Cartouche (1962)

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Louis Dominique Bourgingnon and his brother Louison were small time bandits in pre revolutionary Paris. Together with their pal, Douceur, they plied their trade in the streets. They stole from unsuspecting citizens and had to bring it to Malichot, a Fagin-like man who then saw to the pilfered goods, keeping most of it for himself. The trio, not content with the meager share they got for their effort, decide to challenge the boss. An angry Malichot swears revenge.The friends find refuge in the army. The three friends soldiers to go to fight battles, in the process they manage to become heroes, when in reality they were deserters. Their biggest opportunity came when the Marshall arrives carrying chests of gold to the battlefield. They stage a fantastic escape, avoiding their pursuers to get them. The friendly thieves go into a country inn, where the gorgeous Venus befriends them. With a new resolution in mind, Louis Dominique becomes Cartouche, a man that will steal money from the rich and shares it with the poor.This picaresque tale, adapted for the screen by none other than Philippe De Broca, who also directed, gets a larger than life treatment that still charms viewers after almost fifty years after it was done. Daniel Boulanger, a frequent collaborator of Mr. De Broca and Charles Spaak contributed to the scenario for this 1962 French film that also marked the beginning of the director's long association with Jean-Paul Belmonto, who is seen in the title role.A young Jean-Paul Belmondo cut quite a figure in those days. He had an amazing film presence and it is easy to see why he was a favorite of many filmmakers. Adding luster to the film is the gorgeous Claudia Cardinale at the height of her youth and beauty. She plays Venus the woman that follow Cartouche through all his adventures. A young Jean Rochefort is another welcome addition to the cast that also included Jess Hahn, Marcel Dalio, {hilippe Lemaire and Odile Versois.

Louis-Dominique Cartouche (1693-1721) was one of the two famous brigands in France of the XVIII th century the other being Mandrin the smuggler.Cartouche's "career" took place during the Regence (interregnum Louis the XIV th /louis the XV th) whereas his colleague appeared later under Louis the XV th 's reign.He was another Robin Hood ,stealing from the rich and giving to the poor (not only legend).He was a gallant man,seducing many women , collecting the lovers .In the movie ,"Venus" (Cardinale)might represent some of them.His relationship with an aristocratic woman (Odile Versois in the movie) is plausible for he had friends in the nobility .Once he had dinner with one of these high born ladies and he thought her champagne was undrinkable:the day after ,he sent a case of bottles to her.The tragic death of Cartouche is not shown in the movie:like Mandrin ,and like other brigands ,he perished on the wheel ,a terrifying torture .Belmondo who was also De Broca's "L'Homme De Rio" is a dashing handsome chivalrous Cartouche .He gets good support from a stellar cast .The last scene,often praised ,is ,with the "burying at sea" scene of Enrico's "Les Aventuriers" ,one of the most beautiful scenes of the French cinema of the sixties!And,no,they were not Nouvelle Vague ,either De Broca or Enrico !

I had previously watched this eons ago one Sunday night on Italian TV – a film that has easily come to be universally considered as France's finest offering to the swashbuckling genre and, with this in mind, it more than holds its own alongside Hollywood's best similar offerings. What gives this added texture, then, is the authentic feel for 18th century France (stunningly rendered in widescreen color cinematography by the distinguished Christian Matras, who was particularly adept at this sort of thing), a quality that is undoubtedly further enhanced by a typically wonderful Georges Delerue score; incidentally, listening to it once more, I realized that the lovely romantic theme here was very much a dry run for his celebrated, haunting work on Jean-Luc Godard's CONTEMPT (1963) – which has for some time firmly insinuated itself among my all-time favorite movie scores! Of course, the film finds star Jean-Paul Belmondo at the peak of his powers as the amiable titular rogue; however, his supporting cast – headed by luscious Claudia Cardinale, an atypically villainous Marcel Dalio, as well as Jess Hahn and Jean Rochefort as the hero's rowdy copains – is no less impressive. With respect to the action sequences, the swordfights aren't as plentiful as I had expected, though certainly vigorously handled all the same. As a matter of fact, another element that distinguishes it from contemporary outings in the prolific genre (even where French cinema is concerned), is that there is a good deal more emphasis here on brawling and (especially) romance – with Cartouche (actually a nickname) largely neglecting devoted commoner Cardinale for the amorous attentions of an unattainable aristocratic lady until it's too late. Unusually, therefore, this comes with a downbeat ending in which the heroine sacrifices herself to save her lover from an assailant's arrow – which is then followed by a beautiful and moving funeral rite.For the record, this was the first (and best) of director De Broca and star Belmondo's many collaborations which, box-office-wise, peaked with their next one, THAT MAN FROM RIO (1964), which I also own; incidentally, I have its follow-up UP TO HIS EARS (1965) as well albeit in French without the benefit of English subtitles! I would also love to catch up with the others – LE MAGNIFIQUE (1973) and L'INCORRIGIBLE (1975) – which look to be quite fun from the theatrical trailers I caught some time ago in a French Belmondo Box Set. Furthermore, De Broca would try (and relatively succeed) in recapturing the spirit of CARTOUCHE many years later with a much-filmed swashbuckling property LE BOSSU (1997). By the way, the low-budget Italian production of 1954 which also goes by the name of CARTOUCHE and stars Richard Basehart apparently has nothing else in common with this one (being, for one thing, a much-inferior product). One final thing: although the film under review is also available as a Special Edition DVD in France, I opted for the cheaper, barebones R1 disc from Anchor Bay given the prohibitively expensive shipping charges and the typical unavailability of English subtitles on the included audio commentary!

CARTOUCHE (3+ outta 5 stars) Rousing comedy-action-drama about a rascally rogue in 18th Century France who is a sort of a cross between Zorro and Robin Hood... except that he's not necessarily helping the less fortunate so much as helping himself. No matter, as played by Jean-Paul Belmondo he is a charming hero... even when committing the unpardonable sin of wooing another woman while he has the steadfast love of the most beautiful woman in all of Europe (Claudia Cardinale). For those who love a good swashbuckler, this movie won't leave you disappointed. I found this movie tremendously entertaining, even in spite of the atrocious American dubbing. I will probably wind up giving this movie an even better rating when I finally get a chance to see it in its original language. Tired of his talent for thievery being exploited, Cartouche brazenly challenges the authority of the leader of the city's criminal population. Biting off a bit more than he can chew at the time, he takes a position in the French military. He and his new comrades not only manage to make off with a fortune in gold, but Cartouche wins over the ridiculously beautiful gypsy-thief Venus (Cardinale). Cartouche proves himself to not be without flaws... which gives the rousing finale an extra bit of resonance. Classic adventure movie-making... you don't see many movies like this anymore!