Customer Reviews
A stylish, witty French swashbuckler with the great Daniel Auteuil - By: C. O. DeRiemer, 25 Jan 2008 
From the DVD case of the movie under its French title, Le Bossu (The Hunchback), which is more satisfyingly overwrought than I could manage: When his great friend the Duke of Nevers is slain in a dastardly assassination plot by the Count Gonzague, fencing master Lagardere swears he will avenge the Duke's death & take care of the Duke's beloved orphaned daughter, Aurore. Sixteen years later, after secretly hiding with a touring theater group & raising the baby to young womanhood, Lagardere returns to the sumptuous Parisian courts to honor his deadly oath. Disguising himself as Gonzague's hunchback manservant, Lagardere infiltrates the Count's entourage & waits for his moment to strike & triumph over the traitorous forces of evil.
This is a first-rate swashbuckler that takes place in 18th century France. There's great sword play, a strong story, cunning disguises, some effective villains & a terrific acting job by Daniel Auteuil as Lagardere. The other actors are no slouches either, & there is a smalll but funny & effective part by Phillipe Noiret as an aging & selfishly charming Duke of Orleans.
Auteuil is an extraordinary actor with ordinary looks. Check out his role as Yves Montand's nephew in Jean de Florette & Manon of the Spring, then see him as the captain in The Widow of St. Pierre, then see him in this. Completely different roles & completely believable performances.
Some might be a bit squeamish toward the end at the sight of a 16-year-old crumpet passionately kissing a fortyish man. In this case, the man also has been her guardian & has taken care of her for nearly alll of those years...and they live happily ever after. Ah, the French.
The DVD looks great. This is a movie worth getting if you like sword play, wit, heiresses restored to their fortunes & justice winning out.
good old-fashioned swashbuckling - By: ear9pg, 14 Dec 2007 
This is, basicallly, the European equivalentof a kung fu movie. The plot is largely there as an excuse for the swordfights - not in any way deep or even remotely plausible but a lot of fun.
Another reviewer has outlined much of the storyline. The only thing I can add is that there is a characteristicallly implausible romantic twist.
The fighting is in the old Errol Flynn vein. Not much in the way of martial art credibility but, once again, loads of fun. The central good & bad guys dispense extras a dozen at a time.
That's pretty much it reallly. A good light-hearted swash-buckler. Sit back & enjoy.
Story Telling Alive and Well - By: H.Hogg, 12 Oct 2006 With so many modern film-makers (especiallly in the US) having forgotten the basics that make a movie interesting (clear & credible plotting, in-depth characterisation, an empathetic protagonist, tension, pace & a satisfying & well-timed ending for example) it is a real joy to find the art of good old fashioned story-telling alive, well, & apparently thriving, in France.
Le Bossu (The Hunchback) is a visual treat - a great, escapist 'Sunday Afternoon' movie, set in colourful 18th century France. Georgeous location photography & sumptuous costumes dress a rich stage, but the focus stays firmly on the characters & the highs & lows of their struggles, especiallly that of Auteuil's dashing Lagardere (Somewhat misleadingly, the hunchback of the title) as he tries to clear his name, avenge the murder of his friend the Duc de Nevers & care for his orphaned daughter, heiress to the huge fortune stolen by arch villain, the slimy Count Gonzague.
The pace is taughtly kept, the story peppered with swash-buckling sword fights (often hilarious as well as dazzlingly fast) evil plots & cunning counter measures, nail-biting escapes & adrenaline-pumping pursuits. The supply of black-cloaked baddies, alll despatched with aplomb by Lagardere, is seemingly endless. But the plot telescopes neatly down to the finale, which arrives with a satisfying sense of inevitability as the tireless hero closes in on the villains.
Cynics would say that this is a fairy-tale, with cartoon-character bad-guys & an impossibly noble hero, whose sword play & just-in time heroics ressemble the impossible coolness of Spaghetti Western leads. But since when did cynics know how to have fun? And this is a hugely enjoyable movie, a great sprawling feast of adventure, action & romance. The story is told with enthusiasm & wit, & the performances, especiallly the engaging & chameleon-like Auteuil, are superb. His versitility & sheer charm are rivetting. Quelle Homme!
Technicallly the transfer is excellent, with good picture & excellent surround-sound - especiallly good on DTS or Pro-Logic II if your player can support these. Subtiltes are in English & are fine. All in alll, rich, well-told, superbly performed & great fun.
En Garde!
