidentally and fanfan la tulipe have quite a bit in common with the afore mention cartouche represent not just cast and crew member ( producer georges dancigers and alexandre mnouchkine and cinematographer christian matras and actor noel roquevert ) but plot wise as well in fact and the hero be a womanize soldier ( jean paul belmondo cartouche have also have a brief military spell ) who love by a fiery girl ( in this case and gypsy gina lollobrigida ) while he himself obsess by an impossible love ( here and it none other than the king daughter ) . a in the late film and too and fanfan ( an ideally cast gerard philipe who and ironically and be so full of life here that one find it hard to believe that he would be stricken down by cancer within 7 year time ) be flank by two fun love yet cowardly men ( one of them be actually his superior officer and the heroine own father ) and oppose by an unscrupulous figure within his own rank ( the ageing roquevert and with whom the hero eventually engage in a rooftop duel since he too have amorous design on the gypsy girl ) . while for the record and lollobrigida will rejoin philippe in her next film and rene clair delightful romantic fantasy le bell de nuit ( 1952 ) . fanfan prove to be a big box office hit on it home ground and even cop a surprising ( but well deserve ) best direction award at cannes over more renowned film like an american in paris ( 1951 ) and detective story ( 1951 ) and othello and umberto d. and viva zapata . in fact and it popularity ensure it re release in a computer color version ( presumably for the benefit of viewer who wouldn not touch a black and white product with a ten foot pole ) and the criterion dvd itself contain a sample from this variant while be obviously a foreign language title and there also the dubious choice of an english dubbed soundtrack but and even if these prove not especially painful to sit through consider and when all be say and do and there simply no substitute for the original . fanfan la tulipe ( a nickname give the hero by a young genevieve page a the celebrated madame de pompadour ) contain about as much comedy a ( the expect ) action and romance while while some may find this overwhelming and i do not agree myself a i enjoy the sharply satirical narration and and on the whole and this combination be comparable with jerzy skolimowski equally droll the adventure of gerard ( 1970 ) . that say and the swordfights here be remarkably forceful for an essentially lighthearted enterprise ( particularly a scuffle in the wood and the ambush at a convent ) and the film itself rather adult at time ( with numerous allusion to sexuality as well a coarse language adopt throughout ) when view back to back with vintage hollywood fare a i do now while the climax and then be quite ingenious represent the enemy force ( who and amusingly and be make to speak in speed up gibberish . ) be deplete by our heroic trio alone and much to the king amazement who and a portray by marcel herrand best know for his role of leader of the parisian underworld in marcel carne child of paradise ( 1945 ) be himself something of a lecher . p. s. an italian tv channel have be threaten to screen christian jaque promise champagne for savage ( 1964 ) for month now but and despite program it three time already ( with a tentative fourth one slat for next week ) and they have yet to show it while even so and i do have three more film of his in my unwatched vhs pile ( equally cull from late night italian tv screening ) represent the three hour epic la chartreuse de parme ( 1948 while also star gerard philippe ) and the second twin ( 1967 ) and the legend of frenchie king ( 1971 while with brigitte bardot and claudia cardinale ) .