Rating: 
Summary: Scaramouche
Review: Loved every moment of this film. Glorious story and plot based (with artistic license) on the Rafael Sabatini novel of the same name. Victor Young's music provides an excellent accompaniment to the film's action and romantic scenes. A minor criticism, I only wish the DVD was offered in a "letterbox" (wide screen) format.
Rating:
Summary: Scaramouche
Review: Loved every moment of this film. Glorious story and plot based (with artistic license) on the Rafael Sabatini novel of the same name. Victor Young's music provides an excellent accompaniment to the film's action and romantic scenes. A minor criticism, I only wish the DVD was offered in a "letterbox" (wide screen) format.
Rating:
Summary: The best swordfight in all movies!
Review: Okay, so this is far more than just that swordfight... it's a knockout in technicolor cinematography... and it's beautifully restored. The actors are all terrific, the story is great adventure, and ... well... it's just dear to so many of us that remember it when it came out so long ago that it's just great to see it looking so fresh... and it's complete entertainment from start to finish. I wish movies were made like this today.
Rating:
Summary: Guaranteed, the finest swordplay in motion picture history.
Review: One of my favorite pictures of all time, and possibly the best swashbuckler of all time. Seems that few people today are familiar with this film, and it is their loss. Granger is perfect as the hero, Mel Ferrer is wonderful as the villian, Noel DeMayne and Janet Leigh and Eleanor Parker add the romantic sparks. What I like also, is that the villian is not one-dimensional as the sorry trend in Hollywood today. Don't miss this one!
Rating:
Summary: Best Swordfights in movies ever!!!
Review: One of the few instances where the movie is far better than the book which inspired it, this version of 'Scaramouche' has some of the most fantastic sword fights ever put on film.
A favorite of my childhood, it is still in my 'top ten' list of adventure movies; Hyperkinetic, humorous, it never gets dull.
Stewart Granger never has been better, even as in other favorites of mine as 'Prisoner of Zenda' or 'North to Alaska'. Mel Ferrer is the suavest villain you can get, Eleanor Parker never has been so attractive, and Janet Leigh is a vision of Heaven.
Why the current adventure movies are not so enjoyable anymore?
Rating: 
Summary: Be good to her
Review: Pronunciation: (scare-a-moosh-ay)
When you go through life thinking that there are few classic fight scenes that compare to modern fight sequences, its always humbling to be put back into place.
For instance, take the different between the WWII films "The Longest Day" and "Saving Private Ryan". Though the Longest day has tense moments, its extremely slim by comparison. (That is my own opinion. I know some would rather watch The Longest Day than Ryan, but, oh well.)
If you had asked me yesterday to name some of the best sword-fighting sequences, I would have immediately said you could find them in "Rob Roy", "The Princess Bride", and "Ep. 1" Even though that is still true, I was amazed at the quick swordmanship found in Scaramouche. Of the many appealing qualities were the uses of the surrounding props, and how the swords effortlessly chopped up the scenery while the opponents took swift jabs at one another. I also enjoyed the interesting uses of blood. When someone is jabbed in the gut, they don't merely cover up the wound with their hand and fall to the floor, as found in most classics. No, there is an immediate blood dispersal and wet wring that forms and expands. When a long slice is taken on an arm, I had to remind myself how much time the fx took, because as the blade quickly hits the skin there are steaks of blood that appear. I just found it exciting to watch them dance around swinging their blades with seemingly effortless speed.
Now on with the cheeze. The story somehow created a love triangle then formed a square out of it. And of course everything is alright in the last minute, and I was running to catch up. There are scenes that make absolutely no sense. And as great as the fights were there were "mock-ups" where there should have been fight scenes. Ten second shots of two unrecognizable foes fighting - in a pasture - in the fog. You know its supposed to be the hero and a sub-villain, but the point is never made. This happens three times.
There is an inopportune "unvailing" of the hero as he removes his play mask, and the villain doesn't even recognise him until he says the infamous, "It is I...!" And in the end everyone is related. The hero ends up with the wrong girl, and Napolean has a cameo, buts thats alright.
Oh well, cheeze is cheeze, and most movies have it. But, the majority of the movies that do haven't the backbone of Scaramouche.
But, you tell me, if this isn't a great example of in-hollywood location shooting. There are castles and great halls that I could have sworn were actual locations. But, hey, that's tenseltown.
Rating:
Summary: Forget the swordplay--LOOK at it!
Review: Scaramouche has possibly the most beautiful Technicolor cinematography of any MGM film. It's just gorgeous! The film, of course, is a delight in the great Errol Flynn tradition, but with Janet Leigh and Eleanor Parker, it's primarily a feast for the eyes. Incidentally, this is the only film I know of that gives an accurate representation of commedia dell'arte, and the theatrical scenes are a delight.
Rating:
Summary: Forget the swordplay--LOOK at it!
Review: Scaramouche has possibly the most beautiful Technicolor cinematography of any MGM film. It's just gorgeous! The film, of course, is a delight in the great Errol Flynn tradition, but with Janet Leigh and Eleanor Parker, it's primarily a feast for the eyes. Incidentally, this is the only film I know of that gives an accurate representation of commedia dell'arte, and the theatrical scenes are a delight.
Rating:
Summary: Scaramouche - a classic adventure/comedy
Review: Scaramouche is one of the finest films yet made, not in a highbrow art house sense, in a pure entertainment sense. The underlyingthemes of loyalty, equity and "the chances of life" are woven through the film and joined to the awakening spirit of the Pre Revolutionary French people. First the fun! Did I say this film is Fun!! There are many genuinely funny sight gags as well as some very witty dialogue. However, the primary thing that everyone remembers about this film are the sword fights, including the longest (and the best one) ever filmed. The climax of the film is a sword fight between two deadly enemies that even against today's high standards for special effects is very realistic and thrilling. The other neat thing is the casting of every highly attractive woman in Hollywood at the time. I had never appreciated how glamorous Janet Leigh was until I saw this film and Eleanor Parker looks stunning as an actress (in that time a courtesan with a day job).Plot The film traces the how one chance meeting can completely change the course of lives bringing death, love, loss and ultimately atonement. Aside from revenge for the murder of your brother, there is a new twist on the boy meets girl, loses girl plot. Andre Moreau (Stewart Granger) begins the film as a man who knows how to have a good time. Events push him to take up a quest for justice; this literally turns his life upside down revealing the "fighter" inside the "lover". This quest forces him to explore his roots and makes him appreciate the utter contradictions which life sometimes throws at you. The negatives. Lets face it all films have them (even Citizen Kane has weak spots). Andre has a sword fight with his enemy, which should have been fatal, and one or two more than lucky escapes. But, even though these scenes are a stretch they do help set up the final confrontation. Finally, I recommend this film to anyone. I know you will enjoy it! Hopefully, the DVD will be released soon so I can get a good copy of it. I have nearly worn out the video tape!
Rating:
Summary: Colorful Derring Do!
Review: Stewart Granger does it all in this vibrant and colorul tale of lore. Eleanor Parker is super and Janey Leigh is stunning. The final sword encounter at the theater is rich and filled with hues. Look for John Dehner, master of the sword, a young Richard Anderson and a veteran Henry Wilcoxson.
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