jacobs-greenwood The story is set during the French Revolutionary period before Napoleon's rise; the monarchy still has its place, but shares some governmental powers with the peasants through an assembly. However, if a strong voice arises from among the peoples' representatives, they are quickly eliminated through a gentleman's duel, most often initiated by the superior swordsmen that support the King and Queen (Nina Foch appears briefly as Marie Antoinette): Mel Ferrer plays the Marquis de Maynes, the best swordsman in France, and Henry Wilcoxon plays his right-hand man Chevalier de Chabrillaine."He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad" - Stewart Granger is perfect as Andre Moreau, a quick witted ladies' man with a mysterious parentage and no interest in politics. He has an on-going 'relationship' with the beautiful traveling show actress Lenore (Eleanor Parker was never sexier than as this volatile jealous redhead), but is enchanted as never before when he first meets Aline de Gavrillac (Janet Leigh, looking her Technicolor best as well). She is the comely one that the Queen has pointed out to her cousin the Marquis; she implies he needs to marry for respectability among the noble class.Andre was raised by Georges (Lewis Stone, who played the Marquis in the 1923 silent original) and Isabel (Elisabeth Risdon) de Valmorin with their younger son Philippe (Richard Anderson), but was financially supported by the previously unknown de Gavrillac. When Andre learns of this, his affections for Aline become more brotherly protective, much to her disappointment. When Philippe, who wrote a freedom pamphlet under the pen name Marcus Brutus, is discovered and then out-dueled by de Maynes, Andre - who witnessed the death - vows to avenge it.Escaping from the same fate and the pursuing de Chabrillaine, Andre hides among Binet's (Robert Coote) theater troupe - which employs Lenore - as the iconic masked clown and title character Scaramouche, while secretly training under de Maynes's exclusive fencing instructor Doutreval (John Dehner), a freedom 'brother' himself. When the Marquis discovers this, he nearly kills Andre before escaping again with help from Aline. Andre learns from Doutreval that his instructor Perigore (Richard Hale) still teaches in Paris, where the troupe then travels, earning an extended engagement much to Lenore's delight.While training under Perigore, Andre is recruited by Dr. Dubuque (John Litel) to join the peoples' assembly, where his considerable dueling skills are needed to even the odds. Andre agrees because it should give him another chance at de Maynes. But Aline and Lenore conspire to make sure the Marquis is in the company of the Queen at various other activities in lieu of being at the assembly. Meanwhile, Andre is challenged and subsequently eliminates several of de Chabrillaine's henchmen in sword duels.The two ladies successfully keep their men apart until the night de Maynes and Aline go to see the play Scaramouche. When Andre notices the Marquis in attendance, he takes off his mask and swings up into his box to pursue him in a duel - the longest in movie history - that travels from box-to-box, down a hallway and a stairway, into the audience and across the theater, backstage and then onto the stage itself before Andre has de Maynes defeated, though he can't bring himself to finish it. Andre discards his sword and leaves. Later, he learns from de Valmorin that the Marquis is actually his brother, the reason he couldn't complete his revenge. Listening in the wings is a tearful Lenore, who reminds Andre that he's now free to wed Aline, which he does as the film ends while Lenore is seen in the company of Bonaparte.

dbrayshaw Here it is, sixty-five years after the filming of Scaramouche and I have just completed my first viewing of this gem. It was born the year of my birth.I had no clue, convincing swordfighing could last as long as seven minutes in any film. Having never met a fencer, I grew to consider the sport lacking in swordsmen. After all, this is 2017, not 1952. The genre of swashbuckling, obviously, was more in step with former viewers. At least, that's what I thought.After some reading, my view has changed.I discovered, to my surprise, the sport has returned to the U.S. and is being labeled an exercise to relieve stress, tone up the body and mind, and to give a great workout.This motion picture is certainly the one to watch if one needs that extra push to learn fencing. I enjoyed the fighting scenes immensely, especially the offense and defense that moved André Moreau (Stewart Granger)and Marquis De Maynes (Mel Ferrer) from every inch of the theater balcony, down the stairs, into the fully seated auditorium, to the rear props storage rooms, then onto the stage, to finish with a surprising end.I also discovered Jean Heremans, a European fencing champion, was hired by MGM in 1948 to supervise the swordfighting on The Three Musketeers. I feel all the swordplay sequences in Scaramouche were superbly staged by Heremans.Not knowing anything about pre-French revolution attire, I found the costumes, although elaborate and layered, well able to accentuate the best of one's body. The young women certainly liked to show off their thin waists and cleavage, although I wonder just what was under those dresses to cause their waists to be as thinly attractive and convincing.How most of the cast managed not to sweat profusely amazes me.Both actresses, Aline (Janet Leigh) and Lenore (Elaine Parker) were dressed to stand out in every scene.The storyline is realistic enough and believable to a point. Escapes seemed contrived, a bit deus ex machina, especially the trapdoor scene. Still, I felt satisfied at close of the film.It was two hours well spent.

