''Captain Fracasse'' (French: ''Le Capitaine Fracasse'') is a 1943 French-Italian

historical History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

adventure film An adventure film is a form of adventure fiction, and is a genre of film. Subgenres of adventure films include swashbuckler films, pirate films, and survival films. Adventure films may also be combined with other film genres such as action, an ...

directed by

Abel Gance Abel Gance (; born Abel Eugène Alexandre Péréthon; 25 October 188910 November 1981) was a French film director and producer, writer and actor. A pioneer in the theory and practice of montage, he is best known for three major silent films: ''J ...

and starring

Fernand Gravey Fernand Gravey (25 December 1905 in Ixelles (Belgium) – 2 November 1970 in Paris, France),Death certificate # 8/445/1970 also known as Fernand Gravet in the United States, was the son of actors Georges Mertens and Fernande Depernay, who ap ...

Assia Noris Assia Noris (16 February 1912 – 27 January 1998) was a Russian-Italian film actress. Born Anastasia Noris fon Gerzfeld (Anastassia Noris von Herzfeld), she appeared in over 35 films between 1932 and 1965. She starred in films such as the Ma ...

and

Alice Tissot Alice Tissot (1 January 1890 – 5 May 1971) was a French actress. Partial filmography * ''Poum à la chasse'' (1908) * ''Le devoir'' (1908) * ' (1909) * ' (1909) * '' The Two Girls'' (1921) * '' A Son from America'' (1924) * '' Captain Rasca ...

. It is an adaptation of the novel '' Captain Fracasse'' by

Théophile Gautier Pierre Jules Théophile Gautier ( , ; 30 August 1811 – 23 October 1872) was a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, and art and literary critic. While an ardent defender of Romanticism, Gautier's work is difficult to classify and rem ...

. The scenario and dialogue is by Abel Gance and Claude Vermorel and the music composed by

Arthur Honegger Arthur Honegger (; 10 March 1892 – 27 November 1955) was a Swiss composer who was born in France and lived a large part of his life in Paris. A member of Les Six, his best known work is probably ''Antigone'', composed between 1924 and 1927 to ...

. Honegger's score for the film (H. 166 in his catalogue of works) consists of around 50 minutes of music for chorus and large orchestra. On the same subject, there were also a 1929 silent version directed by

Alberto Cavalcanti Alberto de Almeida Cavalcanti (February 6, 1897 – August 23, 1982) was a Brazilian-born film director and film producer, producer. He was often credited under the single name "Cavalcanti". Early life Cavalcanti was born in Rio de Janeiro, ...

,French film - Le Capitaine Fracasse (1929)
/ref> and a 1961 colour version directed by

Pierre Gaspard-Huit Pierre Gaspard-Huit (29 November 1917 – 1 May 2017) was a French film director and screenwriter. He directed the 1963 film '' Shéhérazade'', which starred Anna Karina. He was once married to actress Claudine Auger when she was 18, and he wa ...

both with the same title.

Cast

as the Baron de Sigognac (later Capitaine Fracasse) *

as Isabelle * Jean Weber as the Duc de Vallombreuse *

as Dame Léonarde *

Vina Bovy Vina Bovy (Malvina Bovi Van Overberghe) born Ghent 22 May 1900, died in the same city 16 May 1983 was a Belgian operatic soprano. Rosenthal H., "Vina Bovy". In: ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera''. Macmillan, London & New York, 1997. She studied ...

as Séraphine *

Maurice Escande Maurice Escande (14 November 1892 – 10 February 1973) was a French stage and film actor. In 1948 he starred in the film '' The Lame Devil'' under Sacha Guitry. Selected filmography *1917: ''Un vol étrange'' (Short) *1918: '' Simone'' - Mi ...

as the Marquis de Bruyères *

Roland Toutain Roland Toutain (October 18, 1905 - October 16, 1977) was a French actor, songwriter and stuntman. He appeared in 55 films between 1924 and 1957, both in leading and supporting roles. Life and career Toutain is known for playing the aviator And ...

as Scapin * Lucien Nat as Agostin *

Mona Goya Mona Goya (25 November 1909 – 8 October 1961) was a Mexican-born French film actress who rose to fame in the 1930s. Selected filmography * ''Madame Récamier'' (1928) * ''Princesse Mandane'' (1928) - Simoun * ''L'Argent'' (1928) * ''Jim Hack ...

as the Marquise de Bruyères * Paul Œttly as Matamore *

Jacques François Henri Jacques Daniel Paul François (16 May 1920 – 25 November 2003), known as Jacques François was a French actor. During a sixty-year career (1942–2002) he appeared in more than 120 films and over 30 stage productions. In 1948 he we ...

as the Chevalier de Vidalenc, friend of Vallombreuse * Mary Lou as Yolande de Foix * Jean Fleur as Blazius * Nino Costantini as Léandre * Josette France as Zerbine *

Roger Blin Roger Blin (Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, 22 March 1907 – Évecquemont, France, 21 January 1984) was a French actor and director. He staged world premieres of Samuel Beckett's '' Waiting for Godot'' in 1953 and ''Endgame'' in 1957.C. J. Ackerl ...

as Fagotin * Paul Mondollot as Pierre

Synopsis

Set in the mid 17th century, the young Baron de Sigognac lives alone, ruined, in his castle. A troupe of travelling players stop in the castle ward and are offered hospitality by Sigognac, who remarks the beauty of the actress Isabelle. He decides to follow the troupe on their journeys. The old leader of the troupe, Matamore dies and Sigognac replaces him using the pseudonym Capitaine Fracasse. He is enthusiastically received but has a rival for the attentions of Isabelle in the Duc de Vallombreuse. They fight a duel in a cemetery in Poitiers. Afterwards, Vallombreuse manages to abduct Isabelle and imprison her in his castle. Sigognac-Fracasse comes to the rescue and another duel ensues. Then it is revealed that Isabelle is in fact the rich descendant and the sister of Vallombreuse. Sigognac finally marries her.

References

1943 films 1940s historical films French black-and-white films French historical films Italian historical films 1940s French-language films Films directed by Abel Gance Films based on Captain Fracasse Films set in the 17th century Films scored by Arthur Honegger Lux Film films 1940s French films 1940s Italian films {{1940s-France-film-stub