Cyrano De Bergerac (1990)
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100% of critics liked it
(27 reviews) -
88% of users liked it
(15,856 ratings)
Edmond Rostand's classic drama of inner and outer beauty is given a lavish treatment in this acclaimed French production. Gérard Depardieu portrays the title character, a brilliant, charismatic swordsman with a generous spirit and a genius for poetry. It would seem that such a man would have no… More Edmond Rostand's classic drama of inner and outer beauty is given a lavish treatment in this acclaimed French production. Gérard Depardieu portrays the title character, a brilliant, charismatic swordsman with a generous spirit and a genius for poetry. It would seem that such a man would have no trouble attracting women, but Cyrano considers himself doomed to loneliness by an unattractive face featuring an oversized nose. His feelings of inadequacy are emphasized when Roxane, the beautiful woman he adores, attracts the attention of Christian, a young cadet in Cyrano's service. Christian lacks the poetic gift, however, and he ironically turns to Cyrano for help in winning Roxane's love. What follows is a tale of deception, with Roxane falling in love with the ineloquent Christian thanks to Cyrano's words of love. The underlying narrative has become quite familiar to modern audiences through retellings and variations from the 1950 adaptation starring José Ferrer to Steve Martin's Roxanne. Director Jean-Paul Rappeneau's interpretation stresses the tragic majesty of the original, setting a vigorous performance by Depardieu against a beautifully designed reproduction of the period and an emphasis on the sound and poetry of Rostand's original language; the subtitles for the film's English release were penned by renowned British author Anthony Burgess. This attention to detail creates a particularly faithful cinematic rendering of the original work that met with positive critical responses. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jean-Paul Rappeneau
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Mar 28, 1990 Wide
- Studio
- Orion Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Gerard Depardieu gives a tour de force Oscar-nominated performance in this sumptuous (and best) screen version of the famous play
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Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
More artistry and energy than virtually any American costume drama from that period you could name.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
The great thing about Jean-Paul Rappeneau's 1990 film -- apart from Gerard Depardieu's central performance -- is that it returns the play to its popular entertainment self.
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MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
[T]here's a kind of soaring beauty to this expansively passionate film...
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Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
There are better love stories, but Cyrano is arguably the ultimate celebration of the romantic spirit Depardieu makes the part forever his own.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Gérard Depardieu
as Cyrano de Bergerac
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Anne Brochet
as Roxane
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Vincent Perez
as Christian de Neuvillette
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Jacques Weber
as Count DeGuiche
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Roland Bertin
as Ragueneau
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Philippe Morier-Genoud
as Le Bret
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Philippe Volter
as Vicomte de Valvert
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Pierre Maguelon
as Carbon de Castel-Jaloux
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Josiane Stoleru
as The Duenna
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Gabriel Monnet
as Montfleury
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Yves Aubert
as Marquis
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Pierre Aussedat
as First Marquis
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Jean-Damien Barbin
as Young Snob
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Eric Bernard
as Cadet
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Cécile Camp
as Gremoine
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Christiane Culerier
as Uranie
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Anatole Delalande
as The Child
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Alain Dumas
as Cadet
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Nicole Félix
as Matron
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Catherine Ferran
as Lise Ragueneau
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Claudine Gabay
as Naughty Sister
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Philippe Girard
as Officer De Guiche
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Amelie Gonin
as Sister Marthe
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Isabelle Gruault
as Sister Claire
- Franck Jazede
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Sandrine Kiberlain
as Sister Colette
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Louis Lavarre
as Le Facheux
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Christian Loustau
as Cadet
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Francois Marie
as Bellerose
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Madeleine Marion
as Mother Superior
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Louis Navarre
as The Bore
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Quentin Ogier
as Baker's Boy
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Lucien Pascal
as Academy Member
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Jacques Pater
as Le Tire-laine
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Herve Pauchon
as Cadet
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Alain Perez
as Cadet
- Franck Ramon
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Alain Rimoux
as The Father
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Baptiste Roussillon
as First Soldier
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Christian Roy
as Second Soldier
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Ludivine Sagnier
as The Little Sister
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Pierre Triboulet
as Jodelet
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Benoit Vergne
as Lysimon
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Louise Vincent
as Ironing Nun
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Jean-Marie Winling
as Ligiere
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Eric Frey
as Second `Precious' Poet
