Indomptable Angélique (1967) - film review

Once she has learnt that her first husband, Joffrey de Peyrac, is still alive, having escaped execution for sorcery, Angélique sets out to the south of France to find him.  Her quest leads her to a remote island where she meets Vivonne, a nobleman who has been sent by King Louix IV to return her to Versailles. Angélique coerces Vivonne into taking her to Marseilles in his galley ship.  En route, the ship is attacked by pirates led by the notorious “Rescator”…

This, the fourth installement in the five-part series of films based on the Angélique stories of Anne et Serge Golon very nearly never came about.  Frightened of being typecast in the role of the Marquise des Anges, Michèle Mercier announced, once filming had been completed on the preceding film, Angélique et le roy, that she had no intention of reprising the role.   She later changed her mind and fans of the popular Angélique series were rewarded with another two instalments.  (As it turned out, Mercier’s fears were confirmed, and for the rest of her career she would be identified with the character of Angélique.)

Indomptable Angélique sees the unfortunate Angélique thrown into some of her most harrowing situations.  To its credit, the film does not allow its sentimentality (of which there is plenty) to diminish the realism which is portrayed, in the best tradition of French historicals, with shocking vividness.  The most disturbing scene is where Angélique is nearly raped by a pack of sex-starved galley slaves in the water-logged  bowels of a galley ship.  This and other similar scenes leave a lasting impression, not least because of Mercier’s own creditable performance.

Although it occupies an unfortunate placing as the penultimate instalment in the cycle, this is a strong entry in the Angélique series.  The action scenes are noteworthy, and the galley ships are fine reconstructions.  Also, far removed from the confines of the court of Versailles, the film benefits from some sumptuous photography which makes full use of the Mediterranean location filming.  The film ends with an impressive, moving cliffhanger which leads directly onto the next film in the series, Angélique et le sultan.

© James Travers 2000

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