A classic of all time. Since last autumn, I haven't seen anything French. And today, on this unplanned post-holiday weekend, we decided to return to our family tradition of watching French movies on weekends. At first they wanted to choose something modern, but then I remembered that on January 16 of this year, at the 96th year of life, a stunning actress, an incredible beauty of Italian cinema, who I love since childhood, died. I told my husband about this, so we decided to look for something from Italian cinema, and my husband remembered about Fanfan-Tulip, beloved since childhood. That’s where they chose to watch today. And very successfully, because this film is Franco-Italian, and even with the favorite French actors of the past years Gerard Philip and Marcel Herrand. And of course, with the inimitable beauty Gina, which we paid tribute to after watching this film.
This film was made at a time when not only me, but even my parents were not in the project, that is, 70 years ago, and I remember it still in black and white. Although the new color version I like better (today we watched it, and most importantly with a favorite Soviet dubbing). Adventure film about daredevils, princesses and wars has always been popular and especially - in the middle of the last century. At that time, this genre was not so common, so such films were shot often and with pleasure.
The film is an example of how to shoot a classic adventure movie. The best part is balance. "Fanfan-Tulpan" is held on the golden middle between the direct adventure genre and comedy, without going to any of the extremes. Perhaps this is because the film crew is French-Italian. Therefore, it turned out that the film in French is historical, exciting and sometimes refined, and at the same time - cheerful in Italian, devoid of unnecessary pathos and lyrics.
The plot here is also built on the principle of the very balance of genres. The events take place in France of the XVIII century, during the reign of Louis XV. The country is torn between numerous wars, recruits are more active than ever, and armies urgently need men. A young boy named Fanfan, who does not differ in the approximate way of life, wants to join the army voluntarily - to hide from the parents of the girl, whom he frowned, but abandoned, not wanting to marry. The classic Don Giovanni in war (or rather, in its rear) is in itself a great fit for a film that equally wants to entertain the viewer and give a historical retrospective. Here it is especially noticeable that the French treat their own past with a fair amount of humor and are not afraid to make the main hero of history, a young enterprising hood, not distinguished by special patriotism.
For a complete immersion in the atmosphere of adventure cinema, only a princess and a love triangle are missing. The authors of Fanfana understood this immediately and did not deprive the audience of such pleasure, adding both options to the film at once. The daughter of one of the sergeants Adeline becomes the one who lures Fanfan into service. Dressed as a gypsy, she “predicts” the guy that he will achieve unprecedented heights in military service and not only avoid marrying a girl from whose parents she runs away, but even play a wedding with the Princess of France. Of course, Adeline's interests are selfish - she herself falls in love with Fanfan and wants to bring him closer to herself. But suddenly the pseudo-prediction begins to come true. The next day, Fanfan will save the princess of France from the robbers. It is from this moment that he begins real adventures: the filmmakers did everything to make the start of the story bright, rich and at the same time devoid of any doubtful details. The amazing thing is that they were able to collect in one place all the best at once, avoiding congestion. Moderation is felt not only in the script component, but also in the visual: neither the black and white nor the colored version does not seem “bloom”, as it happens when the stylization of antiquity is created carelessly and carelessly.
And now remember when the film was released on the screens of France. In 1952, during the Indochina War. It took place on the other side of the earth, only contractors took part in it, its goals were little understood by the general public. So many French people were against it, they didn't understand why their country got involved in this mess. And a clear anti-war appeal Christian-Jacques came more than to the point. The director proved the absurdity, the uselessness of war. And the audience transferred this idea to their modern reality.
Decent costumes, decent acting, funny jokes, and in the character of the main character - nobility, in equal proportions mixed with very human cunning and selfishness. So it turns out a reference adventure film, which can be shown even in the Soviet children's camp (of course, covering the scenes of kisses with cardboard).
This film is impossible to praise! A good old French historical comedy, with an Italian accent, with an incomparable atmosphere of 18th century France, with beautiful actors and, most importantly, shot with impeccable taste. The plot of the film is simple and traditional - adventurer, war, love intrigue, fights, chases, funny situations, and all this is very beautiful. In the film, everything is measured very accurately - comic situations and situations are dramatic, love experiences and chases with fights. Nothing superfluous and no hint of overdoing anything. The performance of all actors, not just the star couple - Gerard Philip and Gina Lollobrigida - is beyond praise. You know you watch movies, but you believe them completely.
And the movie is very good. From the very beginning, the film was given a mocking, ironic tone. The viewer opens the stylized France of the XVIII century, when, according to the commentator, dubbed by the voice of the stunning Zinovy Gerdt, "Women were windy and frivolous, and men fought beautifully", died like in ballet, not forgetting about the hairstyle and picture poses. There is no deep meaning in the film, except that good conquers evil, and love is all-powerful. There is no need for another one here!
The comedy "coat and swords", a pseudo-historical parody - one of the classic genres of French theater and cinema. What do you remember Fanfan-Tulpan? Lightness, playfulness, pure French charm. The unwritten democracy of sharp words, swords and bed, brilliantly embodied in the duo Gerard Philip and the beautiful Italian woman Gina Lollobrigida (a bright memory of this beautiful woman who lived, created and left us beautifully and purely feminine).
10 out of 10