Two years after Breathless Jean-Paul Belmondo was dancing on water. He could
do no wrong. This seemingly tough working class kid with attitude to lend
out was the rage; never mind that his father was a famous sculptor and that
Belmondo had been able to go to the best acting schools. Put a cigarette
between his lips and he was a man of the streets. Breathless had been a global
hit and Belmondo was getting offers to do everything from classic crime films
like Classe Tous Risques and Le Doulos to dramas such as Two Women with Sophia
Loren and Léon Morin, Priest. And then there is this film directed
by Philippe de Broca, a full-fledged Errol Flynn styled tale of swashbuckling
daring do, comedy and romance set in the 1700's.
Still a man of the streets but with an enormous zest for living - life is
a rodeo of women and adventure. Belmondo had played D'Artagnan in a 1959
TV version of the Three Musketeers and that was initially the plan for this
film but instead they took D'Artagnan's personality and gave it to a street
thief who grabs whatever his hands can reach. He belongs to a gang of thieves
who report to and have to give their goods to Malichot played by Marcel Dalio
who had returned to France after the Nazis left. He was the croupier in Casablanca
and previous to leaving France in the 1930s he was in two of what are considered
the greatest films ever - The Grand Illusion and Rules of the Game - not
to mention Pépé le Moko, To Have and Have Not, Gentleman Prefer
Blondes and Sabrina. An incredible amount of good films for a small man of
little note.
Dominique (Belmondo) tires of the greed of Malichot and rebels one day and
then runs for his life and joins the army to escape him. France is as always
at war with England and not one to risk his life for the King he escapes
with two friends (the giant played by American actor Jess Hahn and Jean Rochefort
who was to go on to an impressive career). And the payroll for the French
army in gold. After eluding the chase and hooking up with the astonishingly
good looking Venus played by Claudia Cardinale, they all make their way back
to Paris and he takes over the gang. Up to this point the film indulges in
far too much physical comedy - to the point where I was getting bored but
once he takes over the gang it turns into grand adventure. He and the gang
become Robin Hoods stealing from the aristocrats and giving to the poor.
He becomes a hero but his weakness is women, in this case an aristocrat -
played demurely by the lovely Odile Versois. Enjoyable film once it gets
past the bonk bonk action and Belmondo sails through it like a sleek smiling
racing car.
There was by the way a real Cartouche in history. He lived from 1693 to 1721.
A highway man who gave to the poor and came to a bad ending on the Wheel.
