The Black Tulip (1964) User Reviews

Good film deserving of a good DVD release

[dbborroughs · 7/10 · 2 November 2006]

French version of the Zorro legend set during the period just prior to the French Revolution plays like Zorro the Gay Blade at times. Its an amusing romp with Alain Delon in the heroic lead (Delon would take up the mantle of Zorro a decade later and sleep walk his way through the role). Its the typical stuff with the "bandit" hailed as hero while the ruling class hates his guts. Filled with funny remarks and great action this is a film to search out, or would be if there were any decent copies floating around. The only way it seems to see this is on really bad low budget videotapes, which is a shame since its better than most swashbuckling romps that have appeared over the years.

If you could just watch a sword-fight movie -

[Artemis-9 · 8/10 · 14 September 2003]

I would advise you to try this, despite the respect I have for another's reviewer opinion. I don't know if my viewing of an original, French spoken version on the big screen may have lost in incredibly funny innuendo, great colours, beautiful cinematography - if they are reduced to a poor VHS copy, possibly carelessly dubbed into a foreign language.

At least the acting by Alain Delon, and his equal, Virna Lisi, are still outstanding, as the continuous, imaginative action scenes. The two principals prove to be fine swords, against each other, and a number of enemies, and police rascals.

The Black Tulip is a Zorro type avenger, but a character more rich than its American counterpart. Without giving the plot away, I may add that American viewers will be both thrilled, and surprised, how a French action films' director is able to mix comedy, and drama so well.

Besides getting one of the film's DVD editions, people should be aware that a copy of the French version exists (possibly uncut) at the Alliance Française Médiathèque, a French cultural institution, and that they allow people to see the film there, and even borrow it! Ask for conditions at [e-mail] and ask for their film PAL #161... Ah, next time I'll go to France!...

Awful Conclusion

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 13 September 2016]

In 1789, in France, the outlaw The Black Tulip (Alain Delon) is a thief that steals the nobles for himself; however the poor people believes he is a revolutionary. He is indeed the womanized and dull Count Guillaume de Saint Preux, who has a love affair with the married Marquise Catherine de Vigogne (Dawn Addams). When the Chief of Police Baron La Mouche (Adolfo Marsillach) plans a scheme to arrest The Black Tulip, the bandit is marked by a scar on the face and La Mouche suspects Guillaume might be The Black Tulip. However Guillaume summons his clumsy and idealistic younger brother Julien de Saint Preux to pose as if were him to lure La Mouche. Meanwhile Julien meets the bride Caroline "Carol" Plantin (Virna Lisi), who is a revolutionary, and they fall in love with each other. When Julien learns that his brother does not have any principles or ideal, he assumes Guillaume identity and The Black Tulip to support Plantin (Francis Blanche) and his group in the revolution. Will they succeed?

"La tulipe noire", a.k.a. "The Black Tulip", is an entertaining adventure of a Zorro-like anti-hero. The plot is very funny until the point when Julien is arrested. Guillaume's sacrifice is silly and the conclusion is awful and messy, with Julien celebrating the revolution with Caroline and totally forgetting his brother and his body.My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "A Tulipa Negra" ("The Black Tulip")

seductive

[Kirpianuscus · 14 October 2020]

A seductive fight film for the atmosphere, youth of lead actors, for humor and for absurd of few scenes. A sort of flavor of nostalgia remains the main gift of this lovely, easy film about brotherhood, legend, justice, French Revolution premises and love.

Henri Jeanson's lines....

[dbdumonteil · 6/10 · 16 February 2005]

....,even when he's not at his best are always better than the rest.Although it's a swashbuckler,an action-packed story ,it's the kind of movie which loses much of its strength when watched dubbed .Released at the end of the swashbucklers era ,whose hero was most of the time Jean Marais ,"la tulipe noire" is more tongue in cheek,more picaresque,more libertine,closer to "Tom Jones " than "le bossu" or "le miracle des loups" .Christian-Jacques and Henri Jeanson wanted to match the scale and quality (and commercial success and critical acclaim) of their earlier and better "Fanfan la tulipe" (1951).In both works ,they take liberties with history and it's much fun:in "la tulipe noire" the characters know a priori that the 14th of July will be an important date ,they talk about revolution before the storming of the Bastille;and in the last pictures ,they say people will remember the 19th (!) of July.The villain (the evil prince who comes with his army to kill all the Parisians) about to be executed by the rebels says "I will remember my death all my life".

