Fanfan La Tulipe (1952)

This is a prime example of the influence Criterion asserts on film fans. Until three weeks ago I had never heard of "Fanfan la Tulipe" nor it's primary stars. I read the brief blurb at the Criterion site before nearly impulsively purchasing the dvd. Not surprisingly, I wasn't disappointed with either the dvd presentation or the quality of the film itself.As I've come to expect from Criterion - the film print looks fantastic and the essay booklet is interesting and informative. The Criterion essays are always important because they not only provide a bit of background information behind the film, but also point out the lasting influence the work acheived. For instance, this essay includes an amusing quote from critic Georges Sadoul as well as a few ideas on why this film isn't as well known today despite its popularity upon release.There are numerious distillations of the hilariously clever plot of this film, so I won't go into that. Suffice it to say that if you're a fan of period films, particularly Tyrone Power or Errol Flynn swashbucklers, you're going to have a great time with this one.This is one Criterion film in which there simply isn't much bonus material. The brief program about lead actor Gerard Philipe is the only one of note here. The colorized clip isn't worth much, but I'm always happy for anything extra on a dvd.Side notes: Film snobs may whine that "popcorn" releases such as this aren't worthy of the iconic Criterion logo, but its just this sort of celluloid elitism that Criterion is trying to dispel. No longer will the casual film buff search the world over and pay too much for a copy of films like "Before the Rain" or "Mon Oncle Antoine".The influence, quality, and importance of a film is really all quite subjective anyway. I count "This Sporting Life" among the greatest character studies ever made, while you may find it a boring two hour exercise in watching a dumb brute driving the widow he lives with insane.

Fanfan (Gerard Philipe) is a womanizer. He ecapes marrying one by subscribing to the 7 years war in 1763 or so. All his adventures are wonderful: he is told by a lady (Lollobrigida) that he will marry the daughter of the king Louis XVI; he dares to enter the king's daughter room but escapes being hung since the king has looked into the graces of Lollobrigida. When she hides at the convent of Mortelame Lebel, the valet of the king, discovers her hide-out and organizes a rescue. Fanfan understands this plot and prevents it but looses again the dame. Looked for by the soldiers of an enemy who speaks a sort of funny german, he and his 2 soldier friends win over the entire enemy force who surrender en masse to an astonished king. So Fanfan obtains by him the hand of his (adopted) daughter: Gina Lollobrigida.My story cannot tell the great beauty of this shwashbuck movie, one of the best I ever met in my life as a moviegoer. Filmed almost 60 years ago (in 1952) the movie has not lost a single piece of shrewedness, cunning or love (never being romantic; there is never a love scene in the entire story). I strongly recommend it to lovers of the gender.

Good, action-packed film with one of France's greatest stage actors of the 1950s, Gérard Philipe, who also appeared in several notable films. Only wish there were some extras with the dvd, or at least some liner notes. Pretty basic package, but the film is entertaining.

I purchased "Fanfan" as a big fancier of swashbucklers, but not a foreign film buff. I admit to an initial wariness of this French swashbuckler, but was pleasantly surprised. The film has brio: lots of swashbuckling action, wit, and saucy romance. If you love swashbucklers I recommend it. The Criterion edition has a clean, bright print and the original French soundtrack, available with or without English subtitles, plus an optional dubbed English soundtrack that's not bad.

I ordered this because I had seen it when I was taking French at UCLA. It was so funny then that I took my parent to see it! They loved it. However after rediscovering it I found it rather dated. It is still funny, but now we have even funnier movies to compare it to. It is not a classic, but good and a great tool for people learning French.

My 90 year old mom felt like a teenager as she was when she saw it first time. Good transfer and also dubbed to English.

I LOVE IT ..HIGHLY REDCOMMEND IT i saw it as a child Ilove it , I still love it as an adult .Gina Lollobrigida is very beautiful.

Fanfan la Tulipe may be a favorite with the French but frankly I find it tolerable only if one views it as a spoof of swashbucklers. This film is not worthy of inclusion in the Criterion Collection, and it does nothing to justify Gerard Philipe's reputation as an actor.

Excellent 1952 movie. The copy I received was clear and clean, The black-and-white photography is marvellous.A lot of action, the acting is great and Gérard Philipe is really great in this movie.This is a fun film which is set in the Seven Years War in the 18th Century.A classic that I recommend wholeheartedly.

Fanfan (Gerard Philipe) e` un cacciatore di donne che sfugge al matrimonio iscrivendosi a fare il soldato per 7 anni (1756-1763). Una finta zingara (Gina Lollobrigida), lettagli la mano, gli spiega, dandogli del lei, che sposera` la figlia del re (Luigi XV). Cosi` Fanfan osa entrare nella camera da letto della signora ma, scoperto immediatamente, viene condannato a morte dal re medesimo. Ma il re riceve Lollobrigida e conta sulle grazie d lei: il capestro non sfugge a Fanfan ma il ramo si trancia di netto e Fanfan viene graziato. Lollobrigida per sfuggire al re si rinchiude nel convento di Mortelame ma e` raggiunta da Lebel, il valletto del re, e dai banditi assoldati. Dopo un serrato, lungo confronto con Fanfan che avvertito si lancia a Mortelame, la donna viene infine ripresa dai banditi mentre Fanfan si nasconde proprio nel covo dei generali che parlano un'incomprensibile specie di tedesco, li mette in guardina e spara su un nemico che, stordito completamente, si getta nelle mani del re di Francia che stavolta non ha bisogno di 10 mila morti per vincere.Il finale e` entusiasmante e divertente e vorrei che ogni cliente avesse il piacere di gustarselo. Tutto il film e` ricco di gags e storie importanti e divertenti. Un film che avevo visto nel lontano 1952 e che non ha perduto niente nel lunghissimo intervallo.

Great condition / NTSC / Fanfan La tulipeMenu en anglais, mais le film est en VO (VF) et la qualité est superbe. La collection Criterion est un incontournable.

soddisfatto

It is great classic European7 movie