OK, i haven't heard about these films but obviously they were extremely
popular all over Europe in the 1960's and made the gorgeous red-headed
actress Michéle Mercier a Huge star. They are based on a series
of novels (of probably not to high literary standing ?) by Anne Golon
and
5 or 6 films were made (i think?) and with a re-make in 2013, but it's
the 2 first films in the series that today are considered to be some sort
of slightly
trashy but beloved classics. Garishly produced big budgeted adventure
films with action, drama and romance about the happenings surrounding
the young noble woman Angélique in the 17th century France.
These 2 films were surprisingly entertaining to watch, really Luscious
and Slick looking and with some fine actors and the gorgeous Michéle
Mercier
Angelique Vol. 1 - Angelique, Marquise des Anges:
BEWARE: SPOILERS BELOW - SPOILERS BELOW
Angelique's father may be a Baron, but she's a naive country
girl and with the farmer boy Nicholas (Giuliano Gemma) as a friend and/or
boyfriend.
The year is 165 ... and there's armed rebellion against
Cardinal Mazarin. At the castle of her amoral cousin Philippe de Plessis
- Bellieres (Claude
Giroud) she overhears a plot to assassinate the King, the still young
Louis XIV.
She escapes an arranged marriage and considered troublesome, she's put
in a nunnery. Then she's married to the count Jeoffrey de Peyrac (great
film
director and actor Robert Hossein in a fine performance),
but he annoys the king due to his riches and is condemned to death accused
of witchcraft.
She's raped and hunted by Bad guys from the King's entourage and she takes
refuge among the beggers and bandits of Paris, a gang led by no one
else than Nicolas Calembredaine (Gemma) and now she's the Countess of
Angels. Will she get her revenge in Vol. 2 ?
Angelique Vol. 2 - Merveilleuse Angélique/The Fantastic
Angélique
BEWARE: SPOILERS BELOW - SPOILERS BELOW
The film starts with the evil inquisition monk (Charles
Regnier) who led the trial against her husband getting killed by the gang
led by Nicholas.
She lives with him and his gang, including Nicholas jealous ex-girlfriend
Polak (Rosalba Neri) in the poor district of Paris - La Cour des Miracles
and she wants revenge against all that harassed her and made her beloved
husband die at the stake.
There's a gangster war, she meets a gutter poet (Jean-Luis Trintignant)
and she get's rich as a chocolate establishment proprietess, and soon
the
Road to Versailles is open to her. Will she get her revenge? I have no
idea, but i hope so. Jean Rochefort is memorable as the police chief Degrez
Angelique Vol. 3- Angélique et le Roy/Angélique
and the King
BEWARE: SPOILERS BELOW - SPOILERS BELOW
Angelique has married with her cousin Philip Plessis-Belliére
to regain her presence at the Royal court. Philippe dies in the Flandern
war and the King,
Louis XIV set his eyes on the beautiful Angelique and wants her to act
in a diplomatic mission to make an alliance with the Turks and the Persian
Empire. The Persian envoy Mr. