The Scoundrel (1971)
"Les mariés de l'an deux" (original title)

Nicolas Philibert goes to America after killing a French aristocrat. On his return he tries to divorce his wife, Charlotte, but when he sees others trying to woo her his own interest is rekindled.

Director:

Jean-Paul Rappeneau

Writers:

Jean-Paul Rappeneau (scenario), Jean-Paul Rappeneau (adaptation),

Stars:

Jean-Paul Belmondo, Marlène Jobert, Laura Antonelli

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Paul Belmondo	...	Nicolas Philibert - un candidat au divorce entraîné malgré lui dans la Révolution française
Marlène Jobert	...	Charlotte Philibert - la femme de Nicolas
Laura Antonelli	...	Pauline de Guérandes - une riche héritière
Michel Auclair	...	Le prince
Julien Guiomar	...	Le représentant du peuple
Mario David	...	Requiem - le cocher du prince
Charles Denner	...	Le passager partisan des républicains
Georges Beller	...	Simon
Paul Crauchet	...	L'accusateur public
Marc Dudicourt	...	Le chauve
Patrick Préjean	...	Saint-Aubin
Sim	...	Lucas - le comptable de Gosselin
Pierre Brasseur	...	Gosselin - un négociant en vins - le père de Charlotte
Sami Frey	...	Henri - marquis de Guérandes - le chef d'une troupe de chouans (as Sami Frei)
Jean Barney	...	L'orateur républicain

Storyline

After his escape to America in the year 1787 Nicolas Phillibert wants to marry a rich American heiress. In his homeland France he is still married however to the pretty Charlotte. In order to obtain the divorce, he must return therefore to France. In confusions of the french revolution he soon gets between Royalisten and republicans. After numerous bold adventures he finds his life-merry wife as bride of the best sword fighter of the Bourbonen.

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Plot Keywords:

america | divorce | aristocrat | revolution | french revolution | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

France Italy Romania

Language:

French

Release Date:

7 April 1971 (France)

Also Known As:

The Married Couple of the Year Two

Filming Locations:

Château de Compiègne, Compiègne, Oise, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont International, Rizzoli Film, Filmstudio Bucuresti

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

8th biggest grossing movie of its year in France.

User Reviews

A beautiful and charming film

Jean-Paul Belmondo and Marlène Jobert star as a very memorable loving couple: In the beginning, we see them as children running through a snow-covered wood, teasing each other. Many years later, when husband Belmondo comes back from America to divorce his wife Jobert, they still act like children, who show their mutual affection by fighting, teasing and slapping each other. The relationship of our protagonists is mirrored by the incestuous and equally ardent love between a nobleman and his sister (played by the beautiful Laura Antonelli).

Belmondo, certainly not a great actor, is perfect in this film, because he plays not a "hero", but someone who often can't act but simply has to react, with a blank and uncomprehending face, to the strange events that take place around him (for example, there is one scene in court where he is sentenced to death within minutes). I have seen this film many times and am still amazed by the sheer pace of it. The script is brilliant and one of its most beautiful features is the triptych-like structure (curiously, about at the same time Stanley Kubrick made his own triptych masterpiece "A Clockwork Orange"): First the prologue, then the first part leading to the centerpiece and climax of the film, then the third part being a mirror image of the first, dissolving with a stylish transition to the short and sweet epilogue, that in itself is a mirror image of the prologue: Although many years have passed, nothing has really changed. "Les Mariés de l'an II" is a poetic film about an endless childhood.