Christian-Jaque directed Fanfan la Tulipe, a comedy adventure swashbuckler film, starring Gérard Philipe and Gina Lollobrigida.
Grade: B (***1/2* out of *****)
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Original 1952 Film Poster
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In France during the Seven Years’ War, Fanfan is a charming, attractive youngster who is trying to escape a shotgun marriage. At this vulnerable point in his life, he is approached by the daughter of a recruiting officer, Adeline, who tells him that if he joins the army, he will find fame, fortune, and will marry the king’s daughter.
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Gérard Philipe
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Philipe in 1952
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Accordingly, he joins the army, only to discover that she made the whole thing up in order for her father to get a recruiting bonus.
Nevertheless, encouraged by a series of improbable circumstances, he accepts her prediction as his destiny.
A series of events ensues which shows off to great advantage his athleticism and leadership ability.
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Gina Lollobrigida
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Complicating matters is a developing attraction between him and Adeline, which conflicts with his perceived “destiny” of marrying a king’s daughter.
The film was remade in 2003 with Penélope Cruz in Lollobrigida’s role.
The film was photographed in black-and-white by Christian Matras. A colorized version was created (supervised by Sophie Juin for Les Films Ariane) and issued in 2000 on DVD in Europe alongside the original version.
Awards
1952 Berlin International Film Festival – Silver Berlin Bear
1952 Cannes Film Festival – Best Director, Nominated
1952 Cannes Film Festival – Grand Prize of the Festival
Cast
Gérard Philipe as Fanfan la Tulipe
Gina Lollobrigida as Adeline La Franchise
Marcel Herrand as Louis XV
Olivier Hussenot as Tranche-Montagne
Noël Roquevert as Fier-à-Bras
Henri Rollan as Le maréchal d’Estrées
Nerio Bernardi as La Franchise
Jean-Marc Tennberg as Lebel
Geneviève Page as La marquise de Pompadour
Sylvie Pelayo [fr] as Henriette de France
Lolita De Silva as La dame d’honneur
Irène Young as Marion
Georgette Anys as Madame Tranche-Montagne
Henri Hennery [fr] as Guillot
Lucien Callamand as Le maréchal de Brandebourg
Credits:
Directed by Christian-Jaque
Written by René Wheeler, René Fallet, Christian-Jaque, Henri Jeanson
Produced by Francis Cosne, Georges Dancigers, Alexandre Mnouchkine
Cinematography Christian Matras
Edited by Jacques Desagneaux
Music by Maurice Thiriet, Georges Van Parys
Distributed by Filmsonor
Release date: March 21, 1952
Running time: 102 minutes
Box office 6,733,287 admissions (France)
