Scaramouche (1952 film)
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| Scaramouche | |
|---|---|
Original film poster |
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| Directed by | George Sidney |
| Produced by | Carey Wilson |
| Written by | Ronald Millar George Froeschel Rafael Sabatini (novel) |
| Starring | Stewart Granger Eleanor Parker Janet Leigh Mel Ferrer |
| Music by | Victor Young |
| Cinematography | Charles Rosher |
| Editing by | James Newcom |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | June 27, 1952 |
| Running time | 115 min. |
| Country | |
| Language | English |
| Budget | US$3,500,000 (estimated) |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Scaramouche is a 1952 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer romantic adventure film based on the 1921 novel Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini as well as the 1923 film version starring Ramón Novarro. The film stars Stewart Granger, Eleanor Parker, Janet Leigh, and Mel Ferrer, with a supporting cast including Henry Wilcoxon, Nina Foch, Richard Anderson, Robert Coote, Lewis Stone and John Dehner. It was directed by George Sidney and produced by Carey Wilson from a screenplay by Ronald Millar and George Froeschel. The original music score was composed by Victor Young and the cinematography by Charles Rosher.
In France just prior to the French Revolution, Queen Marie Antoinette (Nina Foch) asks her cousin Noel, the Marquis de Maynes (Mel Ferrer), to uncover the identity of "Marcus Brutus", a dangerous pamphleteer rousing hatred of the decadent aristocracy. Meanwhile, André Moreau (Stewart Granger), a nobleman's bastard, kidnaps his beloved Lenore (Eleanor Parker) to keep her from marrying another man. Afterwards, Moreau learns that his father is the Count de Gavrillac. While traveling to meet his parent, Moreau runs into Aline de Gavrillac (Janet Leigh), the Queen's ward, when her carriage breaks down the road. They are strongly attracted to each other, but Moreau's ardor suddenly cools when he learns that she is his half-sister.
Later, de Maynes discovers that Moreau's best friend, Philippe de Valmorin (Richard Anderson), is the man he seeks. He tracks him down and provokes him into a duel. De Maynes, a highly skilled swordsman, has little trouble disposing of his opponent. Moreau shoots de Maynes, but only wounds him before being forced to flee from the nobleman's henchmen.
Burning for revenge, but realizing that he is no match for the experienced duelist, Moreau seeks out de Mayne's old teacher, Doutreval (John Dehner) and trains diligently, all while hiding out as an actor in a commedia del arte troupe, playing the character of Scaramouche.
In the meantime, de Maynes becomes engaged to Aline. When de Maynes attends a performance of the troupe, Moreau finally has his opportunity. They engage in a spectacular, prolonged duel (reputedly the longest in screen history at about seven minutes) that ranges throughout the theater, from the balcony boxes, to the lobby, through the main seats, backstage and finally on the stage itself. Finally, Moreau has de Maynes at his mercy, but something he cannot explain stays his hand. Later, Moreau learns that his father was not the Count de Gavrillac, but rather the Count de Maynes. The man he almost killed is his half-brother. Then, he realizes that he is not related to Aline, so they can be together.
- Stewart Granger as Andre Moreau
- Janet Leigh as Aline de Gavrillac de Bourbon
- Eleanor Parker as Lenore
- Mel Ferrer as Noel, Marquis de Maynes
- Henry Wilcoxon as Chevalier de Chabrillaine
- Nina Foch as Marie Antoinette
- Richard Anderson as Philippe de Valmorin
- Robert Coote as Gaston Binet
- Lewis Stone as Georges de Valmorin, Philippe's father and Andre's foster father. Stone also played the Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr in the 1923 version.
- Elisabeth Risdon as Isabelle de Valmorin, Philippe's mother
- Howard Freeman as Michael Vanneau
- Curtis Cooksey as Lawyer Fabian
- John Dehner as Doutreval of Dijon
- John Litel as Dr. Dubuque
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Categories: 1952 films | American films | English-language films | Adventure films | Romantic drama films | Romantic period films | Swashbuckler films | Films based on fiction books | Films based on romance books | Films shot in Technicolor | Film remakes | Films directed by George Sidney | MGM films | 1950s drama film stubs