Captain Fracasse

The Baron de Sigognac is a nobleman without money. He lives in a manor that is falling down. One winter evening there is a knock at his door. A travelling theatre company has arrived. He puts them up for the night. He is taken with Isabelle, one of the actresses, and she with him. The baron joins the company. The road leads to Paris. On the way one of the actors dies, and the baron takes over his part. The part is Captain Fracasse. The story comes from a novel by Théophile Gautier and is set in the reign of Louis XIII. Abel Gance made the film during the occupation. The version he first assembled ran three hours and the producers cut it in half. Fernand Gravey, Assia Noris and Jean Weber appear in the hundred minute film, a French and Italian production Abel Gance finished in 1943.