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.

I used to enjoy watching this film on TV as a teenager back in the late 60s. Not having seen it since then, I bought the DVD a couple of years ago to see if it still held up to my memories.When I first started watching, I cringed at all these 18th-century "Frenchmen" speaking with twangy American accents. But, after about 5 minutes, you get used to it and enjoy the fun. What one realizes, after all, is that ANY historical film is not telling you so much about the period in which it is set as it is telling you about the period in which it was made. And, so, Scaramouche captures the self-confidence, the unashamed glamor, the bravura of the U.S. after World War II. This is a costume-drama at its best. Stewart Granger, Eleanor Parker, Janet Leigh, Mel Ferrer are all perfectly cast.A great movie is loved for its memorable "moments"—and Scaramouche is full of them: the "revelation scene," the Marquis pinned to the wall, André and Leonore's poignant farewell, etc.The film owes much of its success to the superb score by Victor Young. He manages to capture the spirit of the 18th century, but in a "Hollywood" guise. He provides delightful humor in the various commedia dell'arte skits but reaches Romantic heights with his soaring strings in the revelation scene. Victor Young was known for his gift in composing beautiful tunes. This gift is particularly evident in Scaramouche.

If you love seeing dashing leading men running around in tight trousers,with sword fighting left right and centre then Scaramouche is right up your street.There are many scenes that wouldn't seem out of place in a silent comedy act and you actually don't need dialogue in many parts as everything is conveyed in the actors faces and actions.Credited with what is the longest on screen duel between Stewart Granger and Mel Ferrer this is a film filled with boundless energy,action and a mischievous spirit.This 1952 offering is a remake of the 1923 film of the same name.Set during the days of The French Revolution,Scaramouche follows the dashing playboy Andre Moreau(Stewart Granger)who is the illegitimate son of a wealthy nobleman.He is in love with the feisty and beautiful travelling player Lenore(Eleanor Parker)who tired of waiting for him to return to her agrees to marry a wealthy man who showers her with diamonds.On the day of her wedding Andre wins her back and she agrees to marry him instead.He ends up having to leave her when his best friend Phillipe De Valmorin(Richard Anderson)is suspected of writing material supporting the Revolution and writing under the name Marcus Brutus.The two go on the run and come up against the best fencer in all of France(who is also the cousin of Queen Marie Antoinette).The Marquis DeMaynes(Mel Ferrer)who after killing Phillipe makes an enemy in Andre who trains in the art of fencing to avenge the death of his friends.To escape the clutches of the Maquis Andre meets up with Lenore's travelling troupe and assumes the identity of masked comedian Scaramouche.It all leads to a breathtaking showdown in a Paris theatre that's a must for fans of sword fights.Try and see past the illogical and frankly daft plot holes that pop up along the way and just get lost in it's humour and fun.Featuring an enchanting performance from Janet Leigh as Aline De Gavrillac De Bourbon who may be Andre's half sister,who is also engaged to the Maquis.If your a fan of the dashing Stewart Granger and love adventure films filled with romance then this is one you should enjoy.

Scaramouche is a reasonably average swashbuckling Technicolor extravaganza with great sword fights, but the story, the characters and the performances just didn't impress me as much as I had hoped.Set in France in the period leading up to the French Revolution we follow the story of André Moreau the bastard son of a nobleman. Initially a carefree young man living off an allowance he is spurred to action by the death of his principled friend. Andre hides out with a theater troupe where he adopts the character of Scaramouche a clown while he contemplates how he can avenge his friend's death. There are a number of intertwined sub plots which are fairly convoluted for a film of this type.When Scaramouche is compared to other swashbuckling epics such as; Robin Hood, Captain Blood or even The Sea Hawk all of which were made 10 or more years earlier, it pales in comparison. Director George Sidney isn't Michael Curtiz, Stewart Granger certainly isn't Errol Flynn and Mel Ferrer isn't Basil Rathbone or Claude Rains. Of all the principles only Vivien Leigh compares adequately to her predecessors.These are not the only deficiencies in the film though, it appears that the story upon which the film was based had considerably more depth and likely could have been adapted better. In all likelihood parts of the story should have been sacrificed to make the story flow better.The production values (costumes, sets, music, etc) are all OK but nothing stands out, perhaps my opinion is affected by my overall opinion of the film but I didn't find anything memorable here.The film despite its deficiencies isn't without its charm and for fans of the era and genre it will likely provide enjoyment. The sword-fights and the rich Technicolor picture just weren't enough for me to see it as anything more than mediocre.The film is based on a novel by Rafael Sabatini who also penned The Sea Hawk and Captain Blood.