Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)
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Cyrano Turns Weakness Into Strength
Our poetic hero does not shrink and surrender to his weaknesses but, instead, he glorifies in them, expounding his nose as a strength. He does not apologize for his prominent proboscis, nor does he shyly try to change the subject and divert attention away from it. Instead he stands tall and even judging its glory to others, deeming theirs insufficiently grand when compared to his magnificent profile.
Cyrano does not let anyone belittle him or use his nose against him. He takes that power away from them. He takes his weakness and turns it into a strength that others should envy. The short clip from the movie below displays Cyrano's clever skill.
Pride and Pain
While a man blessed with humor and whit, Cyrano is also a person set apart from his fellow man due to a misfortune of birth that cursed him with a physical blemish. His loneliness hurts his pride and his sadness causes him pain that causes him to rail out and lash at those around him. Cyrano is a complex character who's inner turmoil and beauty captivates us. His emotion filled rant in the video below will engage you and make you want more of the swordsman-poet.
A TIMELESS STORY
The story of Cyrano has appealed to us since it was first written down as a play in 1897 and it continues to endure, exciting our passions just as strongly today as it ever has. This tragic tale of romance and love has been told and re-told in many different forms, attracting some of the biggest stars in the film industry. In 1987 even funny-man Steve Martin portrayed the big-nosed lover in the hit movie Roxanne. If you haven't seen this comedy yet then do yourself a favor and get a copy of it. It is good, clean fun that the family can enjoy together. Watch the clip below to get a taste for the goofy hilarity in store for you.
Laugh as Steve Martin tries desperately to woo his would-be love interest, Daryl Hannah. You will feel both sad and sorry for Martin as he tells the doctor to cut off his nose as a means of advancing his chances with the fair object of his blonde ambition. Will he go through with it? Will he really undergo cosmetic surgery to remove his most noticeable feature? GET THE DVD here AND FIND OUT!
PIECES OF INTEREST / INTERESTING THINGS
A SAD JUXTAPOSITION
Cyrano's tale of unrequited love is a mournful tale of sadness and loss but not just for the large nosed poet. Roxane herself, despite being in love with Christian and, in return, being loved by him, goes on remaining unaware of Cyrano's ardent affection for her. While it is true that, even if she knew, Roxane might still spurn Cyrano and remain fixated on Christian, but then again she might not. Knowing the depth and power of Cyrano's veneration of her, Roxane might well have fallen deeply in love with him in return. They both might have lived a life completely content in each other's arms. Neither of them will even know.
And yet the sadness does not end there. Christian himself is a man who suffers from an impairment that barricades his path into the arms of Roxane. His faltering speech that so impedes his ability to talk to his lady that he needs the help of Cyrano. And this is where the poignancy multiplies, for what we are faced with is a tragic analogy. Both men need help to win the heart of the captivating Roxane. Christian needs help speaking of his yearning for her and Cyrano needs help overcoming the physical malformation. The difference between the two men is that only Christian has someone there to assist him.
Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)
The Story: A stirring, dramatic-romance set in 1640's France, Cyrano is a charismatic poet who's heart is taken by the lovely Roxane. He adores her above all things, worships her with a devoted love that cannot be measured. Unfortunately she, in turn, loves another. Unaware of Cyrano's feelings towards her, Roxane confesses the details of her love for the tongue-tied young gentleman, Christian. Despite the heart-wrenching pain of being denied Roxane's affections, the chivalrous Cyrano determines to ensure her happiness by helping Christian win her.
But why does this good-looking, virile man need help gaining the company of the woman that longs for him? because poor Christian is a stammering oaf when it comes to expressing himself. He desperately needs assistance forming his feelings into words and, luckily for him, Cyrano is an eloquent poet. So, with Cyrano's help, Christian sets forth to charm the lady Roxane.
Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy, Swashbuckler
Director: Michael Gordon
Writer: Edmond Rostand (play); Brian Hooker (play); Carl Foreman (screenplay)
Music: Dimitri Tiomkin
Release Date: 16 November 1950 (USA)
Produced By: Stanley Kramer Productions
Studio / Distributed By: United Artists
Running Time: 113 minutes
Starring: José Ferrer, Mala Powers, William Prince
AN INNOCENT DECEPTION
Cyrano, devoted to helping his beloved Roxane find happiness, lends his assistance to Christian in his endeavor to win her for himself. His help takes the form of Cyrano giving Christian the right words to say. Words of glowing beauty that win the heart of young lady.
This selfless effort by Cyrano is often quoted as the height of true love for he puts his own desire aside to ensure Roxane's happiness. But is it really selfless? And is it really an innocent deception?
Yes both Roxanne and Christian win their goals but an argument could be made that Roxane is, in truth, captivated by the words of Cyrano. It could be said that, if Christian cannot express the characteristics of his feelings, then how can Roxanne be certain of what they really are? Cyrano has no trouble at all revealing how he feels, it just so happens that he expresses himself through the mouth of Christian.
Some have characterized this deceit as a betrayal of Roxane's trust. That this ploy by the two men, far from put her first but, instead, betrayed her by making her fall in love with an imaginary person. A person that does not exist. A fictional character that looks like the handsome Christian but feels and speaks like Cyrano.
Were Cyrano and Christian actually putting their own desires above and before Roxane's? Was Cyrano chivalrously helping her or was he actually soothing his own ego? He may believe that Roxane only prefers the dapper Christian over his own disproportionate profile. That would infer Cyrano looks on Roxane as a shallow, young lady who is beguiled by aesthetics. He may well have helped Christian win Roxane over to prove to himself that, if he, Cyrano, looked like Christian, she would love him instead.
DOUBLE FEATURE FUN
Two movies for back to back enjoyment with this DVD SET of Cyrano De Bergerac (1950) and The Son of Monte Cristo (1940). Two swashbuckling classic adventures that they just don't make like this anymore.
THE OPENING SCENE
The opening scene of Cyrano de Bergerac is unforgettable. A bold herald of the daring adventure ahead, the film opens on a stage play with the lone thespian delivering his performance to the thronged audience. But Cyrano also sits within that audience and he is definitely not impressed with the quality of entertainment being presented on the boards. Never a shrinking violet, Cyrano announces his assessment with gusto, yelling his criticism loudly from his balcony seat. He disrupts the entire show, bringing it to a halt, much to the chagrin of the rest of the audience, the actor and the theater owner.
CYRANO'S INTRODUCTION
The introduction of Cyrano stands shoulder to shoulder with the screen icons that movie fans have come to idolize. From Indiana Jones' silhouette to Harmonica's haunting tune in Once Upon A Time In The West to Darth Vader's fist appearance, Cyrano is introduced to us by his powerful voice commanding the poor, frightened, actor on stage. He speaks, he commands and yet we do not see him. His voice is authoritative and his words cause all about him to take note.
The audience mummers "Who is that?" "It's Cyrano!" He is simultaneously powerful, imposing and funny . He cows the entire crowd of patrons with only his voice and so we cannot wait to finally lay our eyes on this man.
And when we do get our fist glimpse of him, what do we see? The bottom of his boots. It is a scene you will not soon forget.
José Ferrer As Cyrano
Cyrano is brought to vivid life by the splendid actor Jose Ferrer who delivers some extraordinary performances. Jose makes Cyrano charming, funny, witty, and deadly dangerous. As the story plays out it becomes obvious that his adoring love for Roxane is painfully evident. And yet, tragically, he believes that he does not deserve her love. As a result, he does not try to win her and, as a result, will never know what might have been. Cyrano is a tough lesson that we should all learn from. He assumes the worst from Roxane and so does nothing to change his fate. The predictable result is that his anticipation of a bad conclusion was indeed realized. What other outcome could one expect when one does not try to improve his fate?