ma-cortes Spectacular swordplay in musical style in this superior version of the classic Rafael Sabatini novel . M-G-M presents Sabatini' exciting story of love and adventure . The picture contains overwhelming action , intrigue , romantic adventure , mayhem and a lot of fencing . For the second time is adapted in the greatest Hollywood splendor , the complete romance , the historical characters, the full novel just as Rafael Sabatini write it ; it stars Stewart Granger as the rake young who turns revenger when his best friend is killed and he , subsequently , becomes the role Scaramouche and finally faces off his deadly enemy , featuring a top-notch seven-and-a-half minute sword battle . This delightful adaptation contains an awesome casting and lavish production shot in Metro Goldwyn Studios make for a fairly amusement swashbuckling . This is the classic version of the Sabatini's novel with a handsome Stewart Granger in a brave role as a young and handsome nobleman , a dashing , audacious lover . The film is well set in the days of the French revolution and it starts with the youngster Andre Moreau (Stewart Granger , this is one of Granger's best movies at MGM) , a bastard nobleman searching for his family . Moreau , then , carries out a relentless revenge to avenge the death of a friend . As he joins a theatre troupe , being disguised as Scaramouche , there he meets Aline (Eleanor Parker , very well cast) , and forms an interest in her . Meanwhile , aristocrat marquis Noel (Mel Ferrer) is ordered by the French queen (Nina Foch) to seek the hand of a young ingenue , Aline (Janet Leigh) , in marriage . Later on , Andre becomes a politician at National Assembly to protect the third estate from mean aristocracy and contra-revolutionaries . After that , Andre spends his days learning how to handle a sword , thanks to a master swordsman . This is a slight and hugely budgeted retelling about the durable Sabatini's novel with all-star-cast . It is packed with comedy , derring-do , intrigue , a triangular love story , action , drama and moving as well as dazzling swordplay between Granger and Ferrer . Entertaining swashbuckling with lavish production by Carey Wilson , glamorous gowns and luxurious sets by Oscar winning Cedric Gibbons and Hans Peters . The climax is one of the most rousing and longest duel scenes ever shot , that ranges throughout the theater, from the balcony boxes , to the lobby, through the main seats, backstage and finally on the stage itself . It bettered the one Stewart Granger was to have with with James Mason in another remake , The prisoner of Zenda . During the filming of the incredible fencing , Granger narrowly missed serious injury to his groin when he landed astride the next row of chairs, and filming had to be halted temporarily . However , in the original novel by Sabatini , the climactic duel occurred outdoors . The main cast is frankly well . Nice acting by Stewart Granger as Andre-Louis Moreau , a nobleman bastard become an actor in a Commedia troupe and vowing to avenge his friend ; being his nemesis , Mel Ferrer , as Noel De Maynes , a marquis in love with two women : the queen , Marie Antoinette , well played by Nina Foch , and the gorgeous aristocrat Janet Leigh . And enjoyable secondary cast , as the marvelous main actors are completed by a stellar cast full of classical and veteran players as Henry Wilcoxon , Nina Foch , Richard Anderson , Robert Coote , Lewis Stone , John Dehner and John Litel .It displays an evocative and romantic musical score by Victor Young . Lush production design is wonderfully reflected on the luxurious interiors and exteriors filmed at Hollywood . Colorful cinematography in brilliant Technicolor by Charles Rosher . The motion picture was compellingly directed by George Sidney . Sidney was a good Hollywood filmmaker , becoming MGM's most successful director in the 1940's . George was an expert in big budget musicals , but also handled rollicking swashbucklers like The three musketeers (1948) that he formerly made in similar style and this Scaramouche (1952) . Some of his biggest hits were movie versions of successful Broadway plays , like Annie get your gun (1950) and Magnolia (1951) . After leaving MGM in 1955, Sidney went over to Columbia under a seven-year contract and had one more major hit with Pal Joey (1957), made under the banner of his own production company and after directing other successes . Scaramouche rating : Better than average . It is a very good film thanks to fabulous scenarios , luxurious exteriors and interiors , glamorous gowns and being lavishly financed by MGM . This classy story was subsequently remade on several versions , firstly take on this classic is the following : Scaramouche (1923) by Rex Ingram with Ramon Novarro , Alice Terry , Lloyd Ingraham and Lewis Stone who played the 'heavy' - the Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr - in this old retelling and he came back to play the elderly character of "Georges de Valmorin" in this new version Scaramouche (1952) . And European version titled The mask of Scaramouche (1963) by Antonio Isasi Isasmendi with Gerard Barray , Michelle Girardon , Gian Maria Canale and Alberto De Mendoza . Finally , Adventures and lovers of Scaramouche (1970) by Enzo G Castelli with Michael Sarrazin , Úrsula Andress , Sal Borghese , Aldo Maccione and Michael Forest .

beez1717 I absolutely love this movie. I first saw it on the final day of my fencing class in college. Having learned fencing I could see just how accurate the swordplay is in the movie. I think the plot is very exciting, the characters are well rounded out, and I absolutely love how funny Scaramouche is. Overall, I was on the edge of my seat during some of the fencing scenes. I will never forget those scenes. I think that this movie is a classic that will stand the test of time, and it will always be a movie that I will hold dear to myself. If you like swordplay, comedy and romance then you will love this movie. I would recommend this movie to anyone.