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Le Bossu (aka On
Guard!) opens near the end of Louis XIV's reign, when a masterful young swordsman
named Lagardere (Auteuil) challenges and then befriends the dashing Duke of Nevers
(Perez), creator of a lethal sword thrust the former wishes to learn.
Spontaneous, poetic and humane, Nevers weds his sweetheart, Blanche (Nebout), who has
borne his child, but the jealous, ruthless Gonzague (Luchini), his cousin, literally stabs
him in the back. Lagardere and the young infant girl barely escape to join a troupe of
traveling players.
Like the Count of Monte Cristo, Lagardere waits 16 years until Nevers' daughter Aurore
(Gillain) is a gorgeous young heroine with plenty of fight before pursuing revenge against
the slayer of his friend. Gonzague now rules the Rue Quincampoix (a
budding stock market) with the help of a hunchback, whom Lagardere impersonates.
******
Sydney Morning Herald:
"Le Bossu boasts some delightful performances, in
particular from Perez as the flamboyant Nevers, and Auteuil as the hero
with many aspects to his personality: the tender father figure, the eager hero, even the
scheming hunchback he disguises himself
as in order to accomplish his mission. Shot with an eye on the natural charms of the
French countryside, the film also pleases with its elegant interior sets and
costumes."
San Diego Union Tribune:
"One of the most exciting movies ever to cross swords. Errol
Flynn lives, in French. Directed by veteran Philippe de Broca, it stars some of France's
best actors (Daniel Auteuil, Fabrice Luchini, Vincent Perez) in a
sumptuous, exhilarating story of swordplay, intrigue, romance and revenge."
Critic Rich Cline:
"The cast is superb, especially Luchini as the smiling backstabber, and Perez
as the foppish yet handsome and talented duke... Attention to detail, lovely
cinematography and epic music add to director de Broca's skill with action, comedy
and intimate drama - the swordfight scenes are remarkably coherent, clearly signaling each
instance of the grisly Nevers Attack."
The Independent:
"Acted and shot with magnificent braggadocio... Fabrice Luchini
makes a supremely oleaginous villain. Vincent Perez leaps hither and
thither like a latter-day Douglas Fairbanks while Daniel Auteuil's
character seems like a cross between Cyrano and D'Artagnan."
InsideOut:
"Auteuil is a character actor, not the Errol Flynn of Gallic cinema. If he and
Perez had swapped roles, it would have fitted de Broca's romantic
vision far better, except Auteuil comes into his own as the hunchback. Perez
conveys aristocratic arrogance with enough panache to be sympathetic and Gillain is
delightful."
The Hollywood Reporter:
"Paul Feval's swashbuckler is brought gloriously to cinematic life in the hearty,
rousing romantic
adventure En Garde... A great cast, thrilling fight scenes and chivalric
romance."
6 Bears Magazine:
"Adapted from the cloak and dagger novel of Paul Feval, this version has a new depth
of characters and a new historical dimension, bathed in beautiful scenery... Vincent
Perez as the Duke of Nevers is charming and invincible as the expert
swordsman."
The Daily Telegraph:
"A very French adventure yarn of betrayal and revenge with lots of vigorous, swishing
swordfights. The excellent cast races through ravishing locations from one thrilling set
piece to the next. Great fun."
Parisfranceguide.com:
"Sexy and dramatic... Perez is magnificent in the sort of heroic
role he professes to despise."
Cinema d'Oron:
"Played with conviction and plume, where you will find duels, treachery, beautiful
costumes, avenged honor, love... Vincent Perez gives a sensational ease
to the Duke of Nevers, handling the sword better than anybody and trailing all the hearts
after him."
Exeter University Cinema Society:
"This is a dynamic and lively film with action, betrayal,
revenge, love, comedy and of course great thrust and parry sequences. Don't miss it."
******
Notes:
Le Bossu's Official Web Site is now undergoing
construction. |
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CAST
Daniel Auteuil.............................Lagardere Fabrice
Luchini...........................Gonzague Vincent Perez.....................Duke of
Nevers Marie Gillain.....................................Aurore Yann
Collette................................Peyrolles Claire
Nebout..................................Blanche Philippe Noiret.............Philippe d'
Orleans
CREDITS
Directed by....................Philippe De Broca Screenplay
by.........Jean Cosmos, Jerome Tonnere and Philippe de Broca
Based on the novel by............. Paul Feval
Cinematography by.............Jean-Francois Robin
Music by..............................Philippe Sarde
Premiered in France on December 3, 1997
1998 Cesar Award: Best Costume Design
1998 Cesar Nominations: Best French Film,
Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Music, Best Editor, Best Actor, Best
Actress and Best Supporting Actor - Vincent Perez
Also nominated for the 1999 Best Non- English Film by the British
Academy
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Story
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