Angelique: The Road To Versailles (1965)

Truly Dreadful Film

Beautiful, moving film.

Absolutely Fantastic

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

For those who have not read the books, second movie of the Angelique story could be a confusing one. I admit I would have been: so many things are going on, one after another and one could easily lost track of the time hat has passed between each of them. Fortunately there is help provided, at least at one time, where one could see what year is. They could have easily make two movies out of this one to show gradually and slowly how all came to be but, I guess, that was out of the question. :) But don't let that keep you away away from watching it :). One thing that has not change, from my point of view, from the first movie is acting of Michele aka Angelique; in certain scenes she gets it right, but in others she can not produce intensity, determination of Angelique from the books. But her beauty makes up for everything :) I love Rochefort as Desgrez, he is just awesome and that is how I have imagined him to be. In lees than an hour, third movies will be on TV. Can't wait! :)

In this first sequel to the 1964 film "Angélique", it begins with the capture and death of one of the men responsible for the death of Angélique's husband in the prior film. You see the monk die but oddly, instead of being happy, she is rather gloomy and petulant towards her rescuers--still making demands like she is STILL the marquise. Unfortunately for our heroine, the leader of the band of criminals (Nicolas) with which she lives is killed and she is without a protector.Now, the film takes an odd turn. She is able to get her two young sons back but instead of going back to the underworld life, she goes into business with a local inn keeper--and they are very, very successful. However, apparently Angélique isn't excessively bright, as she takes a trip to the palace using her new alias--even though in the last film the King's brother tried to have her murdered. This doesn't seem like the best place to go, huh? Angélique also meets up along with way with an odd man who is a wanted man for producing pamphlets that the King does not like. This part is played by the famous French actor Jean-Louis Trintignant and, like most French women in the 1960s, she fell in love with him. Later, with Jean-Louis' help, she comes up with a plan for killing off 12 men (including the very wicked brother of the king) for the senseless murder of a boy and the burning of her business. However, almost as soon as this plot was created, she decides to call off her vendetta because the king made amends--even though her new lover has been killed and there wasn't a whole lot they could do to bring him back! Now, she takes a new lover--the same cousin who she hated in the first film. Oddly, they have little chemistry between them and he seems like a jerk. And, when he should treat her well for being so good to him, he treats her like dirt.At this point in the film, I really felt lost. Again and again, the film seemed to have a plot and again and again, the people involved died and the movie took an entirely different direction. Three different lovers, three different plots--and none of them seemed satisfying or consistent. In fact, although Angélique seemed smart at times, at others she was enigmatic and confusing. As a result, much of what I loved in the first film was no where to be found. It is definitely a step below the other film and hopefully I will enjoy the next one much more.

That's Angelique's route.The title of the Golon's novel was "le chemin de Versailles"(=Versailles route).And like the other movies of this famous -in France- saga,it does not do the book any justice.Once again,the Golons ' depictions were often first-class,mainly in the first chapters which dealt with the notorious "Cour des Miracles" (also depicted by Victor Hugo in "Notre-Dame de Paris" (The Hunchback of Notre-Dame)).Their work was cheapened and watered-down by the screenwriters ,giving a romantic flavor to Nicolas' character (who in the book is a crude brute),and avoiding many a "horrible" line.For instance ,the fighting in Saints-Innocents charnel house -where the Belles de Paris used to come during the day to do some shopping among the skulls and the bones-is nowhere to be seen on the screen.This is fairly entertaining swashbucklers adventures,a genre that was at its (commercial) peak in France circa 1960 thanks to actor Jean Marais ("le bossu","le capitan" "le miracle des loups")but was on the wane after 1965."Angélique was,all in all,the last hurrah(so to speak).

How is it possible that no one before wrote a review of this movie and that only 11 persons voted on it? Maybe the predominantly American audience of IMDb is not much aware of French movies. French ladies (and especially young ladies!) and gentlemen, give your comments! The honor of France is at stake. The movies of the "Angelique" series are the ULTIMATE SENTIMENTAL CLOAK AND DAGGER STORY! A whole generation of French (and not only French!!) teenagers has swooned over these movies. So much adventure, splendid 17th century costumes, romantic love, faith and treason, it is all there! Of course the events often transgress the limits of what is credible, but who cares? Just don't be ashamed of enjoying these movies! And, of course, Michèle Mercier is splendid as the incredibly seductive and courageous heroine "Angelique".