"Captain Fracasse"(!929) is a spirited adventure film which provides good entertainment. For the modern viewer, probably the most interesting feature is the performance of Charles Boyer {Duke de Vallombreuse} as the villainous but sophisticated aristocrat who lusts after Isabelle {Lien Deyers} the beautiful young actress of a traveling acting troupe. She, of course, is in love with another handsome young aristocrat played by Pierre Blancher {Baron de Solignac/Captain Fracasse}. The plot moves along with commendable speed and excitement capturing the viewer's interest, always necessary in a swashbuckler where credibility of incident is not a strong feature! I enjoyed the photography which struck me as very clever and original. The film opens with an excellent tracking shot and we quickly get an effective sense of the oppressive, stagnant atmosphere of the young man's world. There are several other excellent scenes, particularly those which convey the excitement of the world of the strolling players. The castle of the villain with its winding staircases, locked rooms and improbable entrances and exits is another star of the film.
One doesn't normally look for sensitive acting in an action film based on a story which uses all the usual conventions of its type. Such a genre simply doesn't easily lend itself to deep characterisation. This probably explains the weak performance of Lien Deyers. She simply can't do much more than she does with the character given her. She can look lovingly at the hero, give the poor Gypsy girl her necklace {thereby winning her undying gratitude and help at decisive moments} and resolutely defy the villain who attempts to stain her honour. Particularly annoying is the way Isabelle clearly seeing some villains who plan to abduct her, hides under the covers! She faints opportunely.
Much better altogether is Pola Illéry who plays the Gypsy girl, Chiquita, with plenty of verve and energy. Her personality is more ambiguous. She first dislikes the heroine and participates in a plan to rob the troupe. after Isabelle shows kindness and generosity, she tells her that she has resolved never to kill her! In fact, she becomes quite important later on in the plot and has a great final scene.
The male leads, particularly Boyer, are excellent and do everything asked of them with panache.
So far, I've watched "Captain Fracasse" with the piano score. However, there is a more elaborate Michel Portal Avant Garde score which seems interesting though I've heard only a bit of it. Perhaps it may not suit the nature of this film as well as the more traditional piano background. I'll wait until I hear it in its entirety. The public domain edition of "Faust" has that type of modernistic electronic score and it is marvellously evocative, the most haunting I've heard, but then "Faust" lends itself to the surrealistic nature of that type of music.
I really found this an entertaining film and look forward to watching it again. Personally, I thought that a certain vivid realism mixed with humour in some of the scenes sets it apart from other examples of the genre.
One doesn't normally look for sensitive acting in an action film based on a story which uses all the usual conventions of its type. Such a genre simply doesn't easily lend itself to deep characterisation. This probably explains the weak performance of Lien Deyers. She simply can't do much more than she does with the character given her. She can look lovingly at the hero, give the poor Gypsy girl her necklace {thereby winning her undying gratitude and help at decisive moments} and resolutely defy the villain who attempts to stain her honour. Particularly annoying is the way Isabelle clearly seeing some villains who plan to abduct her, hides under the covers! She faints opportunely.
Much better altogether is Pola Illéry who plays the Gypsy girl, Chiquita, with plenty of verve and energy. Her personality is more ambiguous. She first dislikes the heroine and participates in a plan to rob the troupe. after Isabelle shows kindness and generosity, she tells her that she has resolved never to kill her! In fact, she becomes quite important later on in the plot and has a great final scene.
The male leads, particularly Boyer, are excellent and do everything asked of them with panache.
So far, I've watched "Captain Fracasse" with the piano score. However, there is a more elaborate Michel Portal Avant Garde score which seems interesting though I've heard only a bit of it. Perhaps it may not suit the nature of this film as well as the more traditional piano background. I'll wait until I hear it in its entirety. The public domain edition of "Faust" has that type of modernistic electronic score and it is marvellously evocative, the most haunting I've heard, but then "Faust" lends itself to the surrealistic nature of that type of music.
I really found this an entertaining film and look forward to watching it again. Personally, I thought that a certain vivid realism mixed with humour in some of the scenes sets it apart from other examples of the genre.