Cyrano de Bergerac (1990 film)
Encyclopedia
Cyrano de Bergerac is a 1990 French-language
film based on the 1897 play of the same name
by Edmond Rostand
. It was directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau
and adapted by Jean-Claude Carrière
and Jean-Paul Rappeneau
. The English subtitles use Anthony Burgess
's translation of the text, which preserves the rhyming alexandrine
s of the original. The film was a co-production between companies in France
and Hungary
.
The film is the first theatrical film version of Rostand's original play in color. It is also considerably more lavish, and has more details than previous film versions of the play.
Ranked #43 in Empire
magazine's "The 100 Best Films Of World Cinema" in 2010.
is a Parisian poet and swashbuckler with a large nose of which he is self-conscious, but pretends to be proud of. He is madly in love with his "friendly cousin" (they were not actually related as cousins), the beautiful Roxane; however, he does not believe she will requite his love because he considers himself physically unattractive. Soon he finds that Roxane has become infatuated with Christian de Neuvillette, a dashing new recruit to the Cadets de Gascogne
, the military unit of which Cyrano
is the captain. Christian however, despite his good looks, is tongue-tied when speaking with women. Seeing an opportunity to vicariously declare his love for Roxane, he decides to aid Christian, who does not know how to court a woman and gain her love. Cyrano
aids Christian, writing love letters and poems describing the very emotions that Cyrano
himself feels for Roxane. Roxane begins to appreciate Christian, not only for his good looks but now his apparent eloquence. She eventually falls in love with him and they contract a secret marriage. However, right after the wedding ceremony, Christian has been called off to fight in the war against the Spanish
. The war is harsh and brutal: the Cadets de Gascogne
are starving. Cyrano escapes over enemy lines each morning to deliver a love letter written by Cyrano himself but signed with Christian's name, sent to Roxane. Christian, at this time, is completely unaware of Cyrano's doings on his behalf. The love letters Cyrano writes eventually draw Roxane out from the city of Paris to the war front. She had come to visit Christian, the supposed romantic poet. Apparently, she admitted that she would rather love an ugly, but great poet, than a handsome, dimwitted fellow. Christian, realizing his mistake, tries to find out whether Roxane loves him or Cyrano, and asks Cyrano to find out. However, during the battle that follows Roxane's visit, Christian is wounded and dies in battle. As he lays dying, Cyrano tells him that he asked Roxane and it was him she loved, although he did no such thing. Cyrano fights off the attackers and the French win.
Cyrano keeps his love for Roxane a secret for fourteen years, during which time he becomes unpopular because of his raucous behavior and she goes to live in a convent.
However, during this time, Cyrano faithfully visits Roxane at her convent
every week, never late until a fateful attempt on his life leaves him mortally injured.
(He was not wounded by a sword, but suffered a serious head injury when struck by a heavy wooden beam.)
Only then does she discover his feelings towards her.
As Cyrano dies, Roxane realizes that it was he, and not Christian, whom she had really loved all along.
and Hungary
. Notable locations include:
Gérard Depardieu
's Best Actor nomination is an extremely rare feat for a non-English-speaking role.
This film marked the second time that an actor had been nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Cyrano; the first time was in 1950, when José Ferrer
was nominated for his performance in the English-language film of Cyrano de Bergerac. Ferrer, however, won his Oscar; Depardieu did not.
won the Best Actor
award at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival
.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
film based on the 1897 play of the same name
Cyrano de Bergerac (play)
Cyrano de Bergerac is a play written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand. Although there was a real Cyrano de Bergerac, the play bears very scant resemblance to his life....
by Edmond Rostand
Edmond Rostand
Edmond Eugène Alexis Rostand was a French poet and dramatist. He is associated with neo-romanticism, and is best known for his play Cyrano de Bergerac. Rostand's romantic plays provided an alternative to the naturalistic theatre popular during the late nineteenth century...
. It was directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Jean-Paul Rappeneau is a French film director, screenwriter, and actor.He started out in film as an assistant and screenwriter collaborating with Louis Malle on Zazie dans le metro in 1960 and Vie privee in 1961...
and adapted by Jean-Claude Carrière
Jean-Claude Carrière
Jean-Claude Carrière is a screenwriter and actor. Alumnus of the École normale supérieure de Saint-Cloud, he was a frequent collaborator with Luis Buñuel...
and Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Jean-Paul Rappeneau is a French film director, screenwriter, and actor.He started out in film as an assistant and screenwriter collaborating with Louis Malle on Zazie dans le metro in 1960 and Vie privee in 1961...
