Eleanor Parker, Janet Leigh, and a Very Long Swordfight--Good Times for Stewart Granger in "Scaramouche"

MGM, the home of big splashy musicals, pretty much ignored historical adventure films in the 1930s and 1940s, leaving that genre to rivals Warner Bros. (The Adventures of Robin Hood) and 20th Century-Fox (The Mark of Zorro). That changed in 1950 when the unexpected worldwide success of King Solomon’s Mines convinced studio executives to relook the genre. They promptly cast Solomon’s Mines star Stewart Granger as the dashing hero of Scaramouche. No expense was spared on the film and it shows—Scaramouche is, simply, one of the finest swashbucklers in the history of the cinema.

Granger plays Andre Moreau, a carefree rascal who is more interested in the pretty actress Lenore (Eleanor Parker) than in the soon-to-begin French Revolution. That changes when Andre’s closest friend Phillipe (Richard Anderson), a revolutionary activist, meets his demise in a duel with the Marquis de Maynes (Mel Ferrer). Andre vows revenge, but knows he is no match for de Maynes, the most renowned swordsman in France.

Now branded a revolutionary himself, Andre takes refuge in an acting troupe. He assumes the stage role of Scaramouche, a buffoon who wears a pink-cheeked mask. To his surprise, Lenore turns out to be the small troupe’s leading lady. Her anger with him over their hot-cold romance generates laughs on the stage and Scaramouche’s fame begins to grow—but Andre’s heart is still filled with vengeance. He secretly takes fencing lessons from de Mayne’s tutor in preparation for his eventual showdown with his enemy.

There’s much more to the story. Screenwriters Ronald Millar and George Froeschel do an excellent job of condensing the rich plot of Rafael Sabatini’s entertaining bestseller (well worth reading). Sabatini loyalists may quibble with some of the key changes from the book, but I think they actually work for the best. And no one can argue with the witty dialogue. When the fencing instructor has to unexpectedly terminate the lessons, Andre inquires about the next best fencing instructor: “I can no longer be taught by the man who taught my enemy. So what is more fitting in a mad world than to be taught by the man who taught the man who taught my enemy?”

Stewart Granger is marvelous in a role that Errol Flynn would have played ten years earlier. Mel Ferrer makes a fine villain and Janet Leigh, who has never looked lovelier, exudes charming innocence as Andre’s other love. But the best supporting performance belongs to Eleanor Parker as the fiery red-headed Lenore. She and Granger have a natural chemistry that makes their scenes together sparkle.

The famous MGM production values are very much on display in Scaramouche. The colors are vivid, the costumes ornate, and the set design impeccable. You’ll swear that the thrilling climactic swordfight (possibly the longest in film history at 5:35 minutes…and my personal favorite) was filmed in a real Parisian theatre draped in gold, red, and white.

Stewart Granger followed Scaramouche with a colorful, though somewhat unnecessary, MGM remake of The Prisoner of Zenda (it may be the most faithful remake ever). I wouldn’t say Granger was a great actor, but he was an immensely likable and dependable star. And he was fortunate enough to find in Scaramouche the perfect role and in Eleanor Parker the perfect co-star. In a mad world, what more could an actor ask for?