Le Chevalier de Pardaillan (1962) - film review

Paris, 1588.  When the adventurous knight Pardaillan thwarts the kidnap of a gypsy girl, Violetta, he makes himself the mortal enemy of the ambitious Duke de Guise.  The latter has discovered the true lineage of Violetta – she is the legitimate heir to the throne of France – and intends to marry her so that he can become King.  A second kidnap attempt proves more successful and Violetta is carried off to the Duke’s castle.  Pardaillan is not one to admit defeat.  With the support of a strongman and a clown, he intends to abduct the Duke de Guise’s original intended bride-to-be, Fausta, in the hope of exchanging her for Violetta.  Things don’t go quite as planned…

Le Chevalier de Pardaillan is typical of the kind of swashbuckling adventure film that was enormously popular in France in the 1950s and 1960s.  Based on historical novels, the films generally had excellent production values and featured high profile actors such as Jean Marais in the role of the heroic master swordsman.   Whilst it isn’t the best example of its kind, Le Chevalier de Pardaillan is a well-paced, enjoyable film, with plenty of gutsy action scenes and a likeable hero portrayed by the dashing Gérard Barray.  The film was directed by Bernard Borderie who is most famous for directing two of the most successful series of films ever made in France, the first featuring FBI agent Lemmy Caution, the second based on the popular Angélique novels.   After the success of this film, Bernard Borderie directed a sequel, Hardi Pardaillan! (1964), with Barray again playing the lead role.

© James Travers 2006

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