Les Aventures de Till L'Espiègle
1956 Adventure / History / Comedy   

 

Review
Gérard Philipe’s one and only directorial credit was for this ambitious adaptation of a well-known 19th Century novel by the Belgian writer Charles De Coster.  By the time he made this film, Philipe was one of the leading stage and screen actors in France, although his career would be cut short a few years later with his premature death.  As well as directing the film, Philipe also plays the lead role, one that is reminiscent of the heroic swashbuckler that he had played in Fanfan la Tulipe (1952), one of his most popular films.

The release of Les Aventures de Till L’Espiègle coincided with the Soviets’ decision to send tanks into Budapest in November 1959.  This may have contributed to the lukewarm reaction the film received, and its flop effectively curtailed Gérard Philipe’s filmmaking aspirations.   Although somewhat dated and occasionally very silly (the ice skating chase sequence being a case in point), the film manages to be an enjoyable historical romp, enlivened by a rich palate that evokes the paintings of Pieter Bruegel.

© filmsdefrance.com 2009

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  Director: Gérard Philipe, Joris Ivens
Starring: Gérard Philipe, Jean Vilar, Fernand Ledoux, Nicole Berger, Jean Carmet

Synopsis
In the 15th Century, Flanders is governed by Spain, although the inhabitants of the village of Damme appear to be happily unconcerned by this fact.  When one patrol of Spanish soldiers is swallowed up by sinking sands, the villagers are punished by another patrol.  With the village set alight and several villagers, including his father, dead, the young troublemaker Till swears he will have his revenge.  Whilst employed as a jester to the Spanish governor, Till manages to thwart a plot against the Prince of Orange and the Flemish nobles who are opposed to the Spanish occupation.  With the seeds of revolution well and truly sown, Till’s fun has only just begun...

Credits
  • Director: Gérard Philipe, Joris Ivens
  • Script: René Barjavel, Charles de Coster (novel), Gérard Philipe, René Wheeler
  • Photo: Alain Douarinou, Christian Matras
  • Music: Georges Auric
  • Cast: Gérard Philipe (Till), Jean Vilar (Le duc d’Albe), Fernand Ledoux (Claes), Nicole Berger (Nèle), Jean Carmet (Lamme), Jean Debucourt (Le cardinal), Erwin Geschonneck (Bras d’Acier), Wilhelm Koch-Hooge (Le prince d’Orange), Georges Chamarat (Simon Praet), Raymond Souplex (Grippesous), Françoise Fabian (Esperanza), Elfriede Florin (Soetkin), Gabrielle Fontan (La grand-mère), Marga Legal (Katheline), Robert Porte (Capitaine Juan), Henri Nassiet (Marnix), Joé Davray (Jan), Yves Brainville (Berlemont)
  • Country: France / East Germany
  • Language: French / German
  • Runtime: 102 min
  • Aka: Bold Adventure; Till Eulenspiegel



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