French swashbuckler an engaging adventure

By Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times

•	'On Guard!' Not rated; standard swordplay In French, with subtitles 128 minutes

He kept on working, though less frequently and mainly in TV, so it is a pleasure and surprise to have his 1998 "On Guard!" surface at last and prove to be arguably his most substantial film.

De Broca has kept his light touch in bringing to the screen the 1857 roman-feuilleton, a novel commissioned for newspaper publication in serial form. "Le Bossu (The Hunchback)" was written by Paul Féval, a contemporary of Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas.

Indeed, "On Guard!" has been made much in the same spirit as Richard Lester's 1974 version of "The Three Musketeers" in that it has been made by a filmmaker with a sense of humor and an affection for the swashbuckler; but resisting the easy spoof, De Broca has made it as emotionally engaging as it is amusing.

The Regency-era "On Guard!," an enchanting, richly-detailed period piece, is an epic tale of love and revenge. The time is the turn of the 17th century, with the devil-may-care Lagardere (Daniel Auteuil) emerging as one of the finest swordsmen in the land. He crosses swords with the dashing, handsome Duc de Nevers (Vincent Perez), whom he ends up serving.

A brilliant, innovative fighter all but illiterate, Nevers is a nobleman of hauteur and naivete. He has taken under his wing impoverished, homely cousin Gonzague (Fabrice Luchini), whose true love, Blanche de Caylus (Claire Nebout), he blithely stole for a brief fling before she returned to her father's distant castle.

Just as casually he resists Gonzague's plea to invest in the stock offering by another relative, the Regent Philippe d'Orleans (Philippe Noiret), nephew of the late Louis XIV, to finance colonization of the Louisiana Territory. To Nevers, such an investment smacks of the shopkeeper mentality; besides, he'll probably die soon enough in a duel, allowing his cousin, his sole heir, to do what he wants with his fortune.

After Nevers learns that Blanche has given birth to their child, Lagardere insists on accompanying the duke on his journey to restore her honor.

Thus far the rollicking gusto brings back fond memories of De Broca's "Cartouche" of 40 years ago, but tragedy turns "On Guard!" into a revenge odyssey.

Even as it deepens with pathos, "On Guard!" never loses its energy and humor, growing ever more gallant in spirit.

Auteuil easily embraces the athleticism, wit and cunning of Lagardere, who eventually assumes the disguise that provides the French title.

"On Guard!" is a splendid entertainment, young in spirit but accomplished in all aspects with the fullness of spirit and sense of ease that comes only with experience.