Scaramouche [DVD] [1952] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

This two disc edition emanates from France, and comprises the Stewart Granger film of 1952, together with the (longer) silent version of 1923 directed by Rex Ingram, an interesting account of the film's background by Mel Ferrer, and a forty minute French documentary about the swashbuckling genre, or as the French term it, "film de cape et d'epee". For the features, French titles can be removed, and there are the full original English inter-titles for the silent film, but regrettably the documentary is in French alone. The print quality of the 1952 George Sydney film on these discs has been praised elsewhere, as superior to any dvd prints of the title released in UK or America, and without having seen others, to my eyes the quality is outstanding. But, so also is the visual quality of Ingram's film, a film with truly impressive, varied and detailed set design, compositional design which recalls the best of Griffith, and a splendid orchestral score with all of the required dash and verve. Although the two films derive from the same Rafael Sabatini novel, and share the same outline ( and share an actor in common, Lewis Stone), they do differ considerably when it comes to narrative details and the pacing of events. In terms of colour (literal and metaphorical), energy, life, excitement, movement, Sydney's film comes out on top, and shows us a remarkable number of fencing duels, executed convincingly and skilfully, if without the added impetus of an accompanying musical score such as augments Flynn's famous duel in The Sea Hawk. The last of these was reputedly the longest ever committed to film, and is up there with the very best. If Janet Leigh, as the nominal heroine, turns in a performance which at times seems as pallid as her white hair and costuming, Eleanor Powell, red hair flaming in fights comparable with those on-screen between John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, proves herself the real, if at times hard-jawed, heroine of the film, voluble, energetic, vivacious and unafraid of the most compromising of antics on and off stage. If Sydney's film aims for lively, rumbustious humour, vigour and excitement, Ingram's is a more stately affair, scrupulous in its presentation of historical processes (the French Revolution), details, and personalities. Napoleon briefly appears in each: in Sydney's film he is a corpulent, inflated figure knowingly eying an attractive woman - a director's wink at the audience - but in Ingram's he is a lean, ascetic, calculating figure waiting for his historical moment,who seems to be about to stride into Abel Gance's film of his early life. Historical processes hardly figure in Sydney's film, whilst they are at the heart of Ingram's, and figures like Danton and Robespierre appear amidst an endless succession of huge, detailed and superbly photographed sets and locations, here in a beautiful print. The concern for historical accuracy and detail, together with a much more complex set of events and relationships than in the later version, slows the pace of this film relative to its successor, and it is true also that the principals here all play with rather more reserve, less swash and buckle, than Granger, Parker, and Ferrer: I felt that the film lost impetus occasionally, in its concern for historical fidelity, but these finally are minor carps set against the film's scale and brilliant direction, full of scenes which are fully the equal of those in Orphans of the Storm, and the more restrained passages of Gance's Napoleon. This pair of discs cannot be recommended too highly.

Having been disapointed with the Subtitles on "QUINTIN DURWARD" (sic) also from Korea, I was a bit apprehensive about this one. No need - Excellent transfer 4.3 ratio, crisp picture, lovely colour, good sound and excellent clear Subtitles. So if you need subs then this hard to track down (on Amazon) is the one to get. Sadly though I found the film itself less than the exciting adventure I thought I remembered. Nearly 2 hours long there are scenes that seemed to drag on, and there was way too much of the theatre show which I felt slowed things up even more. Of course there is action - Chases and duels, which brings me nicely to my final negative thought. (MINOR SPOILER) The final sword fight was too long, too preposterous and without any music! Remember Flynn and Rathbone's epics and the stirring music that accompanied them? This fight would have benefitted from Victor Young having a hand so to speak, and as for the ending itself.... Nuff said. Granger is marvellous, just right at romance, comedy and buckling a swash. Janet Leigh is gorgeous though makes no attempt at an accent. Mel Ferrare is a splendid villain. Great support cast and I ackowledge I am probably in a minority of one with my criticisms. Great transfer. Fair film. FOUR stars (P.S. Anyone else think Eleanor Parker badly miscast???)

Favourite film from a long time ago still very enjoyable today thoroughly recommend it

Works fine.

A brilliant swashbuckling film one of Stewart Granger's best

Was really looking forward to receiving this as this is one of my favourite films from my childhood. Received next day. Was upset upon receipt to see all the cover writing with Italian and thought I had ordered the wrong Language DVD or had been sent a wrong one. I went back on Amazon and saw quite a lot of negative reviews about the bad picture quality and only foreign language dvds being sent. After inserting the DVD the disc options were all in Italian but they were easy to work out what they were. I selected the english playback and the movie playback in the original english language and picture quality was perfect which i was very relieved at. Whilst I would have preferred the DVD to be the english original, with english cover as well, it only takes a few seconds to select the english version so am very happy with purchase. This has to be one of the best costume/swordfighting movies ever made and one of Stewart Granger's best.

Errr, not quite sure what is going on here. I clicked on my order to review Scaramouche and got a link with this picture, which, while I'm no expert, doesn't look like Scaramouche to me.Regardless, I shall press on. Good old fashioned adventure-romance, set in pre-revolutionary France, with Granger seeking revenge for the death of his friend at the hands of aristocrat and expert swordsman, Mel Ferrer. Along the way, he learns to fence, joins the theatre and becomes a star in the disguise of the comic character, "Scaramouche". Janet Leigh and Eleanor Parker look exquisite. The whole thing has great style and is played with a flourish, by all concerned. Good fun.

One of my favourite films of all time, full of action, glamour and humour. The swordfight at the end is said to be the longest in cinema history. Certainly the best I've ever seen. Alas, they don't make them like that any more.