Captain Fracasse

Baron de Sigognac (Jean Marais), an impoverished nobleman, encounters a troupe of comedians whose wagon has broken a wheel. He invites them to his home, and after a lively evening, they suggest that he accompany them to Paris as their court poet. So he joins the traveling theater troupe-not least because he is so taken with Isabelle (Genevieve Grad), the "youthful ingenue." This turns out to be a blessing for everyone, because first he saves the actors from the robber couple Agostin (Alain Saury) and Chiquita (Joelle LaTour), then he steps in for a comedian who dies of exhaustion. From then on, Philippe de Sigognac calls himself Fracass and plays the troupe's Harlequin with great success. In Poitiers, where the actors are staying at an inn, new trouble approaches in the form of the arrogant, wealthy Count de Vallombreuse (Gerard Barray). He courts Isabelle in an insolent and intrusive manner, pursues the troupe, and even attempts to kidnap Isabelle. Fracass, extremely skilled with the sword, repeatedly rebukes Vallombreuse and his hired henchmen, defends Isabelle's honor, and proposes marriage to her. Although Isabelle also loves him deeply, she refuses, because she does not want to be a burden to the baron as a poor actress. In Paris, Vallombreuse wants to have Fracass murdered and hires Lampourde (Riccardo Garrone) to do the job. But this plan also fails. Lampourde is so impressed by Fracass' fencing skills that he switches sides. The next day, the comedians make their grand entrance in Fontainebleau. The king and his entourage are delighted. Prince de Moussy (Jean Yonnel) is fascinated by Isabelle's eyes and face. But he doesn't know who she reminds him of. When Herode (Philippe Noiret), the principal of the theater troupe, accepts an invitation to perform outside Paris, the comedians are attacked on the way and Isabelle is kidnapped. None other than Vallombreuse, son of the Prince de Moussy, is behind it. He now holds Isabelle captive in his summer castle, but he has not reckoned with Isabelle's friends and, above all, Fracasse.