Alain Delon plays two parts ,twins ,and he's well cast as the dazzling heroes ,even if Jeanson deflates them a bit.Henri Decae' s cinematography is as splendid as ever.However the plot is sometimes confused and Philippe De Broca's "Cartouche" starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and released at the same time,is more rewarding .

NB:it has nothing to do with Alexandre Dumas's novel,which took place in Holland where the hero was trying to create a ...black tulip.

French/Spanish co-production starred by a Zorro-alike , Alain Delon , against nasty Adolfo Marsillach

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 29 June 2012]

In this first ¨Tulipe Noire¨ starred by Alain Delon took a chance and jumped from Film Noir , action genre to costumed comedy-adventures ; he steals the show as a masked hero relishing his secret identity on his horse called Voltaire and in cape and wielding sword ; executing bounds and leaps , twists and climbs and throughly enjoys himself . In 1789, at the beginning of French Revolution , an outlaw named "Black Tulip" held the surroundings of a town called Roussillon in fear . The inimitable Alain Delon in a double role as Julien De Saint Preux/Guillaume De Saint Preux, as he dons a black outfit and becomes the Black Tulip , the legendary masked , hero of oppressed who declares himself a revolutioner . Black Tulip riding in the hoof-prints, enjoys his hidden activity in black cape and wielding blade and helps the good people who are mistreated ,thwarting the ambitious plans of the meanie official , as the poor people respect him like a new Robin Hood . When he contends Baron Mouche (Adolfo Marsillach) , he was wounded , but then appears his twin brother . Meanwhile , he falls in love with gorgeous Caroline (Virna Lisi) . He battles against Marquis of Vigogne (Akim Tamiroff) , baron La Mouche and Prince of Grasillach (Robert Manuel) . Black Tulip's helped by a servant named Brignon (Jose Jaspe) and unites forces to Plantin (Francis Blanche), his beautiful daughter and revolutionaries .

Derring-do , feats, adventures, humor and action find this agreeable swashbuckler . Alain Delon runs and jumps, bounds and leaps all over the images and Adolfo Marsillach overacting outrageously when plays the villain Baron . Black Tulip-Delon splendidly fights evildoers and greed oppressors , while saving his brother an the damsel in distress . Delon made the character of Zorro his own and quickly established himself as a French legend ; starring years later , a similar film titled ¨Zorro¨ by Duccio Tessari . Delon is terrific as the Black Tulip , well accompanied by ideal heroine , a pretty Virna Lisi . Nice cast keeps the picture moving at a rapid clip , special mention for Adolfo Marsillach as a grumpy and bungler baron in a sensationalistic and exaggerated performance . Being a French-Spanish co-production appears several secondary actors seen in usual genres of the 60s as Jose Jaspe , Alvaro De Luna, Jorge Rigaud , Enrique Avila , Perla Cristal and Laura Valenzuela , wife of film producer , Jose Luis Dibildos . The film is set during French Revolution , though was filmed in Spain, Sevilla Films, Madrid, (studio) and Trujillo, Cáceres, Extremadura ; displaying a colorful cinematography by Henry Decae . Lively and jolly musical score with rousing leitmotif by Gerard Calvi .

The motion picture was well-mounted and fast paced by Christian Jacque, an expert on adventures and historic genre as proved in ¨Fanfan¨, ¨Lady Hamilton¨ , ¨Madame Sans Gene¨ , ¨Madame Du Barry¨ , ¨Lucrece Borgia¨, among others . Ratinh : 6,5 . Worthwhile watching .

Somehow Entertaining

[ragosaal · 6/10 · 29 September 2006]

Just for cape and sword adventure fans, "The Black Tulip" is the French version of Zorro. Very much alike. There's Alain Delon in the main role for the ladies and he is not bad. You'll also find Virna Lisi in one of her early works rendering an acceptable work too. But if it comes to acting, veteran Akim Tamiroff is the clear winner in a supporting role as a villain noble. Photography and shooting on location in real palaces and old European cities add to the movie and a sort of sticky tune helps too.

