Le Bossu (1997 film)
Encyclopedia
Le Bossu is a French swashbuckler film directed by Philippe de Broca
, released in 1997. The story is adapted from Le Bossu
(French: the Hunchback), the 1858 historical novel by Paul Féval, père
.
Lagardère, cashiered from the army, forms a friendship with a dashing swordsman, the Duc de Nevers. Through Lagardère, Nevers learns that he has a "son" by Blanche de Caylus, a fact previously concealed by his cousin and would-be heir, the wicked Comte de Gonzague. Lagardère and Nevers leave for Caylus, followed by Gonzague and his henchmen who plan to murder Nevers before he can marry Blanche and claim his son and heir. Lagardère delays the attackers, allowing Nevers to marry Blanche, but they murder the wedding party and pursue the child. Nevers is fatally stabbed by a masked Gonzague, who is "branded" on the hand by Lagardère, who then escapes, entrusted with the child and vowing revenge.
Lagardère takes refuge in the mountains, and discovers that the baby "son" is in fact a girl, Aurore. Lagardère escapes with the help of a band of strolling players who convince the pursuing henchmen that Lagardère and Aurore have plunged to their deaths in a mountain torrent. Blanche retires to a convent.
16 years later, Lagardère and Aurore are still with the players. Aurore, using fencing skills learnt from her father, escapes the clutches of a roué, killing him with the "Nevers attack" ("la botte de Nevers"). Gonzague learns of this and has suspicions about the survival of Aurore and her saviour, confirmed when her tomb is opened to reveal a wax doll. To pursue his revenge Lagardère gains employment as Gonzague's secretary in the disguise of a hunchback. He reveals to Aurore that he is not her real father, makes contact with Blanche, and engineers a stock market raid on shares in the Mississippi Company
, supposedly on behalf of Gonzague. However, in front of the Regent d'Orléans, Aurore and Blanche come forward and expose Gonzague. He is killed in a swordfight and Lagardère and Aurore declare their love.
Philippe de Broca
Philippe de Broca was a French film director.Born Philippe Claude Alex de Broca de Ferrussac in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, the son of a photographer of noble origins. de Broca was a cinephile from an early age, and he studied at the l'École technique de photographie et de cinématographie...
, released in 1997. The story is adapted from Le Bossu
Le Bossu (novel)
Le Bossu is a French historical adventure novel by Paul Féval, first published in serial parts in Paris in 1858.Loosely based around real events, the story is set in France in two distinct periods, 1699 and 1717, and incorporates real historical characters such as Philippe II, Duke of...
(French: the Hunchback), the 1858 historical novel by Paul Féval, père
Paul Féval, père
Paul Henri Corentin Féval, père was a French novelist and dramatist.He was the author of popular swashbuckler novels such as Le Loup Blanc and the perennial best-seller Le Bossu...
.
Synopsis
Si tu ne viens pas à Lagardère, Lagardère ira à toi! ("If you don't come to Largardère, Lagardère will come to you!")Lagardère, cashiered from the army, forms a friendship with a dashing swordsman, the Duc de Nevers. Through Lagardère, Nevers learns that he has a "son" by Blanche de Caylus, a fact previously concealed by his cousin and would-be heir, the wicked Comte de Gonzague. Lagardère and Nevers leave for Caylus, followed by Gonzague and his henchmen who plan to murder Nevers before he can marry Blanche and claim his son and heir. Lagardère delays the attackers, allowing Nevers to marry Blanche, but they murder the wedding party and pursue the child. Nevers is fatally stabbed by a masked Gonzague, who is "branded" on the hand by Lagardère, who then escapes, entrusted with the child and vowing revenge.
Lagardère takes refuge in the mountains, and discovers that the baby "son" is in fact a girl, Aurore. Lagardère escapes with the help of a band of strolling players who convince the pursuing henchmen that Lagardère and Aurore have plunged to their deaths in a mountain torrent. Blanche retires to a convent.
16 years later, Lagardère and Aurore are still with the players. Aurore, using fencing skills learnt from her father, escapes the clutches of a roué, killing him with the "Nevers attack" ("la botte de Nevers"). Gonzague learns of this and has suspicions about the survival of Aurore and her saviour, confirmed when her tomb is opened to reveal a wax doll. To pursue his revenge Lagardère gains employment as Gonzague's secretary in the disguise of a hunchback. He reveals to Aurore that he is not her real father, makes contact with Blanche, and engineers a stock market raid on shares in the Mississippi Company
Mississippi Company
The "Mississippi Company" became the "Company of the West" and expanded as the "Company of the Indies" .-The Banque Royale:...
, supposedly on behalf of Gonzague. However, in front of the Regent d'Orléans, Aurore and Blanche come forward and expose Gonzague. He is killed in a swordfight and Lagardère and Aurore declare their love.
Cast
- Lagardère, "The Hunchback": Daniel AuteuilDaniel AuteuilDaniel Auteuil is a French film, television and theatre actor.-Early life and education:He was born in Algiers, French Algeria.-Career:...
- Aurore de Nevers: Marie GillainMarie GillainMarie Gillain is a Belgian actress.In 1996 Gillain received the Prix Romy Schneider. She is single but has two daughters, Dune and Vega .-In popular culture:* She was the heroine of the John Malkovich play Hysteria in Chicago on December 1999.* She...
- Gonzague: Fabrice LuchiniFabrice LuchiniFabrice Luchini is a French stage and film actor.-Biography:Fabrice Luchini was born in Île-de-France, Paris, into an Italian immigrant family, who were fruit and vegetable vendors. He grew up around the neighbourhood of Goutte d'Or in Paris's 18th arrondissement...
- Nevers: Vincent PérezVincent PérezVincent Pérez is a Swiss-born French speaking actor and director. He is best known internationally for playing the title character Ashe Corven in The Crow: City of Angels, and for starring in Queen of the Damned, playing Marius de Romanus...
- Blanche de Caylus: Claire NeboutClaire NeboutClaire Nebout is a French actress. She has appeared in 55 films and television shows since 1986. She co-starred in In the Country of Juliets, which was entered into the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
- Cocardasse: Jean-François StéveninJean-François StéveninJean-François Stévenin is a French actor. He has appeared in 150 films and television shows since 1968. He starred in the film Cold Moon, which was entered into the 1991 Cannes Film Festival.-Selected filmography:* Out 1...
- Peyrolles: Yann Collette
- Passepoil: Didier Pain
- Marcello: James ThiérréeJames ThiérréeJames Thiérrée is the writer, director and star of The Junebug Symphony, La Veillée des Abysses and Au Revoir Parapluie ....