Le Capitan (aka Captain Blood) (1960)

The young teenaged King Louis XIII (Christian Fourcade) is dominated by his treacherous mother (Lise Delamare) and her ambitious lover (Arnoldo Foa). A faithful knight (an aging but agile Jean Marais) vows to destroy the King's enemies and allow the young King to reign unhampered. Meanwhile, he falls in love with the daughter (Elsa Martinelli) of a Duke (Raphael Patorni) who has plans of his own for the throne. Based on the novel by Michel Zevaco and directed by Andre Hunebelle (FANTOMAS). When one thinks of swashbucklers, one immediately goes to thoughts of classic Hollywood and Errol Flynn, Tyrone Power and Cornel Wilde. But France and Italy had their share and LE CAPITAN is one of the betters European entries in the genre. Fast paced, colorful and plenty of swordplay handsomely shot in Dyaliscope by Marcel Grignon (IS PARIS BURNING?) and utterly enjoyable. Though not a musical, in the middle of the movie Bourvil as Marais' comedic sidekick and Pierrette Bruno as a maid sing a delightful duet that feels like it came right out of a 1930's Rene Clair. It almost makes one wish the entire movie had been turned into a musical. If you're fond of swashbucklers, definitely check this one out. The rousing score is by Jean Marion. With Annie Anderson and Guy Delorme.