rbf55 WARNING, THERE IS A MAJOR SPOILER IN THIS REVIEW: Yes, it was a beautiful film, and yes the acting was superb, as was the photography, costumes, sword fights, etc. But one thing disturbed the hell out of me: Here was the main character, who raises this girl from infancy, and he ends up with her? Excuse me, but that is just a bit too incestuous for me. For 16 years he is this girls father (as far as she knows), and she has the hots for him and wants to bear him three sons? No, I just don't buy it, and it's a more than a little bit unbelievable that she would be in love with him that way, even before she knows that she is royalty, rather than just this guy's daughter. Romantic? I think NOT. Woof.

Ruby Liang (ruby_fff) "On Guard!" is a delightful saga of a swashbuckling soap, in French, at the capable hands of veteran director Philippe De Broca. I still remember his most entertaining "That Man From Rio" 1964, with adorable Jean-Paul Belmondo and matching comedic tempo of Francoise Dorleac - it was such fun ('tis before the James Bond flicks becoming an annual feverish affair).What drew me to "Le Bossu" (The hunchback - film's title in French) was mainly due to the 'extraordinaire' Daniel Auteuil, who's the central lead in the film. I first remember him not from "Manon of the Spring" 1987 (as Gerard Depardieu was the star) but from his portrayal of Lacenaire in "The Elegant Criminal" 1990. There's also the ever suave and attractive Vincent Perez (it's the second time seeing him acting opposite Auteuil - they were both in "Queen Margot" 1994; if you haven't seen him in the epic "Indochine" 1992 with Catherine Deneuve, go for it). And in the nemesis role, Fabrice Luchini aptly portrayed the treachery of it all. (He was fascinating to watch in director Patrice Leconte's "Intimate Strangers" 2004, playing opposite Sandrine Bonnaire.) So with the wonderful script co-written by De Broca himself, witty dialog and intriguing plot turns, it's simply irresistible not to check out "On Guard!" It's available on DVD from Empire Pictures - Koch Lorber Films, and there are behind the scenes extras with interviews of the director, the trio of main actors and actress Marie Gillain, in French with English subtitles option.Music is by the omnipresent maestro Philippe Sarde, with inclusion of strains from Pietro Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana". By the way, there's another famous Philippe included in the cast: Noiret, indeed.

max-vernon Not a deep film in any sense but a magnificently entertaining one nevertheless. Witty and fast-paced, it bears comparison with the highly popular 'Taxi' films. Probably my favourite French film in terms of the sheer pleasure it has given me.Set in the France of Louis XIV and the Regency which followed his death c.1699 - c.1720, it contains a fair degree of historical accuracy. Philippe d'Orleans, Regent of France (Philippe Noiret) has a central role as the arbiter of justice who ultimately allows good to triumph over evil. This is an unabashedly romantic view of absolutist France and one should not delve too deeply into the world that is recreated here. Like Robin Hood movies, the historical backcloth provides the setting for a good swashbuckle with an underdog hero eventually triumphing over a high-born villain against all the odds.The later plot revolves around the Louisiana scheme which saw fortunes won and lost in an early example of stock market speculation - a French equivalent of the British South Sea Bubble.It is also a buddy movie with the main hero (Daniel Auteuil) striking up a friendship across the class barrier with the Duc de Nevers who reveals the secret Nevers sword thrust, a leitmotif which starts and ends the film and helps the (19-year?) time span hang together.Never's scheming cousin murders him in order to inherit his fortune and the film quickly turns into a revenge movie. Auteuil saves Nevers' baby girl and heir and plots to topple the villain and to restore her to her rightful place.Towards the end the film becomes heavily romantic and reviewers have questioned the plausibility of the resulting relationship. It is perhaps the weakest part of the plot.The catchy score helps the film to bowl along in a relatively light-hearted way. Despite a lot of villainy and murder, the film's main tenor is one of unremitting fun. Were it being acted out on stage it would almost be a farce. Simply wonderful!

clovis-5 Le Bossu is a consistently entertaining French film, with an emphasis on swordplay, honor and romance. It seems very much to be a throwback to earlier action/romance films, particularly in that there is a certain seemingly deliberate superficiality to the characters. These characters are simply, forcefully drawn, and they behave accordingly. This is no brooding study, but, rather, an actioner with traditional ideas of honor, loyalty, tragic romance, undying love, etc., given rapid treatment. There's enough material touched on here for many stories but the movie moves along breathlessly, not delving too deep into the tragedies and romances. The beautiful score by Andre Techine complements the action and heightens the romantic aura. This is solid entertainment -- just don't expect introspection and moodiness. English title "On Guard" is silly and patronizing to us English-speaking viewers.