Cloak-and-dagger adventure film with Gerard Barray
This Spanish-French-Italian co-production, also known as "The Avenger with the Sword", was directed by the Spanish director Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi (1927-2017), who also directed "Our Man from Istanbul" (1965). Shot with Horst Buchholz. The theme song "Les Comediens" was composed by Charles Aznavour. The film was shot in Spain (Burgos Cathedral, Casa de Campo Madrid), which in this way represents France in the pre-revolutionary period.
It tells the amorous and other adventures of the juggler Scaramouche (based on the novel of the same name (1921) by the Italian-British writer Rafael Sabatini (1875-1950)) in the run-up to the French Revolution. Robert Lafleur (Gerard Barray, who turned 90 on November 2, 2021) is a juggler known as Scaramouche who performs in Paris with his troupe of jugglers and otherwise devotes himself to his countless love affairs with an infectious love of life. As a lover of the influential Madame de Popignan (Yvette Lebon, 1910-2014), he clashes with the Marquis de la Tour (Alberto de Mendoza (1923-2011), the super star of Spanish-language films), who is another favorite of the beautiful noblewoman. Scaramouche always finds refuge in the bed of the beautiful landlady Suzanne (Gianna Maria Canale, who was also in "The Lion of San Marco" (1963)), who is hopelessly in love with the busy philanderer. One day Scaramouche learns that the scar on his lush, hairy chest points to a family secret that reveals his origins, which surprise him. Shortly afterwards, a mysterious death occurs, through which Scaramouche meets the enchanting Diana (Michele Girardon (1938-1975), the Brandy from "Hatari" (1962), who unfortunately took her own life). When she is kidnapped and things get worse and worse, Scaramouche sets out with his friend Pierrot (well worth seeing: Gonzalo Canas, 1937-2012) and the other jugglers to save his new lover and uncover Scaramouche's secret ...
This cloak-and-dagger film has everything the genre has to offer. Beautiful women, wonderful costumes, tongue-in-cheek jokes and elaborate fight scenes that it's a joy. Gerard Barray, born in 1931, turns out to be the ideal choice. He glides credibly through the turbulent plot elegantly as a tough fighter and fiery lover. He is just as convincing as a charming womanizer who wears his shirts open down to his belly button so that everyone can marvel at his impressive chest fur, as he is as a sophisticated fighter who knows how to overcome his opponents with strength and skill. Particularly beautiful is the scene that shows Scaramouche practicing fencing with his friend Pierrot, who is literally "wet" by his vastly superior friend. Great fun! The many fight scenes and the wonderfully frivolous dialogues in particular make this film extremely worth seeing.
