''The Gallant Lords of Bois-Doré'' ('' Les Beaux Messieurs de Bois-Doré'') The French title is often spelt as Ces beaux messieurs de Bois-Doré is a 1976 French

television serial In television and radio programming, a serial is a show that has a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode-by-episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the complete run of t ...

based on the 1857 historical novel by

George Sand Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil (; 1 July 1804 – 8 June 1876), best known by her pen name George Sand (), was a French novelist, memoirist and journalist. Being more renowned than either Victor Hugo or Honoré de Balz ...

directed by

Bernard Borderie Bernard Borderie (10 June 1924 in Paris – 28 May 1978 in Paris) was a French film director and screenwriter. His father, Raymond Borderie, was one of the producers of ''Children of Paradise, Les Enfants du Paradis'' (''Children of Paradise'', 194 ...

. Along with the films about Angélique it is considered one of the most successful works of this director.

Synopsis

The serial consists of 5 parts. The first part introduces Sylvain, Marquis of Bois-Doré, a companion-in-arms of late king

Henry IV of France Henry IV (; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry (''le Bon Roi Henri'') or Henry the Great (''Henri le Grand''), was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 16 ...

. Following his sovereign the marquis had to abjure his

Calvinist Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Protestantism, Continenta ...

faith and adopt Catholicism though he secretly sympathizes with

Protestants Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

. After the king's death he retired and went to his castle of Bois-Doré. The marquis feels deep love for Lauriane de Beuvre, a daughter of his friend and neighbour, 30 years younger than him. Guillaume d'Ars, Sylvain's cousin, introduces to him a certain Villaréal, a Spanish nobleman. The second part concentrates on relations between Bois-Doré, Lauriane, and Villaréal. The latter has found out that the marquis hides in the castle treasures of Protestants and begins to search for them. Besides Villareal pays his addresses to Lauriane. Bois-Doré challenges him to a duel and kills him. The third part tells about Mario, an 18 old youth whom the marquis saved from mercenaries. Mario has striking resemblance to marquis's brother who was lost 18 years ago. Bois-Doré finds evidence of Mario being his nephew and proclaims him an heir to his title and estate. The handsome boy wins Lauriane's affection. The fourth part focuses on relations between Bois-Doré, Lauriane, and Mario. The latter falls in love with Lauriane whose heart is torn by sincere respect for noble, generous but elderly Sylvain and affection to young Mario. The fifth part tells about hostilities between France and Spain, in which Sylvain and Mario take an active part. Mario has been severely wounded in action and Lauriane realizes that she cannot live without him.

Reviews

The serial is distinguished by an entertaining plot, superb acting of G.Marchal (Sylvain) and Y. Folliot (Lauriane), picturesque scenery, and accurate representation of historical background.

“This is an eventful yarn, involving many subplots, it is par excellence the perfect swashbuckler, which after being popular in the first part of the sixties in the French theaters became mini-series in the seventies..”

Cast

Georges Marchal Georges Marchal (10 January 1920 – 28 November 1997) was a French actor. Born Georges Louis Lucot in Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France, the strikingly handsome Marchal was discovered in the early-1940s by director Jean Grémillon. By the ear ...

— Sylvain de Bois Doré * Yolande Folliot — Lauriane de Beuvre * Michel Albertini — Mario de Brion de Bois Doré *

Michel Creton Michel Creton (17 August 1942 in Wassy, Haute-Marne, France) is a French actor. He came to international attention with the release of ''Un homme de trop'' (''Shock Troops'') by Costa Gavras in 1967. Since then, he played in many films, appeared ...

— Skiara d'Alminar Villaréal *

Philippe Lemaire Philippe Lemaire (14 March 1927 – 15 March 2004) was a French actor. He appeared in more than 90 films from 1946 to 2004. Lemaire was married three times; Nicole Pinton (1949–1951) (divorced); Juliette Gréco from 1953 to 1956, had one da ...

— Adamas *

François Maistre François Maistre (14 May 1925 – 16 May 2016) was a French film, television and theatre actor. Born in Demigny, Saône-et-Loire, France, he appeared in nearly 100 films between 1960 and 2003. His father was singer and actor A.-M. Julien. Se ...

— Poulain *

Jean-François Poron Jean-François Poron (6 May 1936 – 3 September 2020) was a French actor and director. Biography Poron began training as an actor at Cours Simon in Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20 ...

— Guillaume d'Ars *

Jean Martinelli Jean Martinelli (15 August 1909 – 13 March 1983) was a French actor who appeared in over 50 French films between 1933 and 1983, mostly in supporting roles. One of his few international films was Alfred Hitchcock's classic film ''To Catch a Thie ...

— M. de Beuvre * Marion Game — Belinde / Prosperine *

Olivier Hussenot Olivier Hussenot (10 September 1913 – 25 August 1978) was a French theatre and film actor. Career The actor appeared in French, Italian and American films. Selected filmography References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hussenot, Oliv ...

— Jovelin *

Patrick Préjean Patrick Préjean (born 4 June 1944) is a French actor, known especially for his work in dubbing. He has also made a career in boulevard theatre. He is the son of the actor Albert Préjean and the actress Lysiane Rey, and is the father of act ...

— La Fleche

References

External links

''Les Beaux Messieurs de Bois Doré''
at the Institut national de l'audiovisuel (INA) {{DEFAULTSORT:Gallant Lords of Bois-Dore 1976 French television series debuts 1977 French television series endings 1970s French television miniseries France Télévisions original programming France 2 Adaptations of works by George Sand Television shows based on French novels Historical television series Television series set in the 17th century French-language television shows