Cyrano De Bergerac (1950)

“Oh, no, young sir. You are too simple. Why, you might have said a great many things. Why waste your opportunity? For example, thus: AGGRESSIVE: I, sir, if that nose were mine, I’d have it amputated on the spot. PRACTICAL: How do you drink with such a nose? You must have had a cup made especially. DESCRIPTIVE: ‘Tis a rock, a crag, a cape! A cape? Say rather, a peninsula! INQUISITIVE: What is that receptacle? A razor case or a portfolio? KINDLY: Ah, do you love the little birds so much that when they come to see you, you give them this to perch on. CAUTIOUS: Take care! A weight like that might make you top-heavy. ELOQUENT: When it blows, the typhoon howls, and the clouds darken! DRAMATIC: When it bleeds, the Red Sea. SIMPLE: When do they unveil the monument? MILITARY: Beware, a secret weapon. ENTERPRISING: What a sign for some perfumer! RESPECTFUL: Sir, I recognize in you a man of parts. A man of… prominence! Or, LITERARY: Was this the nose that launched a thousand ships? These, my dear sir, are things you might have said, had you some tinge of letters or of wit to color your discourse. But wit? Not so, you never had an atom. And of letters, you need but three to write you down: A, S, S. Ass! :” – Cyrano de Bergerac

Number of Times Seen – 1 (20 Oct 2014)

Brief Synopsis – The story of the famous Frenchman poet with a nose for mischief who helps his friend woo the woman he himself is madly in love with.

My Take on it – Ever since I saw the Steve Martin adaptation of the story (Roxanne (1987)) of Cyrano 27 years ago, I have been quite curious as to how good it was compared to the original with Jose Ferrer.

I finally got my answer.

This is a very good story but Ferrer as the main character is what makes this movie so interesting. He won an Oscar for this role, which makes sense because he also won a Tony for the same role a few years earlier. it was actually the role he was most notable for in his entire career.

Watching this actually makes me appreciate Roxanne (1987) even more because now I understand more completely the meaning of many of the references.

The problem with this movie is the fact that there are a few scenes that are slow and boring. Thankfully they are complemented with some extraordinary scenes that make this still worth watching despite the aforementioned lulls.

The best scene us replicated by Martin in Roxanne (1987) where he explains to a would be insulter better insults for a ma with his kind of nose. Unlike in Roxanne (1987), this happens towards the beginning of the movie and it works so well.

I must confess that I always attributed this whole scene to martin’s genius, but he just made it even funnier.

As much energy that Ferrer injects into the character, Martin’s version of Cyrano is so much more descriptive and interesting.

Bottom Line – Very interesting premise that has lulls in its points of Ferrer is great, but I still believe Steve Martin gave the character much more life. Recommended!

Rating – Globe Worthy

_______________________________________

Check out my *updated* movie stats here

To see my reviews of Oscar Winning Performances check out this link

To see my reviews of all Oscar Best Picture Winners click here (now complete)

Here is a link to my movie index A-Z