Fanfan The Tulip

This charming, witty satire of Errol Flynn swashbucklers features Gerard Philipe as Fanfan the Tulip, a 17th-century swordsman with his tongue firmly planted in cheek. About to be forced into a shotgun (or saber) wedding, he escapes matrimony by joining the king's army. A bogus soothsayer examines his palm and predicts he will marry the king's daughter one day and establish himself as one of France's greatest heroes. Later, he spies a coach being attacked by bandits and attacks the band of malfeasants, cutting them to bits with his swordplay. As it happens, Madame Pompadour (Page) and the king's daughter (Lollobrigida) are the coach's passengers from whom Fanfan re...