Scaramouche
Scaramouche , a period piece from the fifties , feature the peachy steel fight I ’ve ever seen in my life-time . Over the years , I ’ve been treat to a number of entertaining sword battle on the handsome and modest screen door , across a potpourri of genre . The Pirates of the Caribbean , The Princess Bride , The Lord of the Rings , and a long list of Hong Kong martial arts movies support out to me in terms of the quality of their sword - on - blade action .
Many of them have deliver what are arguably thegreatest movie sword fights of all clip . However , what I in person consider to be the best come from a 1952 picture define in 18th 100 France . Starring Stewart Granger , Scaramouchetells the tale of Andre Moreau , a carefree noble whose life takes a sudden turn when his political activist good acquaintance is baited into an unwinnable duel by an expert fencer . His friend ’s death sends Andre on a mission of retaliation , setting up what I regard as an unforgettable action sequence .
Scaramouche Has One Of The Best Movie Sword Fights Ever
Nothing Tops Stewart Granger vs. Mel Ferrer In Scaramouche
At the beginning of the movie , Andre wants to vote down his Quaker ’s killer , Marquis de Mayne ( Mel Ferrer ) , but quickly substantiate he too is incapable of winning . To rectify that , Andre looks for help to improve his sword skills . In the meantime , he becomes the disguise superstar of a popular theatre output . To make an intense atmosphere for the final face-off between Andre and de Mayne , Scaramouchespends much of the movie make up to it , with Andre ’s two love life sake going to smashing lengths to ensure that he and his rival do n’t cut through course - until de Mayne apropos attends one of Andre ’s stage shows .
Aided by the long and well - crafted buildup , the competitiveness - begun by a challenge from Andre - sees the two square off in the theater , engage in a strikingly well - choreograph sword engagement . amazingly , it lasts nearly seven minutes . However , it never experience tiresome , as the amount setup for the battle made such a foresighted fight feel like the appropriate culture forScaramouche . Of couse , a seven - moment engagement came with the risk of it lose its intensity , yet the final face-off easily nurse my pastime for every bit .
The fifties were a decennium fill up with iconic films that have not only remain pop in the present daylight , but affected where film run in the futurity .
Another ingredient that helpedScaramouchemaintain the excitement throughout the fight was its decision not to keep the fight on the ground . Rather than just have Andre and the marquess crusade it out in a standard duel on the floor of the theatre , Scaramouchetook the battle all over the construction , up the stairs , onto the balcony , on top of the seats , and also outside the field of operations .
The jumping , tumbling , and acrobatics displayed by the actors ( and their stuntmen ) contributed to what was an already - thrilling brand - fight sequence .
Stunts come into looseness as well , as the worker ' athleticism was used byScaramoucheto enhance the swordplay . For instance , at one point in the picture , Andre swings on a chandelier . I also call back being astounded watching Stewart Granger and Mel Ferrer uphold to convert steel slashes as they manoeuvre intrepidly across the balcony of the theater , with Andre at one distributor point well-nigh falling to his death . The jumping , acrobatics , and tumbling expose by the actors ( and their stuntmen ) contributed to what was an already - vibrate sword - struggle sequence .
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
A Major Casting Change Saved Scaramouche’s Ending
Scaramouche Almost Didn’t Include Mel Ferrer As Granger’s Opponent
No blade fight I ’ve seen since has deal to top what occur at the destruction ofScaramouche . Interestingly , though , the conflict nearly played out quite differently , in a fashion that would have fall poor of its voltage . Prior to product , the architectural plan was for Stewart Granger to play the threefold roles of Marquis de Mayne and Andre Moreau . plain , having Granger play the hero and the villain would have stick a monolithic fillmmaking challengefor a 1950s movie . Most likely , it would have result in Andre and de Mayne not fighting until the ending , where the former has his " Scaramouche " mask .
Pirate moving-picture show have been a staple of cinema for over a century , stand for the best include classics and modern adventures .
With Andre ’s camouflage as a dissemble performing artist , it would have been feasible for both Stewart Granger character since one could be played exclusively by a stuntman . That could occur with its own outcome , though , as it would take away from Granger ’s prominent performance as Andre . Andre took his masquerade off during the battle , allowing Granger to make great use of his play abilities , exhibit wrath , fright in sure moments , and a calculated and stoical demeanor as he outperforms the marquis in swordsmanship . Had the movie gone with its original plan , Granger ’s acting would have been a non - divisor .
Scaramouche is a 1952 swashbuckler film directed by George Sidney, starring Stewart Granger as André Moreau, a man who seeks vengeance for his friend’s death. Set in 18th-century France, the narrative involves spirited swordplay and romance as Moreau adopts the persona of Scaramouche to infiltrate high society and confront his enemy, the nefarious Marquis de Maynes, played by Mel Ferrer.
What ’s more , it would have water down the frame-up for the fight , as it ’s hard to envisage a fifties cinema succeeding in create the earlier conflict between Andre and de Mayne look realistic with the actor taking on both roles . For that grounds , these fights probably would n’t have happened , which would have keptScaramouchefrom adequately demonstrating Andre ’s gradual patterned advance from someone who is nowhere near the Donald Robert Perry Marquis ' tier to a scrapper of immensely superior skill .
Stewart Granger Starred In Several Enjoyable Swashbuckling Movies
Stewart Granger Is One Of The Best Sword-Fighting Actors
Scaramoucheisn’t the only sword - agitate plastic film of Stewart Granger ’s Charles Frederick Worth recommending . Rather , it ’s a solid example of what he brings to the table , make his filmography a great source of fun action mechanism flicks , both with swords and without . Easily one of thebiggest action heroes of the fifties , Stewart Granger starred in a number of memorable action movies , with most of them being point composition . Quite a few were1950s horse opera moving-picture show , whereas others - likeScaramouche- were great swashbuckler film that took advantage of Granger ’s scoot onscreen persona and argue background .
Made between the late 1940s and the 1960s , these includeMoonfleet , Swordsman of Siena , andThe Magic Bow . Perhaps the one that comes the closest to matching the entertainment note value ofScaramoucheisPrisoner of Zenda , which released in the same year . It was a medieval adventure film where Granger did indeed wind up play three-fold character . It wrap up with an exciting sword battle that pits him against James Mason , another versatile Hollywood star from the same era . It ’s standardized toScaramouchein that respectfulness , but it ’s the latter photographic film that remains my preferent swashbuckling moving-picture show .
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Scaramouche is a 1952 swashbuckler film directed by George Sidney , starring Stewart Granger as André Moreau , a man who seeks vengeance for his acquaintance ’s death . Set in 18th - century France , the narration involves spirited swordplay and romanticism as Moreau take over the persona of Scaramouche to infiltrate high society and confront his enemy , the nefarious Marquis de Maynes , play by Mel Ferrer .
