Scaramouche (1952)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The story is set during the French Revolutionary period before Napoleon's rise; the monarchy still has its place, but shares some governmental powers with the peasants through an assembly. However, if a strong voice arises from among the peoples' representatives, they are quickly eliminated through a gentleman's duel, most often initiated by the superior swordsmen that support the King and Queen (Nina Foch appears briefly as Marie Antoinette): Mel Ferrer plays the Marquis de Maynes, the best swordsman in France, and Henry Wilcoxon plays his right-hand man Chevalier de Chabrillaine."He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad" - Stewart Granger is perfect as Andre Moreau, a quick witted ladies' man with a mysterious parentage and no interest in politics. He has an on-going 'relationship' with the beautiful traveling show actress Lenore (Eleanor Parker was never sexier than as this volatile jealous redhead), but is enchanted as never before when he first meets Aline de Gavrillac (Janet Leigh, looking her Technicolor best as well). She is the comely one that the Queen has pointed out to her cousin the Marquis; she implies he needs to marry for respectability among the noble class.Andre was raised by Georges (Lewis Stone, who played the Marquis in the 1923 silent original) and Isabel (Elisabeth Risdon) de Valmorin with their younger son Philippe (Richard Anderson), but was financially supported by the previously unknown de Gavrillac. When Andre learns of this, his affections for Aline become more brotherly protective, much to her disappointment. When Philippe, who wrote a freedom pamphlet under the pen name Marcus Brutus, is discovered and then out-dueled by de Maynes, Andre - who witnessed the death - vows to avenge it.Escaping from the same fate and the pursuing de Chabrillaine, Andre hides among Binet's (Robert Coote) theater troupe - which employs Lenore - as the iconic masked clown and title character Scaramouche, while secretly training under de Maynes's exclusive fencing instructor Doutreval (John Dehner), a freedom 'brother' himself. When the Marquis discovers this, he nearly kills Andre before escaping again with help from Aline. Andre learns from Doutreval that his instructor Perigore (Richard Hale) still teaches in Paris, where the troupe then travels, earning an extended engagement much to Lenore's delight.While training under Perigore, Andre is recruited by Dr. Dubuque (John Litel) to join the peoples' assembly, where his considerable dueling skills are needed to even the odds. Andre agrees because it should give him another chance at de Maynes. But Aline and Lenore conspire to make sure the Marquis is in the company of the Queen at various other activities in lieu of being at the assembly. Meanwhile, Andre is challenged and subsequently eliminates several of de Chabrillaine's henchmen in sword duels.The two ladies successfully keep their men apart until the night de Maynes and Aline go to see the play Scaramouche. When Andre notices the Marquis in attendance, he takes off his mask and swings up into his box to pursue him in a duel - the longest in movie history - that travels from box-to-box, down a hallway and a stairway, into the audience and across the theater, backstage and then onto the stage itself before Andre has de Maynes defeated, though he can't bring himself to finish it. Andre discards his sword and leaves. Later, he learns from de Valmorin that the Marquis is actually his brother, the reason he couldn't complete his revenge. Listening in the wings is a tearful Lenore, who reminds Andre that he's now free to wed Aline, which he does as the film ends while Lenore is seen in the company of Bonaparte.

I won't go into details of the plot, largely because others have done so before me.I will say that I am a huge fan of movies made in Technicolor - they seem so much more vibrant than today's pictures - and this doesn't disappoint.It's a well shot film, with a star studded cast; 'eye candy' for both guys AND gals - in the forms of Eleanor Parker, Janet Leigh and Stewart Granger.There's action a-plenty, a love story (of sorts) and humour. What more could one ask for...?If you love old, swashbuckling action movies, this is a must.10/10

In 18th century France, the air is filled with imminent Revolution. Accused of stirring the masses with pamphlets proclaiming, "equality, liberty, fraternity," handsome actor Stewart Granger (as Andre Moreau) is forced to disguise himself as clownish stage performer named "Scaramouche" to avoid authorities. Learning his best friend Richard Anderson (as Philippe de Valmorin) is actually involved in overthrowing the monarchy, Mr. Granger is drawn into the cause. He finds a major foe in swordsman Mel Ferrer (as the Marquis de Maynes) and romances two beautifully figured women...Red-haired Eleanor Parker (as Lenore) and white-tressed Janet Leigh (as Aline) are well-costumed, as is this swashbuckler from MGM. It's a re-make of the studio's "Scaramouche" (1923), a critical and commercial hit for Ramon Novarro. Interestingly, his rival in the old "silent" was played by Lewis Stone, who has a featured role in this new version. A veteran MGM contract player, Mr. Stone is a standout; Elisabeth Risdon is a fine vis-à-vis. This production's greatest strengths are the colorful art/set direction and a nicely choreographed sword duel between Granger and Mr. Ferrer.****** Scaramouche (5/8/52) George Sidney ~ Stewart Granger, Eleanor Parker, Janet Leigh, Mel Ferrer

I used to enjoy watching this film on TV as a teenager back in the late 60s. Not having seen it since then, I bought the DVD a couple of years ago to see if it still held up to my memories.When I first started watching, I cringed at all these 18th-century "Frenchmen" speaking with twangy American accents. But, after about 5 minutes, you get used to it and enjoy the fun. What one realizes, after all, is that ANY historical film is not telling you so much about the period in which it is set as it is telling you about the period in which it was made. And, so, Scaramouche captures the self-confidence, the unashamed glamor, the bravura of the U.S. after World War II. This is a costume-drama at its best. Stewart Granger, Eleanor Parker, Janet Leigh, Mel Ferrer are all perfectly cast.A great movie is loved for its memorable "moments"—and Scaramouche is full of them: the "revelation scene," the Marquis pinned to the wall, André and Leonore's poignant farewell, etc.The film owes much of its success to the superb score by Victor Young. He manages to capture the spirit of the 18th century, but in a "Hollywood" guise. He provides delightful humor in the various commedia dell'arte skits but reaches Romantic heights with his soaring strings in the revelation scene. Victor Young was known for his gift in composing beautiful tunes. This gift is particularly evident in Scaramouche.