Fanfan la Tulipe (1952)

Swashbuckling adventures of young army recruit Fanfan la Tulipe during the reign of King Louis XV in 18th Century France.

Director:

Christian-Jaque

Writers:

René Wheeler (original scenario), René Fallet (original scenario)

Stars:

Gérard Philipe, Gina Lollobrigida, Marcel Herrand

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gérard Philipe	...	Fanfan La Tulipe (as Gérard Philipe du Théatre National Populaire)
Gina Lollobrigida	...	Adeline La Franchise
Marcel Herrand	...	Louis XV
Olivier Hussenot	...	Tranche-Montagne
Henri Rollan	...	Le maréchal d'Estrée (as Henri Rollan de la Comédie Française)
Nerio Bernardi	...	La Franchise
Jean-Marc Tennberg	...	Monsieur Lebel (as Jean Marc Tennberg)
Geneviève Page	...	La marquise de Pompadour
Sylvie Pelayo	...	Henriette de France
Lolita De Silva	...	La dame d'honneur (as Lolita de Silva)
Irène Young	...	Marion
Georgette Anys	...	Madame Tranche-Montagne
Hennery	...	Guillot
Lucien Callamand	...	Le maréchal de Brandebourg
Gil Delamare	...	Un soldat

Storyline

Fanfan is a handsome young peasant. He joins the army to escape a forced marriage and because a gypsy girl predicted he will earn glory and the king's daughter as a wife. But the 'gypsy' girl was in fact Adeline, the daughter of the recruiting officer. Once he has discovered the stratagem, Fanfan refuses to forget this dream and decides to fulfill the destiny of the fake prediction. Fantastic swashbuckling adventures in a 18th Century setting, with a light criticism of the war and the mighty.

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Plot Keywords:

fortuneteller | french army | king louis xv | adventure hero | council of war | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #451.

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Goofs

This is a fun film not to be taken as history, but it is supposed to be set in the Seven Years War in the 18th Century. The troops are carrying percussion cap rifles from the 1860s.

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Connections

Referenced in Pearls of the Deep (1965)

User Reviews

greatest story ever told?

Okay, perhaps not, but it certainly is a very good adventure-comedy! One of the best of its kind. It has everything: romance, swordfights, abductions, witty bantering between characters, sly remarks about war. And it can boast of inspired casting, with Gérard Philipe at his romantic peak, all handsome and dashing, with soulful eyes, sensitive features, and a beautiful, velvety speaking voice. A very young Gina Lollobrigida was never more alluring, and the stupid villain, the amorous king Louis, and the slimy royal valet Lébel are all great character actors. In fact there's never a dull moment in this gem of a French film! And didn't it win the main prize at Cannes?

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

French

Release Date:

4 May 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fanfan la Tulipe

Filming Locations:

Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,070, 23 July 2006

Gross USA:

$30,590

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$30,590

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amato Produzione, Filmsonor, Les Films Ariane

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1