Cadet-Rousselle (1954)
Directed by André Hunebelle

Film Review

Swashbuckling action historicals were hugely popular in France in the 1950s, and André Hunebelle was presumably hoping to capitalise on the success of Christian-Jaque's 1952 film Fanfan la Tulipe with his own early offering in the genre.   Cadet-Rousselle (1954) sees the improbable casting of François Périer as the lead romantic adventurer, aided and abetted (mostly abetted) by popular comic performer Bourvil.  Some distinguished character actors, such as Noël Roquevert, and some attractive ingénues, such as Dany Robin, complete the cast line-up.

It has to be said that Cadet-Rousselle is by no means the best example of its kind, and Hunebelle would do a far better job with his later historicals, Le Bossu (1959) and Le Capitan (1960).  Whilst a great film actor in his own right, François Périer appears misplaced as an action hero, having neither the physique or charisma of a Gérard Philipe or a Jean Marais.  By contrast, Bourvil is very much in his element as the cowardly buffoon, a role he would reprise a number of times in the years that followed.   The main weaknesses with Cadet-Rousselle, however, lie in its uninspired direction and its pedestrian, if not to say tedious, storyline.  Lacking a strong driving narrative and the kind of energy you would expect of a decent swashbuckler, the film feels pretty flat when compared with other, far better, examples such as Fantan la Tulipe.

Film Synopsis

France, 1789.  Although Cadet-Rousselle is deeply in love with Isabelle, he knows that he cannot marry her as she is the mayor's daughter and he is a mere peasant.  As he travels to Paris to start a new life, Cadet-Rousselle is attacked by a party of bandits and left for dead.  He is found by some gypsies and they allow him to join them and participate in their public entertainments.  It isn't long before our hero is in love again - this time with the pretty gypsy girl Violetta.  The gypsies' leader gives Cadet-Rousselle a crucial errand to undertake. He must deliver a message to someone of great importance in Paris.  Accompanied by the comical but helpful gypsy Jérôme, Cadet-Rousselle sets out on this vital mission but he is soon captured by revolutionary police. He is charged with being a royalist spy, a crime that is a capital offence...