On Guard! Movie Review 2003

Thrilling story of revenge and swordplay set in 18th century France. Lagardere (Auteuil) attempts to kill the Duke of Nevers (Perez) for money and ends up being taken in and trained by him. Nevers' cousin, the evil Gonzague (Luchini), murders him to grab the family fortune and Lagardere is forced to go into hiding and raise Nevers' daughter Aurore. 16 years later, Lagardere and grown Aurore (Gillain) find themselves in the court of Gonzague, where they put their plot for vengeance into effect. Fantastic swordfighting scenes, complex intrigue, and excellent acting make this a world-class swashbuckler. Based on the frequently adapted 1857 French serial "Le Bossu" by Paul Feval. In French with subtitles.

Distribution

Koch Releasing

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 128 minutes.
Originally from French, Italian, German.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Period Piece: 18th Century, Swashbucklers, Cousins, Inheritance, Bodyguards, Revenge

Screenplay

Philippe de Broca, Jean Cosmos, Jerome Tonnerre

Cast

Daniel Auteuil, Fabrice Luchini, Vincent Perez, Marie Gillain, Jean-Francois Stevenin, Didier Pain, Claire Nebout, Philippe Noiret, Yann Collette

Cinematography

Jean-Francois Robin

Director

Philippe de Broca

Music

Philippe Sarde

Other

William Flageollet, Valerie Lindon, Henri Lanoe, Bernard Vezat, Christian Gasc

Producer

Patrick Godeau, Gemini Film Productions, D.A. Films, TF-1 Films, Alicelio, Empire Pictures