. The English subtitles use Anthony Burgess
Anthony Burgess
John Burgess Wilson – who published under the pen name Anthony Burgess – was an English author, poet, playwright, composer, linguist, translator and critic. The dystopian satire A Clockwork Orange is Burgess's most famous novel, though he dismissed it as one of his lesser works...
's translation of the text, which preserves the rhyming alexandrine
Alexandrine
An alexandrine is a line of poetic meter comprising 12 syllables. Alexandrines are common in the German literature of the Baroque period and in French poetry of the early modern and modern periods. Drama in English often used alexandrines before Marlowe and Shakespeare, by whom it was supplanted...
s of the original. The film was a co-production between companies in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
The film is the first theatrical film version of Rostand's original play in color. It is also considerably more lavish, and has more details than previous film versions of the play.
Ranked #43 in Empire
Empire (magazine)
Empire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
magazine's "The 100 Best Films Of World Cinema" in 2010.
Plot
Cyrano de BergeracCyrano de Bergerac
Hercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac was a French dramatist and duelist. He is now best remembered for the works of fiction which have been woven, often very loosely, around his life story, most notably the 1897 play by Edmond Rostand...
is a Parisian poet and swashbuckler with a large nose of which he is self-conscious, but pretends to be proud of. He is madly in love with his "friendly cousin" (they were not actually related as cousins), the beautiful Roxane; however, he does not believe she will requite his love because he considers himself physically unattractive. Soon he finds that Roxane has become infatuated with Christian de Neuvillette, a dashing new recruit to the Cadets de Gascogne
Cadets de Gascogne
The Cadets de Gascogne, in English the Younger Sons of Gascony, were a French regiment under King Louis XIII. The regiment was mainly recruited from the youngest sons of the aristocratic families of Gascony....
, the military unit of which Cyrano
Cyrano de Bergerac
Hercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac was a French dramatist and duelist. He is now best remembered for the works of fiction which have been woven, often very loosely, around his life story, most notably the 1897 play by Edmond Rostand...
is the captain. Christian however, despite his good looks, is tongue-tied when speaking with women. Seeing an opportunity to vicariously declare his love for Roxane, he decides to aid Christian, who does not know how to court a woman and gain her love. Cyrano
Cyrano de Bergerac
Hercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac was a French dramatist and duelist. He is now best remembered for the works of fiction which have been woven, often very loosely, around his life story, most notably the 1897 play by Edmond Rostand...
aids Christian, writing love letters and poems describing the very emotions that Cyrano
Cyrano de Bergerac
Hercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac was a French dramatist and duelist. He is now best remembered for the works of fiction which have been woven, often very loosely, around his life story, most notably the 1897 play by Edmond Rostand...
himself feels for Roxane. Roxane begins to appreciate Christian, not only for his good looks but now his apparent eloquence. She eventually falls in love with him and they contract a secret marriage. However, right after the wedding ceremony, Christian has been called off to fight in the war against the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The war is harsh and brutal: the Cadets de Gascogne
Cadets de Gascogne
The Cadets de Gascogne, in English the Younger Sons of Gascony, were a French regiment under King Louis XIII. The regiment was mainly recruited from the youngest sons of the aristocratic families of Gascony....
are starving. Cyrano escapes over enemy lines each morning to deliver a love letter written by Cyrano himself but signed with Christian's name, sent to Roxane. Christian, at this time, is completely unaware of Cyrano's doings on his behalf. The love letters Cyrano writes eventually draw Roxane out from the city of Paris to the war front. She had come to visit Christian, the supposed romantic poet. Apparently, she admitted that she would rather love an ugly, but great poet, than a handsome, dimwitted fellow. Christian, realizing his mistake, tries to find out whether Roxane loves him or Cyrano, and asks Cyrano to find out. However, during the battle that follows Roxane's visit, Christian is wounded and dies in battle. As he lays dying, Cyrano tells him that he asked Roxane and it was him she loved, although he did no such thing. Cyrano fights off the attackers and the French win.
Cyrano keeps his love for Roxane a secret for fourteen years, during which time he becomes unpopular because of his raucous behavior and she goes to live in a convent.
