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STORY:
This period swashbuckler, set during the years 1699 to 1716, is reminiscent of the adventures of Dumas' Three Musketeers with its heroes oozing panache, picturesque heroines, plenty of swordplay and royalty promenading the screen. It is the seventh screen adaptation of Paul Feval's 1857 serialized novel. Lagardere (Auteuil), brought up by fencing masters in Paris, is hired by the scheming Count Gonzague (Luchini), with an assorted band of cutthroats, to murder the Count's cousin, the Duke of Nevers (Perez). However, Lagardere has great respect for the Duke's swordsmanship and is determined to learn Nevers' fatal manuever. Though the duke is initially uncooperative, Lagardere gains his friendship by uniting the duke with his former lover, Blanche of Caylus (Nebout) and their child, of whom he had no knowledge, and eventually becomes his bodyguard. Nevers' greedy cousin Gonzague, who has been active in keeping the duke from marrying, takes his plots to very sinister extremes. He stops at nothing to gain Nevers' fortune, and orders the death of his cousin, the new bride and infant daughter. Miraculously, only the duke is killed; however, as he lies dying, he turns his child over to Lagardere, asking him to gain revenge on his killers. Lagardere and the child hide amidst an Italian troupe of actors. Sixteen years later, the time comes for the promise
to be fulfilled. The baby grows up to become Aurore (Gillain), a beautiful,
spirited young woman, who believes Lagardere is her father. Her mother, who survived the
massacre, now lives in Gonzague's mansion as a recluse. When the actors arrive in Paris,
Lagardere at last sets the stage for revenge. He disguises himself as a hunchback to enter
the villain's employ as a financier, make contact with Blanche, who thinks her daughter is
dead, and plot Gonzague's downfall.
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