But what "The Black Tulip" really lacks is the sense of passion and real heroism American classics of the genre usually transmit, this being really odd since most of them are usually located in Europe including France. I think the director didn't make up his mind whether this would be a serious swashbuckler with a touch of humor or a comedy with a touch of serious adventure. So it didn't work neither way.

Nonetheless the film is entertaining and worth a watch.

What a welcome! And I HATE tomatoes!

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 5 April 2017]

In 1789 France, a thief known as La Tulipe Noir, regaled in black, including a black mask and cape, is going through France robbing noblemen. This sounds like Zorro or Robin Hood, except that the sentence ends "stealing from noblemen." Nothing about helping the poor. La Tulipe Noir, in reality Count Guillaume de Saint Preux (Alain Delon) is interested only in getting money and enjoying his clandestine affair with Marquise Catherine de Vigogne, who is a married to Marquis de Vigogne (Akim Tamiroff).

The French somehow believe in La Tulipe as a revolutionary hero. But no one knows who he is. The Chief of Police Baron La Mouche (Adolfo Marsillach) believes Guillaume is La Tulipe and runs a sword down the man's cheek during an event, figuring when he's making his robbery rounds, he'll be easy to recognize.

Now unable to rob anyone, Guillaume sends for his younger lookalike brother, Julien (Alain Delon) to lure La Mouche. Julien is guileless and idealistic, not to mention romantic, so when he meets Caroline Plantin, (Verna Lisi) a revolutionary, he falls for her.

Julien soon learns that Guillaume is not interested in being a revolutionary so he takes on his La Tulipe persona to support the revolutionaries.

This story is loosely based on a Dumas novel - real loosely, from what I understand. I found it delightful and very tongue-in-cheek. It's not as good as the Mark of Zorro of Tyrone Power, which had humor but also exciting drama, but it was still fun. Delon himself would play Zorro about ten years after this.

Delon plays both brothers beautifully, Guillaume more macho and tough, Julien sweet and innocent. His acting can be controversial because of his staggering, almost impossible good looks and a charisma that wipes everybody else off the screen. And let's face it, it's usually men who find fault with him. If you've seen "Two Men in Town," "Mr. Klein," "Notre Histoire," and many others, he's an excellent actor, the winner of two Cesars, the French equivalent of the Oscars.

Akim Tamiroff and Adolfo Marsillach are fantastic in their roles, bringing a good deal of humor to them.

This was a non-dubbed version with subtitles - you will certainly be let down if you see it dubbed. Very good film.

Alain Delon with his twin brother starting the French revolution

[clanciai · 8/10 · 14 July 2021]

First of all, this film has nothing to do with Alexandre Dumas' great novel, which takes place entirely in Holland in the 17th century and mainly is about cultivating tulips, which was a craze in Holland at that time. In the novel they struggled with the challenge of bringing forth an entirely black tulip, which is botanically impossible. Here they present black tulips galore, as if they grew in thousands, like another signature of another scarlet pimpernel, which underscores the aburdity of the script of this film, which is practically all nonsense with great sequences of sword-fighting, colourful rides and excursions, great chases on horseback, plenty of romantic flirts and courting and a thronged mess of general fighting. The colours and cinematography is outstanding like the dazzling show-off of brilliant French theatre and diction, but the script is just awful, all characters being casually superficial and disturbingly cynical, with only Akim Tamiroff standing out as something of an original character, but you are never informed of why and how he was ultimately hanged. This is casual superficial entertainment in dashing colours and swashbuckling splendour but nothing else, with no realism and no link with reality at all. Pity, because Christian-Jacque made some of the most brilliant costume films of France, the greatest being perhaps "Fanfan la Tulipe" 1952 with Gerard Philippe and Gina Lollobrigida, which was much more ingenious and original.

THE BLACK TULIP (Christian-Jaque, 1964) **1/2

[Bunuel1976 · 6/10 · 21 December 2008]

A lesser-known literary creation of Alexandre Dumas Snr. was this Zorro-type masked avenger at the time of the French Revolution who, unlike the contemporaneous The Scarlet Pimpernel, was on the side of the Revolutionaries despite being truly an aristocrat himself! I've never read the source novel myself but, in any case, I'm familiar with the character via a fondly-remembered Japanese animated series that I used to watch on Italian TV as a kid (where the titular hero was actually a girl!). Having said that, it seems that much of the narrative has also been changed for this handsomely-mounted, energetic but disappointingly bland cinematic adaptation.