However, during this time, Cyrano faithfully visits Roxane at her convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
every week, never late until a fateful attempt on his life leaves him mortally injured.
(He was not wounded by a sword, but suffered a serious head injury when struck by a heavy wooden beam.)
Only then does she discover his feelings towards her.
As Cyrano dies, Roxane realizes that it was he, and not Christian, whom she had really loved all along.
Cast
- Cyrano de BergeracCyrano de BergeracHercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac was a French dramatist and duelist. He is now best remembered for the works of fiction which have been woven, often very loosely, around his life story, most notably the 1897 play by Edmond Rostand...
— Gérard DepardieuGérard DepardieuGérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu is a French actor and filmmaker. He is a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite and has twice won the César Award for Best Actor... - Roxane — Anne BrochetAnne BrochetAnne Brochet is a French comedienne and actress. She has appeared in such films as Cyrano de Bergerac, Le temps des porte-plumes, 30 ans, Une journée de merde! and Tous les matins du monde. She has also appeared in several episodes the television show Voici venir l'orage......
- Christian de Neuvillette — Vincent PerezVincent PérezVincent Pérez is a Swiss-born French speaking actor and director. He is best known internationally for playing the title character Ashe Corven in The Crow: City of Angels, and for starring in Queen of the Damned, playing Marius de Romanus...
- Comte Antoine de Guiche — Jacques WeberJacques WeberJacques Weber is a French actor, director and writer, born in Paris .- Biography :Passionate about drama from his youth, Jacques Weber joined the Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique at the age of 20, and won the prix d'Excellence when he left. He joined Robert Hossein in Reims...
- Ragueneau — Roland BertinRoland BertinRoland Bertin is a French actor. He has appeared in 100 films and television shows since 1970.-Selected filmography:* Le Petit théâtre de Jean Renoir English title: The Little Theatre of Jean Renoir...
- Le Bret — Philippe Morier-GenoudPhilippe Morier-Genoud-Selected filmography:* Confidentially Yours * Au revoir les enfants * Cyrano de Bergerac * Safe Conduct -Reference:...
- Carbon de Castle-Jaloux — Pierre Maguelon
- The Duenna — Josiane Stoléru
- The Child — Anatole Delalande
- The Father — Alain Rimoux
- Vicomte de Valvert — Philippe VolterPhilippe VolterPhilippe Volter , child of director Claude Volter and actress Jacqueline Bir, was a Belgian actor....
- Lignière — Jean-Marie Winling
- The Bore — Louis Navarre
- Montfleury — Gabriel Monnet
- Bellerose — François Marié
Setting
The film was shot in several locations across FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. Notable locations include:
- FontainebleauFontainebleauFontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
- Moret-sur-LoingMoret-sur-LoingMoret-sur-Loing is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.The town was a source of inspiration for Monet, Renoir and Sisley.-Twin towns:...
- UzèsUzèsUzès is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.It lies about 25 km north-northeast of Nîmes.-History:Originally Ucetia, Uzès was a small Gallo-Roman oppidum, or administrative settlement. The town lies at the source of the Eure, from where a Roman aqueduct was built in the first...
- DijonDijonDijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
- Le MansLe MansLe Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
- MarmagneMarmagneMarmagne is the name of several communes in France:* Marmagne, in the Cher département* Marmagne, in the Côte-d'Or département* Marmagne, in the Saône-et-Loire département...
- GambaisGambaisGambais is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France....
- Saint-Germain-lès-ArpajonSaint-Germain-lès-ArpajonSaint-Germain-lès-Arpajon is a commune in the Essonne department. It is a suburb of Paris located south of Paris via the N20, and north of Étampes.Its inhabitants are called Germinois.-History:...
