Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)

José Ferrer won the Oscar for the leading role in the English language 1950 version, and romantic comedy Roxanne with Steve Martin modernised the story, but the majority of people will recognise this French language adaptation of the play by Edmond Rostand, in particular for the leading actor. Basically in the 17th century, in Paris, France, the charismatic Cyrano de Bergerac (Oscar and BAFTA nominated Gérard Depardieu) is a talented poet and supremely skilled swordsman, he has a large nose, which he is ridiculed for, and he is self-conscious because of it, but he pretends to be proud. Cyrano is hopelessly in love with his beautiful "friendly cousin" (though they are not actually related) Roxane (Anne Brochet), but he believes she will not love him because with his oversized hooter he considers himself physically unattractive. Cyrano finds out Roxane has become infatuated with dashing new recruit to the Cadets de Gascogne, Christian de Neuvillette (Vincent Perez), but despite his good looks, Christian is tongue-tied when speaking with women. Cyrano sees this as an opportunity to vicariously declare his love for Roxane, he helps Christian learn to court a woman, and writing love letters and poems to Roxane, declaring the very emotions Cyrano feels himself for her. Roxane starts to appreciate, not only for his good looks, but for his apparent eloquence, one night Christian is forced to prove his talent for words in person, Cyrano joins him beneath her balcony, when Christian fluster Christian speaks his words, Roxane is enraptured, Cyrano unintentionally wins Christian a kiss with her. Roxane eventually falls in love with Christian, and they contract a secret marriage in order to thwart the plans of the arrogant nobleman Comte de Guiche (Jacques Weber), himself a frustrated wooer of Roxane. In revenge, De Guiche summons Christian to fight in the war against the Spanish, Cyrano also joins the harsh and brutal battle, but escapes over enemy lines each morning to deliver a love letter, signed by Christian, to Roxane. At this point, Christian is completely unaware of Cyrano's doings on his behalf, the love letters eventually draw Roxane from the city to the war front, she had come to visit Christian, the supposed romantic poet, but she admits she would rather love an ugly, but great poet, than a handsome, dimwitted fellow. Realising his mistake, Christian tries to find out whether Roxane loves him or Cyrano, he asks Cyrano to find out, however, following her visit, Christian is wounded and dies in battle, as he lies dying, Cyrano tells Christian that he asked Roxane and it was Christian she loved, but he had done no such thing, Cyrano continues to fight and the French win. Cyrano keeps his love for Roxane secret for fourteen years, during which time he has become unpopular because of his satirical writing about nobility, the grief-stricken Roxane enters a convent, Cyrano faithfully visits her over the years every week. Cyrano is never late for his visits, until a fateful attempt on his life leaves him mortally injured, he is not injured by a sword, but instead suffers a serious head injury when struck by a heavy wooden beam, against doctor's orders Cyrano visits Roxane at the convent one night. Cyrano faints, but dismisses it as the effect of his wound at Arras, when Roxane mentions Christian's last letter, Cyrano is able to recite it be memory, only then Roxane realise that is was Cyrano who wooed her under the balcony and wrote the love letters, after fainting again, Cyrano is forced to reveal his mortal wound, as he dies, Roxane realises that it was Cyrano, not Christian, whom she truly loved all along. Also starring Roland Bertin as Ragueneau, Philippe Morier-Genoud as Le Bret, Pierre Maguelon as Carbon de Castel-Jaloux and Josiane Stoléru as The Duenna. Depardieu gives an exceptionally passionate, witty and finessed performance as the noted Parisian poet and swashbuckler whose search for happiness is hindered, and there is good support from Brochet and Perez, the fight sequences and political stuff is fine, but it definitely all about the love story, you feel real sympathy for the hero with the big conk, an interesting period romantic drama. It won the Oscar for Best Costume Design, and it was nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Makeup and Best Foreign Language Film, it won the BAFTA for Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Make Up Artist and Best Original Film Score for Jean-Claude, and it was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film not in the English Language and Best Production Design, and it won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. Very good!

Embarrassed by his large nose, a romantic poet/soldier (Gerard Depardieu) romances his cousin (Anne Brochet) by proxy.The story of Cyrano has been told many times, and there are a number of film adaptations. Perhaps best known is Steve Martin in "Roxanne", which is a little heavier on the comedy and much lighter on the sword fighting. Well, you know, you will have that.This version has an advantage that few have: it is French. That gives it a bit of weight. And it does not shy away from the fact Cyrano is attracted to his cousin, something that would be removed from any mainstream film (unless used for comedy, as with George Michael Bluth).

Cyrano de Bergerac (Gérard Depardieu) is the sharp-tongued large-nosed swashbuckling leader of the guards Cadets de Gascogne. He has unrequited love with his cousin Roxane (Anne Brochet). However, she's infatuated with the handsome new recruit Christian de Neuvillette (Vincent Pérez). Christian is tongue-tied and asks for the help of Cyrano. Cyrano writes romantic letters for Christian to give to Roxane. She falls more in love with Christian. Arrogant nobleman Comte de Guiche (Jacques Weber) is also vying for Roxane and orders the Cadets de Gascogne to fight against the Spaniards. Roxane hurriedly marries Christian. Cyrano risks his life everyday to send letters to Roxane while fighting on the front.The only missing element from Depardieu's Cyrano de Bergerac is some disdain from other women. He's too confident. He's very much the bully early on. Heck he kills a guy even if it's not all his fault. It's not until he has the meeting with Roxane that the other side of him is revealed. The movie gets much better from then on. Depardieu is able to be more complicated. The movie is generally done on a grand scale. The battle is big and the love story is grand tragedy. Although the ending is a little too melodramatic for modern tastes and way too long.

Edmond Rostand's celebrated swordsman/poet is the ideal role for Gerard Depardieu, demanding a physical presence and a level of energy few other actors could muster. Taking its cues from the swashbuckling entertainments of Hollywood's golden years, the film may well stand the test of time to become the definitive version of the story: thrilling, romantic, literate, and larger than life in a way that not even subtitles can hide. But it isn't all swordplay and daring-do: director Jean-Paul Rappeneau and his co-writer Jean-Claude Carriere devote equal attention to the humor in Cyrano's character and to the tragedy of his unrequited love for the fair Roxanne, and Depardieu responds with a generous performance filled with bold flourishes and subtle gestures. It was a sure bet for the Best Foreign Film Oscar, but Academy voters apparently don't appreciate European features comparing so favorably to their American role models. An ill-timed and too candid interview with Depardieu, during which the actor revealed too much (for Stateside viewers) of his delinquent adolescence probably didn't do the film any favors either.