José Ferrer won the Oscar for the leading role in the English language 1950 version, and romantic comedy Roxanne with Steve Martin modernised the story, but the majority of people will recognise this French language adaptation of the play by Edmond Rostand, in particular for the leading actor. Basically in the 17th century, in Paris, France, the charismatic Cyrano de Bergerac (Oscar and BAFTA nominated Gérard Depardieu) is a talented poet and supremely skilled swordsman, he has a large nose, which he is ridiculed for, and he is self-conscious because of it, but he pretends to be proud. Cyrano is hopelessly in love with his beautiful "friendly cousin" (though they are not actually related) Roxane (Anne Brochet), but he believes she will not love him because with his oversized hooter he considers himself physically unattractive. Cyrano finds out Roxane has become infatuated with dashing new recruit to the Cadets de Gascogne, Christian de Neuvillette (Vincent Perez), but despite his good looks, Christian is tongue-tied when speaking with women. Cyrano sees this as an opportunity to vicariously declare his love for Roxane, he helps Christian learn to court a woman, and writing love letters and poems to Roxane, declaring the very emotions Cyrano feels himself for her. Roxane starts to appreciate, not only for his good looks, but for his apparent eloquence, one night Christian is forced to prove his talent for words in person, Cyrano joins him beneath her balcony, when Christian fluster Christian speaks his words, Roxane is enraptured, Cyrano unintentionally wins Christian a kiss with her. Roxane eventually falls in love with Christian, and they contract a secret marriage in order to thwart the plans of the arrogant nobleman Comte de Guiche (Jacques Weber), himself a frustrated wooer of Roxane. In revenge, De Guiche summons Christian to fight in the war against the Spanish, Cyrano also joins the harsh and brutal battle, but escapes over enemy lines each morning to deliver a love letter, signed by Christian, to Roxane. At this point, Christian is completely unaware of Cyrano's doings on his behalf, the love letters eventually draw Roxane from the city to the war front, she had come to visit Christian, the supposed romantic poet, but she admits she would rather love an ugly, but great poet, than a handsome, dimwitted fellow. Realising his mistake, Christian tries to find out whether Roxane loves him or Cyrano, he asks Cyrano to find out, however, following her visit, Christian is wounded and dies in battle, as he lies dying, Cyrano tells Christian that he asked Roxane and it was Christian she loved, but he had done no such thing, Cyrano continues to fight and the French win. Cyrano keeps his love for Roxane secret for fourteen years, during which time he has become unpopular because of his satirical writing about nobility, the grief-stricken Roxane enters a convent, Cyrano faithfully visits her over the years every week. Cyrano is never late for his visits, until a fateful attempt on his life leaves him mortally injured, he is not injured by a sword, but instead suffers a serious head injury when struck by a heavy wooden beam, against doctor's orders Cyrano visits Roxane at the convent one night. Cyrano faints, but dismisses it as the effect of his wound at Arras, when Roxane mentions Christian's last letter, Cyrano is able to recite it be memory, only then Roxane realise that is was Cyrano who wooed her under the balcony and wrote the love letters, after fainting again, Cyrano is forced to reveal his mortal wound, as he dies, Roxane realises that it was Cyrano, not Christian, whom she truly loved all along. Also starring Roland Bertin as Ragueneau, Philippe Morier-Genoud as Le Bret, Pierre Maguelon as Carbon de Castel-Jaloux and Josiane Stoléru as The Duenna. Depardieu gives an exceptionally passionate, witty and finessed performance as the noted Parisian poet and swashbuckler whose search for happiness is hindered, and there is good support from Brochet and Perez, the fight sequences and political stuff is fine, but it definitely all about the love story, you feel real sympathy for the hero with the big conk, an interesting period romantic drama. It won the Oscar for Best Costume Design, and it was nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Makeup and Best Foreign Language Film, it won the BAFTA for Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Make Up Artist and Best Original Film Score for Jean-Claude, and it was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film not in the English Language and Best Production Design, and it won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. Very good!
Review of Cyrano de Bergerac
