On Guard

Plot

This period swashbuckler, set during the years 1699 to 1716, is the seventh screen adaptation of Paul Feval's 1857 serialized novel. Trained in circus stunts and fencing, Lagardere (Daniel Auteuil) becomes the bodyguard of the Duke of Nevers (Vincent Perez), whose cousin is the greedy Gonzague (Luchini). Nevers learns he is a father and plans to marry Blanche de Caylus (Claire Nebout) in order to raise an heir. Gonzague dispatches assassins to kill Nevers, Blanche, and their baby. Dying, Nevers turns the child over to Lagardere, asking him to gain revenge on his killers. The infant is a girl, and Lagardere and the child hide amidst an Italian troupe of actors. Years pass, and the young Aurore (Marie Gillain) grows up believing Lagardere is her father. When the actors arrive in Paris 16 years after Nevers death, Lagardere at last sets the stage for revenge. Swordfight choreography by Michel Carliez, son of the fight expert who trained Jean Marais for the 1959 film of Le Bossu. Shown at the 1997 Acapulco French Film Festival and the 1997 Bastia Festival of Mediterranean Cinema. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Cast

• Daniel Auteuil - Legardere
• Fabrice Luchini - Gonzague
• Vincent Perez - Nevers
• Marie Gillain - Aurore
• Yann Collette - Peyrolles

Jean-François Stévenin - Cocardasse; Didier Pain - Passepoil; Claire Nebout - Blanche; Philippe Noiret - Philippe d'Orleans

Credit

Bernard Vezat - Art Director, Catherine Deserbais - Casting, Lissa Pillu - Casting, Vittorio Cecchi Gori - Co-producer, Rita Cecchi Gori - Co-producer, Christian Gasc - Costume Designer, Serge Boutleroff - First Assistant Director, Philippe de Broca - Director, Henri Lanoë - Editor, Francoise Galfre - Executive Producer, Philippe Sarde - Composer (Music Score), Michel Deruelle - Makeup, Benoit Lestang - Makeup, Jean-François Robin - Cinematographer, Patrick Godeau - Producer, William Flageollet - Sound/Sound Designer, Michel Carliez - Stunts Coordinator, Jean Cosmos - Screenwriter, Philippe de Broca - Screenwriter, Jerome Tonnerre - Screenwriter, Paul Feval - Book Author

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