The Voyage of Captain Fracassa (1990) User Reviews (10)

A Sadly Forgotten Gem

[minstrel · 10/10 · 14 October 1999]

This movie is one of the best films the great Italian director, Ettore Scola has ever made. It also has a fantastic cast, all doing a great job, but, is seems the late Massimo Troisi does outshine them all, with a stunning performance as Pulcinella, a Sancho Panza sort of clown. This fantasy, dream-like tale, is based on the famous book by the same name by Théophile Gautier, the French author. This is actually the 5th movie adaptation of this novel, which must tell you something about its force to attract generations of film makers.

Vincent Pérez plays Baron of Sigognac, a young royal, whose quest for material wealth brings him true love and revelations on the nature of this world. The plot themes are somewhat related to Stoppard's excellent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead - both uses the traveling players to explore the nature of the human condition. One might also recall Bergman's Seventh Seal, but Fracassa is more akin of Stoppard's light hearted, witty, approach to those grave subjects.

A truly exceptional, beautiful and entertaining film, a long standing achievement for all involved, surely better than Il Postino, though, sadly, much less known. Surely overdue for re-release?

The Most Adorable Tribute of the Cinema to the Theater World

[claudio_carvalho · 10/10 · 20 November 2010]

In the Eighteenth Century, the "Traveling Company of Scenic Arts" composed by Tyrant (Toni Ucci), Lady Leonarde (Lauretta Masiero), Serafina (Ornella Muti), Isabella (Emmanuelle Béart), Leandre (Massimo Wertmüller), Zerbina (Tosca D'Aquino), Matamore (Jean-François Perrier) and Pulcinella (Massimo Troisi) gets lost in the territory of Gascogne while traveling to Paris due to the bad weather. They see a castle and ask to the servant Pietro (Ciccio Ingrassia) to spend the night in the spot expecting to have a comfortable lodging. Sooner they learn that the destroyed castle belongs to the ruined nobleman Jean Luc Henry Camille, the Baron of Sigognac (Vincent Perez). Pietro asks the company to take Sigognac with them to Paris since the father of King Luis XIII had been saved by the baron's father Henrique de Navarra and Luis XIII would certainly reward Sigognac in gratitude. He also secretly gives one hundred gold coins to Pulcinella to serve Sigognac. Along their journey, Sigognac finds love with Serafina and Isabella and learns to love his new friends and the world of theater.

"Il Viaggio di Capitan Fracassa" is the most adorable tribute of the cinema to the theater world. Twenty years ago, when I saw this film for the first time, I felt in love for this gem that has two of the most beautiful European actresses, Ornella Muti and Emmanuelle Béart, in the top of their shapes; Vincent Perez in his best role; Massimo Troisi hilarious; and a magnificent European cast. One of the best and most touching moments is when each actor and actress dreams on what they would do in Paris after meeting Luis XIII. The funniest is certainly when the troupe is waiting for their meal in the tavern. My only negative remark is that Emmanuelle Béart, Vincent Perez and Jean-François Perrier are awfully dubbed in Italian. My vote is ten.

P.S.: I had this film on VHS and last week I bought the shameful DVD released by the Brazilian Distributor Lume Films. The image seems to be a copy of VHS and I was not able to see the last chapters in my Pioneer DVD Player. Only the Samsung DVD player was able to read the last five chapters.

Title (Brazil): "A Viagem do Capitão Tornado" ("The Journey of Captain Tornado")

The finest film experience in many years (slight spoiler)

[MissMalicious · 10/10 · 21 August 2003]

Some friends of mine and I were persuaded to see The Journey of Captain Fracassa on a film club the other night. Although our tastes in film are very different, we were all greatly impressed and moved by this captivating fantasy.

The film is beautiful to look at, with its special mixture of theatrical scenography and bitter realism, among its very playful, elegant and entertaining script is also great amounts of subtle wisdom. The characters seem simple at first, but develop great depths as the film moves along. "The Journey of Captain Fracassa" is also superbly acted, each of the performances is memorable; the beautiful, expressive faces of the actors and actresses stay with you for a long time. If anyone should be mentioned, though, it must be Massimo Troisi's moving blend of naïveté and wisdom as the classical fool, Pulcinella, and Vincent Perez' impressive transformation as the insecure Baron de Sigognac, who becomes a lover and a performer of the theatre. Perez starts out looking all wide-eyed and trembling, and finishes with the confident air of an Italian football player. A lovely performance.

I go to film clubs regularly and have had many great film experiences in the last years. However, I can hardly remember leaving the cinema more profoundly entranced and touched than after having seen The Journey of Captain Fracassa. Do not miss the opportunity to see it. I ardently hope it will be re-released soon; I will be the first in line to secure the dvd.

lovely

[Kirpianuscus · 25 April 2019]

One of films in which every aspect gives a special state. From performances to the inspired use of story, from nostalgia to the refreshing humor, from the dialogues to the love story. A homage to theater and a great adaptation of a fascinating novel. And, sure, Massimo Troisi .

A wonderful gem

[Skipfishh · 10/10 · 19 October 2019]

One of the reviews here is that it is one of the best films of the great Italian director Ettore Scola. I would say more: it's one of the best movies ever. Top 20 in the History of cinema IMHO.

