Fanfan la Tulipe
Fanfan la Tulipe is a 1952 French comedy adventure film directed by Christian-Jaque. It has also been categorized under swashbuckler films.  The film starred Gérard Philipe and Gina Lollobrigida. The film was remade in 2003 with Penélope Cruz in Lollobrigida's role.

Plot
Fanfan is a charming, attractive young Frenchman who is trying to escape a shotgun marriage during the Seven Years' War. At this vulnerable point in his life, he is approached by the daughter of a recruiting officer, Adeline, who tells him that if he joins the army he will find fame, fortune, and marry the king's daughter.  Accordingly, he signs up, only to discover that she made the whole thing up in order for her father to receive a recruiting bonus.  Nevertheless, encouraged by a series of improbable circumstances, he accepts her prediction as his destiny.  A series of events ensues which shows off to great advantage his athleticism and leadership ability.  As the film progresses, we become aware of a developing attraction between himself and Adeline which however conflicts with his perceived "destiny" of marrying a king's daughter.

Cast
Gérard Philipe as Fanfan la Tulipe
Gina Lollobrigida as Adeline La Franchise
Marcel Herrand as Louis XV
Olivier Hussenot as Tranche-Montagne
Noël Roquevert as Fier-à-Bras
Henri Rollan as Le maréchal d'Estrées
Nerio Bernardi as La Franchise
Jean-Marc Tennberg as Lebel
Geneviève Page as La marquise de Pompadour
Sylvie Pelayo as Henriette de France
Lolita De Silva as La dame d'honneur
Irène Young as Marion
Georgette Anys as Madame Tranche-Montagne
Henri Hennery as Guillot
Lucien Callamand as Le maréchal de Brandebourg

Production
The film was photographed in black-and-white by Christian Matras.  A colorized version was created (supervised by Sophie Juin for Les Films Ariane) and issued in 2000 on DVD in Europe alongside the original version.

Awards
Won1952 Berlin International Film Festival – Silver Berlin Bear
1952 Cannes Film Festival – Best DirectorNominated1952 Cannes Film Festival – Grand Prize of the Festival

References
External links
Fanfan la Tulipe at IMDb
Fanfan la Tulipe at AllMovie
Bosley Crowther NY Times Review, 5 May 1953
Fanfan la Tulipe: En Garde! an essay by Kenneth Turan at the Criterion Collection