This 1960 French swashbuckler may be showing its age, but fans of Cyrano De Bergerac and The Mask Of Zorro will find much to savour in its rollicking Regency romping.
Naturally, any plot that involves a hunchback with a lucky hump is always going to have credibility issues, but the swordfighting, horse-riding action is as good as it gets. Jean Marais, meanwhile, is savoir faire personified as the dashing Henri, who takes on a slain duke's daughter. But if Bourvil's Gallic clowning as Passepoil grates and the story's extended timeframe confuses, it's a small price to pay for such a spectacle (the Palace of Versailles has never looked so sumptuous).
A happy reminder of the classic Saturday matinees of yore, it was effectively remade in 1997, starring - who else? - Daniel Auteuil.
DVD Extras:
Not much to write home about - trailers, a photo gallery, dull biographies.
