''The Purple Mask'' is a 1955 American

swashbuckler film Swashbuckler films are a subgenre of the action film genre, often characterised by swordfighting and adventurous heroic characters, known as swashbucklers. Real historical events often feature prominently in the plot, morality is often clear-c ...

directed by

H. Bruce Humberstone H. Bruce "Lucky" Humberstone (November 18, 1901 – October 11, 1984) was an American film director. He was previously a movie actor (as a child), a script clerk, and an assistant director, working with directors such as King Vidor, Edmund Gould ...

starring Tony Curtis and set in 1803 France.Database (undated).
"''The Purple Mask'' (1955)"
Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved March 26, 2013.

Background

The film was based on a successful play of the same name. The original 1913 French play titled ''Le Chevalier au masque'', by

Paul Armont Paul Armont (1874–1943) was a Russian-born French playwright and screenwriter. He also collaborated with the Swiss writer Marcel Gerbidon. He was born Dimitri Petrococchino in Rostov in the Russian Empire. Selected plays * 1913 – ''Le Cheval ...

and Jean Manoussi, was adapted into English as ''The Purple Mask'' by Matheson Lang. The play opened in London in 1918 and ran for 365 performances. A later production in New York in 1920, starring Leo Ditrichstein, was less successful, closing after 139 shows.

Plot

France, 1803, is under

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

's rule, but royalist adversaries rally behind the mysterious Purple Mask, whose daring feats give them hope. A police captain, Rochet, goes after the Purple Mask only to be taken captive by him, whereupon Napoleon assigns the expert swordsman Brisquet to go after him. The lovely Laurette de Latour, daughter of a duke and romantic interest of Captain Laverne, is on the side of the royalists. She helps hatch a scheme in which the foppish Rene de Traviere, who seems able with a sword, impersonates the Purple Mask to infiltrate Napoleon's ranks and free her kidnapped father. Laurette is unaware that Rene is, in fact, the Purple Mask, who continues his charade, drawing ridicule on himself, until ultimately he is imprisoned along with the duke. Laurette discovers his true identity while imprisoned. On their way to the guillotine, Rene, Laurette and the duke are rescued in a pre-arranged raid through the sewers of Paris by the royalist rebels. Napoleon, glad to be rid of the troublemakers, permits Rene and Laurette to leave the country for England.

Cast

* Tony Curtis as Rene de Traviere / The Purple Mask * Colleen Miller as Laurette de Latour * Angela Lansbury as Madame Valentine * Gene Barry as Capt. Charles Laverne *

Allison Hayes Allison Hayes (born Mary Jane Hayes; March 6, 1930 – February 27, 1977) was an American film and television actress and model. Early life Allison Hayes was born to William E. Hayes and Charlotte Gibson Hayes in Charleston, West Virginia. She ...

as Irene de Bournotte * John Hoyt as Rochet *

Dan O'Herlihy Daniel Peter O'Herlihy (May 1, 1919 – February 17, 2005) was an Irish actor of film, television, and radio. With a distinguished appearance and rich, resonant speaking voice, O'Herlihy's best known-roles included his Oscar-nominated portraya ...

as Brisquet * Robert Cornthwaite as

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

* Paul Cavanagh as Duc de Latour

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Purple Mask, The 1950s historical adventure films 1955 films CinemaScope films American historical adventure films Depictions of Napoleon on film American films based on plays Films set in France Films set in the 1800s American swashbuckler films Universal Pictures films Films directed by H. Bruce Humberstone 1950s English-language films 1950s American films

Background

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links