Main Cast: Fabrice Luchini, Manuel Blanc, Jacques Weber, Sandrine Kiberlain
Release Year: 1996
Country: FR
Run Time: 104 minutes
Plot
This sumptuous French drama offers episodes from the notorious life of 18th century socialite and playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. The story begins in the 1770s with a rehearsal of his "The Barber of Seville." Young friend of Voltaire, Philipp Gudin introduces himself to the great playwright and offers to become his personal secretary. He then becomes the adventurous Beaumarchais' keeper as the author gets involved in a variety of situations including a duel with an angry husband, his battle with the corrupt French government and a serious long-term affair with Marie-Theres de Willer. It all comes to a climax when King Louis XV assigns the playwright a secret mission to London. There he must find and retrieve a damning document from transvestite aristocrat Chevalier D'Eon. Unfortunately, Beaumarchais gets tangled up with supporting American rebels and ends up tossed in jail. Louis XVI sees that he is finally released and then the writer becomes an arms smuggler for American revolutionaries. All of his activities bankrupt him and so Beaumarchais must return to writing plays. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Michel Aumont; Jean-François Balmer - Sartine; Jay Benedict; Dominique Besnehard - Louis XVI; Roland Blanche; Patrick Bouchitey - Mssr. Lejay; Evelyne Bouix; Jean-Claude Brialy - Abbot; Isabelle Carré; Jean-Claude de Goros - Fanatic; William Doherty - Rochford's Majordomo; Etienne Draber; Niels Dubost - Count Almaviva; Dominic Gould; Murray Head - Lord Rochford; Maurice Illouz - Theatre Concierge; Maka Kotto; Guy Marchand; Claire Nebout - Chevalier d'Eon; Michel Piccoli - Prince De Conti; Michel Serrault - Louis XV; Eric Wapler - Hortales Porter; Charles Aznavour; Martin Lamotte - le Comte de la Blache; Jean Yanne - Louis Goezman; Roger Brierley - Printer; Marc Dudicourt - Bartholo; David Gabison - Doublemain; Pierre Gérard; Judith Godrëche - Marie-Antoinette; Pascal Thomas - Theatre Critic; Alain Chabat; Jeff Nuttall - Benjamin Franklin; André Oumansky; Florence Thomassin - Marion Menard; Bruno Lochet - French Gaoler; François Morel; Jean-Marie Besset - Desfontaines; Richard Durden - Smith; Sandrine Le Berre - Young Conti Girl; José Garcia; Séverine Ferrer - Lison-Cherubin; Marc Habib - Chamberlain; Axelle Laffont - Mariette Lejay; John Armstrong - English Officer; Violaine Barret - Woman in Theatre; Alex Broutard - Theatre Critic; Xavier Cantat - Student in Theatre Square; Léon Clemence - Commanding Officer; Luc Teyssier D'Orfeuil - Guard Officer in Theatre; Jean-Philippe Daguerre - Young Officer at Theatre; Marie Delerm - Marceline; Dominique Dheur - Husband in Theatre; Jean-Christophe Fleith - Hunt Officer; Frédéric Foucault - Man in Theatre Square; Jean-Michel Geneste - Tramp in Court; Eloïse Laffont - Child; Patrice Laffont - Customs Officer; Patrice Le Guet - Franklin's Majordomo; Pierre Lopez - Young Man in Court; Robert Sandrey - Old Assessor; Romain Sellier - English Prisoner; Cécile Van Den Abeele - Suzanne; Nicolas Vayssie - Young Man in Theatre; Daniel Villattes - Heckler at Theatre; Jean Wassmer - Court Official
Credit
Sylvie de Segonzac - Costume Designer, Robert Kechichian - First Assistant Director, Catherine Molinaro - First Assistant Director, Edouard Molinaro - Director, Veronique Parnet - Editor, Dominique Brunner - Executive Producer, Jean-Claude Petit - Composer (Music Score), Jean-Claude Petit - Songwriter, Jean-Marc Kerdelhue - Production Designer, Michael Epp - Cinematographer, Charles Gassot - Producer, Dominique Warnier - Sound/Sound Designer, Edouard Molinaro - Screenwriter, Jean Claude Brisville - Screenwriter, Sacha Guitry - Play Author