Comedy, drama, romance, history, poetry and literature in one of the most simple and beautiful tributes made to theater and the love of acting. This movie is proof that you can make a great work without much money or production. In fact, simplicity is its greatest virtue.

And as icing on the cake it still allows us to enjoy the stunning beauty of Ornella Muti throughout its projection. 10/10

lush period piece done right

[mtrettenbach · 10/10 · 29 April 2006]

Although it does not follow Theophile Gautier's novel slavishly, this movie gets the essentials all right. (The very next day after seeing the movie in 1990 in France, I went to the nearest bookstore o buy the book, which I hadn't read yet; and which proved a delight, too.) While many US and UK movies do period pieces like the Three Musketeers in near-parody or camp, this one treats the story with respect. Think Cyrano de Bergerac, but with a more even and varied cast of characters, and a big twist of a happy ending. It's particularly fun for anyone who does amateur theater, as the plot involves a nobleman (down on his luck in the south) who swallows his pride long enough to join a troup of travelling actors (at the time, denied the right of burial), for a trip to Paris. Fortunately, despite being in the sticks, his tutor at sword fighting was the best.

Magical

[leoperu · 9/10 · 1 December 2012]

In pastel colours of a fairy-tale sort, mostly in mist, Scola weaves his masterful adaptation of the classic of French literature (written by Theophile Gautier in 1861-63), slowly approaching towards the end's magnificent "realistic" twist (which - I dare to say - would not make the author angry). "Il viaggio di Capitan Fracassa" is cinema that cannot offend anyone, full of great emotional(as well as intellectual)pleasures. I found the new French blu-ray with English subtitles great, as well as companion releases of Scola's "La nuit de Varennes", "Splendor", and "Che ora e ?". My only complaint is that Massimo Troisi's voice was dubbed in French.

Near Masterpiece of the avant-garde director Ettore Scola!!!

[elo-equipamentos · 9/10 · 13 May 2020]

Ettore Scola is an avant-garde director, Il Viaggio di Capitain Fracassa is really fabulous, set on seventeenth century an itinerant theatrical troupe are heading to Paris, during a storm they reach a crumble castle of the blighted Baron of Sigognac (Vincent Perez) to get a shelter, the faithful servant Pietro sees the great opportunity to send his young poor Baron to Paris hoping a meeting with the King Louis XIII which the Sigognac's father had saved Louis XIII's father at Paris's siege in the past and may returning all his wealth, the lineup of Troupe are leaded by Tyrant (Tony Ulci), the unloved and beauty Serafina (Ornella Muti), the dreamer sweet Isabella ( Emmanuelle Béart) and the volatile Zerbine (Tosca D'Aquino), the veteran actor Matamore (Pierrer), the versatile Pulcinella (Massino Troisi) the vain old lady Leonarde (Masiero) and the leading character Leandre (Wertmuller) , Pietro bribes Pulcinella to protect his Baron along the journey, they running across many places which they acting their theatre play, always paid by food, in the travel the young Baron knows the love, however all them have to share sorrows, starvation and some fun occasionally, further all this told in sparse flashbacks by Pulcinella to an eager health civil servant, all in small details, Ettore masterfully exposes the hardness period to the scenic arts, their aches and pains, a journey to celebrate the art, almost perfect!!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 9

I Want To Buy This Film!!!!!!!

[dhakim-1 · 10/10 · 31 March 2012]

IMDb should write into their software one little button that says, "If the studio would sell this film, I would BUY IT!" Then, if enough people signed up to buy a film, the studios could produce copies and sell them - or even sell them digitally online.

This excellent period film about the early traveling theatrical troupes of the Renaissance has not been available since its release, and I have been waiting for them to come out with a purchase copy. And it even stars the supreme actor Massimo Troisi, who was better in this than in Il Postino. Now is the time, since the studios can exploit the digital revolution by not having to produce and ship disks.

This is a moneymaker, folks! And with Facebuchenwald and other social networking sites, the number of people wanting to buy might grow exponentially.

So why doesn't IMDb do this?????

Released in North America on NTSC VHS videotape......No DVD Release....

[mutifilms · 10/10 · 8 January 2009]

This film was released on NTSC VHS videotape in North America by Diff-Edit Video Distribution in 1991 with the French title..... LE VOYAGE DU CAPITAINE FRACASSE....It had a small distribution in Quebec and the French speaking areas of Eastern Canada and the northeastern USA....There is no DVD version......It was released in French Language with no English Subtitles.....It is no longer In Print and is rarely seen in French Canadian video stores.....the Ex- Rentals are generally poor quality and and the original tape has often been replaced.....Good luck in finding a good Copy...........Directed by Ettore Scola and stars Vincent Perez, Emmanuelle Béart, Ornella Muti....the run time of the North American release is 2 hours 15 minutes............"Vincent Perez and two classic, charming and very beautiful ladies.....Capitaine Fracasse travels the 17th century French countryside along with the company of Vincent Perez and two charming and beautiful ladies.( Emmanuelle Beart and Ornella Muti). Film director Ettore Scola takes us through a beautifully filmed journey through 17th century France. ." .....