Academy Awards
| Award | Person | |
| Best Costume Design Academy Award for Costume Design The Academy Award for Best Costume Design is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievement in film costume design.... |
Franca Squarciapino Franca Squarciapino Franca Squarciapino is an Italian costume designer who won the Academy Award for Costume Design in 1990 for Cyrano de Bergerac. She has spent much of her career designing costumes for major theatres and opera houses, including the Burgtheater in Vienna, Royal Opera at Covent Garden, the... |
|
| Nominated: | ||
| Best Actor Academy Award for Best Actor Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry... |
Gérard Depardieu Gérard Depardieu Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu is a French actor and filmmaker. He is a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite and has twice won the César Award for Best Actor... |
|
| Best Art Direction Academy Award for Best Art Direction The Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. The Academy Award for Best Art Direction recognizes achievement in art direction on a film. The films below are listed with their production year, so the Oscar 2000 for best art direction went to a film from 1999... |
Ezio Frigerio Jacques Rouxel Jacques Rouxel (production designer) Jacques Rouxel is a French production designer. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Art Direction for the film Cyrano de Bergerac.-External links:... |
|
| Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences... |
France | |
| Best Makeup Academy Award for Makeup The Academy Award for Best Makeup is the Oscar given to the best achievement in makeup for film. Usually, only three films are nominated each year rather than five as in most categories... |
Michèle Burke Michèle Burke Michèle Burke is an Irish-born make-up artist. She emigrated to Canada with her brother Mark in 1973 and first worked as a model in Montreal before becoming a make-up artist. She currently holds both Canadian and U.S. citizenship, in addition to her original Irish nationality... Jean-Pierre Eychenne Jean-Pierre Eychenne Jean-Pierre Eychenne is a French make-up artist. His work in Cyrano de Bergerac earned him a BAFTA Award for Best Makeup as well as an Academy Award nomination for Makeup.-External links:... |
|
Gérard Depardieu
Gérard Depardieu
Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu is a French actor and filmmaker. He is a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite and has twice won the César Award for Best Actor...
's Best Actor nomination is an extremely rare feat for a non-English-speaking role.
This film marked the second time that an actor had been nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Cyrano; the first time was in 1950, when José Ferrer
José Ferrer
José Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintrón , best known as José Ferrer, was a Puerto Rican actor, as well as a theater and film director...
was nominated for his performance in the English-language film of Cyrano de Bergerac. Ferrer, however, won his Oscar; Depardieu did not.
Cannes
Gérard DepardieuGérard Depardieu
Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu is a French actor and filmmaker. He is a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite and has twice won the César Award for Best Actor...
won the Best Actor
Best Actor Award (Cannes Film Festival)
The Best Actor Award is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of movies at the festival. It was first awarded in 1946.- Award Winners :-External links:* * ....
award at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival
1990 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :*Bernardo Bertolucci *Alexei Guerman *Anjelica Huston *Bertrand Blier *Christopher Hampton*Fanny Ardant *Françoise Giroud *Hayao Shibata *Mira Nair *Sven Nykvist...
.
Césars
The film was nominated for 13 César Awards in 1991, and received 10, which is a record, including awards for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Director.- Won: Best Actor – Leading Role (Gérard Depardieu)
- Won: Best Actor – Supporting Role (Jacques Weber)
- Won: Best Cinematography (Pierre Lhomme)
- Won: Best Costume Design (Franca Squarciapino)
- Won: Best Director (Jean-Paul Rappeneau)
- Won: Best Editing (Noëlle Boisson)
- Won: Best Film
- Won: Best Music (Jean-Claude Petit)
- Won: Best Production Design (Ezio Frigerio)
- Won: Best Sound (Pierre Gamet and Dominique Hennequin)
- Nominated: Best Actress – Leading Role (Anne Brochet)
- Nominated: Best Writing (Jean-Claude Carrière and Jean-Paul Rappeneau)
- Nominated: Most Promising Actor (Vincent Perez)
European Film Awards
- Won: Best Production Designer (Ezio Frigerio (sets) and Franca Squarciapino (costumes))
- Nominated: Best Actor (Gérard Depardieu)
- Nominated: Best Actress (Anne Brochet)
- Nominated: Best Cinematographer (Pierre Lhomme)
- Nominated: Best Composer (Jean-Claude Petit)
- Nominated: Best Film
BAFTA
- Won: Best Costume Design (Franca Squarciapino)
- Won: Best Cinematography (Pierre L'Homme)
- Won: Best Makeup (Jean-Pierre Eychenne, Michele Burke)
- Won: Best Original Score (Jean-Claude Petit)
- Nominated: Best Actor (Gérard Depardieu)
- Nominated: Best Adapted Screenplay (Jean-Paul Rappeneau, Jean-Claude Carrière)
- Nominated: Best Foreign Language Film
- Nominated: Best Production Design (Ezio Frigerio)