The Voyage of Captain Fracassa (1990)

In the Eighteenth Century, the "Traveling Company of Scenic Arts" composed of Tyrant, Lady Leonarde, Serafina, Isabella, Leandre, Zerbina, Matamore and Pulcinella gets lost while traveling ... See full summary »

Director:

Ettore Scola

Writers:

Théophile Gautier (novel), Vincenzo Cerami (story)

Stars:

Vincent Perez, Emmanuelle Béart, Massimo Troisi

6 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vincent Perez	...	Baron of Sigognac
Emmanuelle Béart	...	Isabella
Massimo Troisi	...	Pulcinella
Ornella Muti	...	Serafina
Lauretta Masiero	...	Lady Leonarde
Toni Ucci	...	The tyrant
Massimo Wertmüller	...	Leandre
Jean-François Perrier	...	Matamore
Tosca D'Aquino	...	Zerbina
Giuseppe Cederna
Mariangela Giordano
Claudio Amendola	...	Agostino
Marco Messeri	...	Bruyeres
Ciccio Ingrassia	...	Pietro, Sigognac's servant
Remo Girone	...	Vallombrosa

Storyline

In the Eighteenth Century, the "Traveling Company of Scenic Arts" composed of Tyrant, Lady Leonarde, Serafina, Isabella, Leandre, Zerbina, Matamore and Pulcinella gets lost while traveling to Paris in bad weather. They see a castle and ask the servant Pietro if they can spend the night. They soon learn that the destroyed castle belongs to the ruined nobleman Jean Luc Henry Camille, the Baron of Sigognac. Pietro asks the company to take Sigognac with them to Paris as King Luis XIII's father was saved by the baron's father, Henrique de Navarra, and Luis XIII would certainly reward Sigognac in gratitude. He also secretly gives one hundred gold coins to Pulcinella to serve Sigognac.

---

Plot Keywords:

female nudity | based on novel | character name in title | 

---

Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | History

---

Did You Know?

Connections

Remake of Fracasse (1974)

User Reviews

A Sadly Forgotten Gem

This movie is one of the best films the great Italian director, Ettore Scola has ever made. It also has a fantastic cast, all doing a great job, but, is seems the late Massimo Troisi does outshine them all, with a stunning performance as Pulcinella, a Sancho Panza sort of clown. This fantasy, dream-like tale, is based on the famous book by the same name by Théophile Gautier, the French author. This is actually the 5th movie adaptation of this novel, which must tell you something about its force to attract generations of film makers.

Vincent Pérez plays Baron of Sigognac, a young royal, whose quest for material wealth brings him true love and revelations on the nature of this world. The plot themes are somewhat related to Stoppard's excellent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead - both uses the traveling players to explore the nature of the human condition. One might also recall Bergman's Seventh Seal, but Fracassa is more akin of Stoppard's light hearted, witty, approach to those grave subjects.

A truly exceptional, beautiful and entertaining film, a long standing achievement for all involved, surely better than Il Postino, though, sadly, much less known. Surely overdue for re-release?

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

31 October 1990 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Voyage of Captain Fracassa

Company Credits

Production Co:

Massfilm, Studio El, Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1