Search - Cartouche on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1962 DVD Release: 04/08/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 56 mins Studio: Anchor Bay Members Wishing: 7 Genres: Adventure, Swashbuckler, Romantic Adventure, Costume Adventure

Jean-Paul Belmondo romps his way through the role of 18th century French bandit chief Cartouche. At first robbing from everyone in sight (he has to -- he's head man of a Parisian crime syndicate) Cartouche is rechanneled into becoming a Gallic Robin Hood by beauteous gypsy Venus (Claudia Cardinale). In Highwayman fashion, Venus eventually sacrifices her own life to save Cartouche from harm. He vows to continue his activities to avenge her death, but still manages to have a riproaring good time doing so. Hilarious without being condescending, Cartouche was reissued under the completely inappropriate title Swords of Blood. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jean-Paul Belmondo - Cartouche
Claudia Cardinale - Venus
Jean Rochefort - La Taupe
Marcel Dalio - Malichot
Odile Versois - Isabelle de Ferrussac

Philippe de Broca's witty, lusty, utterly mature tale of bandits and derring-do gets the best treatment it has received -- outside of France, at least -- in four decades, on the Anchor Bay DVD release. One needn't even like this kind of costume adventure to have excellent reason to buy this disc; the film-to-video transfer, in the correct 2.35:1 aspect ratio, has been done with such care, from a source so bright, clean, and sharp, that it's truly a feast for the eyes. The mix of color, the beautifully choreographed action, and the direction that keeps the whole widescreen image in motion all combine to make this a glorious visual experience (especially on larger-monitor screens, for which this could be a superb demonstration disc in its 16 x 9 enhancement). Additionally, the availability of the original French-language track (with English subtitles below the picture) allows one to properly appreciate the performance of Jean-Paul Belmondo, who, by turns here, crosses images with Marlon Brando and Errol Flynn. Claudia Cardinale is great to look at and comes off very well in the French version, though the English-language track is available for those without the patience for subtitles. The 116-minute movie has been given 24 chapters that are well-marked and nicely positioned, and the audio has been mastered extremely well, bringing out all of the wit and splendor of Georges Delerue's score. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide