| Le bossu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | André Hunebelle |
| Written by | Jean Halaindialogue Pierre Foucaud André Hunebelle |
| Based on | Le bossu byPaul Féval |
| Produced by | Paul Cadeac d'Arbaud |
| Starring | Jean Marais Bourvil Sabine Sesselmann |
| Cinematography | Marcel Grignon |
| Edited by | Jean Feyte |
| Music by | Jean Marion |
| Distributed by | Lux Compagnie Cinématographique de France |
Release dates |
January 13, 1960 (1960-01-13) (France) |
Running time | 104 minutes |
| Countries | France Italy |
| Language | French |
| Box office | 5,845,980 admissions (France)[1] |
Le Bossu is a French-Italian adventure film starringJean Marais and directed byAndré Hunebelle. The film also featuredBourvil, possibly the most popular French comedian of the time. So successful was the formula that Hunebelle teamed up the same two actors for his next adventure film,Captain Blood.[2]
Duke Philippe de Nevers (Hubert Noël) is an influential and popular man who is married to a beautiful wife called Isabelle (Sabine Sesselmann). His rival Philippe de Gonzague (François Chaumette) hates him enough to organise an attempt on him. The Duke is accompanied by Henri de Lagardère (Jean Marais) when de Gonzague's henchmen altogether attack him. Lagardère cannot save his friend because the both of them are hopelessly outnumbered. He has to escape in order to save the Duke's daughter and swears revenge. Together with his old buddy Passepoil (Bourvil) he raises the little girl in Spain. At the same time he returns frequently to France where he detects confronts his friend's murderers and puts them to the sword one by one until only their former leader is left. Finally he discovers that Philippe de Gonzague is the man for whom he is looking.
The film was shot between May 19 and July 28 in the "Franstudio" ofSaint-Maurice and in thePyrénées-Orientales. The scene showing how three henchmen are sent toSpain for Lagardère and the duke's daughter were shot at thePont du Diable (Céret).
Maître d'armesAndré Gardère was the accountable instructor concerning thechoreography of allfencing scenes.
Guy Delorme, who would playComte de Rochefort inBernard Borderie's1961 version of The Three Musketeers appears here as a henchman.
Sabine Sesselmann was dubbed by Gilberte Aubry (as Aurore de Nevers) andJacqueline Porel (as Isabelle de Caylus).
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Jean Marais | Henri de Lagardère alias le Bossu |
| Bourvil | Passepoil |
| Sabine Sesselmann | Aurore de Nevers Isabelle de Caylus |
| François Chaumette | Philippe de Gonzague |
| Jean Le Poulain | Monsieur de Peyrolles |
| Hubert Noël | Duke Philippe de Nevers |
| Paulette Dubost | Lady Marthe |
| Paul Cambo | Philippe II, Duke of Orléans |
| Edmond Beauchamp | Don Miguel |
| Georges Douking | Marquis de Caylus |
| Guy Delorme | henchman |