Alain Delon – who, ironically, would go on to portray Zorro himself in an equally medium-grade Italian production in 1975 – plays a dual role here as the jaded aristocrat who dons the black costume and as his naïve, younger brother who is forced to keep up the ruse when the latter is facially scarred during a swordfight with his nemesis (Adolfo Marsillach). No self-respecting swashbuckling hero goes by without a gushing female pining for him and, appropriately enough, we get two here in Virna Lisi and Dawn Addams – one for each Delon persona! The fomer ditches her own imminent marriage when she meets cute with the shier Delon and the latter gets it on with the older Delon practically in front of her ageing aristocrat husband, Akim Tamiroff.

Should be called Wigs

[Apollo15AnnoPianoCatDogSnailAnt · 4/10 · 21 September 2020]

Stuff happens for the sake of stuff happening but is still amusing though. Robin Hood, D'Artagnan from 3 Musketeers, Lafayette, Louis 14th, all mentioned in this porridge of happenings even the title hero is dressed like Zorro, and there is even a gaping walk/face scarred guy just like Peyrac from the Angelique series, this is a hodgepodge of stuff that about 2/3 of the way just ceased idea of what was happening, something about the French Revolution they're headed to twaddling with a stolen carriage or maybe finding a camp site anything is happening, carriage was earlier, they really like messing with carriages, properly what else obviously. If you like bleached wigs with curls this the ultimate emporium.

full of memories

[maatheij · 8/10 · 24 February 2017]

this is the famous novel by Dumas la tulipe noir, not Zorro or whatever I have read in other reviews. I can recall many names in this film, extremely popular in our cinema, television and theater, like Adolfo Marsillach, as the Police Chief la Mouche, Alvaro de luna, before being a most celebrated bandit in Spanish television, José Luis Pellicena, glory of Spanish theater thorough decades, and many others. Very pretty actresses, you can't beat a famous Miss Italy, Virna Lisi, and on top of that, the most handsome and charming of all, Alain Delon, 28 year old by then, at the peak of his career to make this film version of revolution, adventure, romance, comedy and all the ingredients of the great Alexandre Dumas novel.

Awful

[jromanbaker · 2/10 · 10 November 2019]

Trapped with a cold in Paris I watched this wretched film on Arte, a channel which I respect for its better programmes than the rest of the French channels. But here was a real turkey with Alain Delon playing a sort of Bette Davis or Olivia de Havilland twin role. They were experts at this ( The Dark Mirror, A Stolen Life etc ) but he hopelessly remained bland and just seemed to be talking to himself. This is the sort of nonsense film that captivated the French in the early 1960's and in its stupid way was a defiant attack on the New Wave. Delon was not seen often in the new cinema, discounting Melville who was not in my opinion associated with the mainstream or the New Wave. Visconti and Melville could turn Delon into a very good actor, but in inferior hands he gave inferior performances. This film shows him at his worst. The dialogue is terrible. the music on the soundtrack appalling and Virna Lisi having a sword fight with a man was the highlight of the film. She jumped on to a horse wonderfully at the end of it, the man killed. It cured my cold and I leapt out of bed refreshed. To sum up, French cinema at its worst.

Soggy and uninspired mess

[lorenellroy · 14 June 2002]

It is always a tad unfair to judge movies in a dubbed version especially ,as is the case here,when the dubbing is perfunctory and careless.Actors voices are among the key elements of their personality and replacing them with an anonymous voiceover artist is tantamount to a form of castration.,not to mention the loss of credibility arising from poor lip synchronization.

The movie needs all the help it can get anyway being a pretty feeble affair.The Black Tulip is a Zorro like figure,with a penchant for black garb and mask who sides with the peasantry in the French Revolution by holding up aristocrats and disbursing the proceeds to the downtrodden-a reverse Scarlet Pimpernel,whose sentiments,rightly ,were pro establishment.When scarred on his face by the Police Lieutenant General he substitutes his identical twin,an idealist,who takes to the role with some relish

Cue romantic entanglements,some woeful sword fights and a plethora of bad dubbing until we get to the finale where heroism and self sacrifice rule the day Delon is dull and lacks the balletic grace that marks out the best screen swordsmen

Minor in every way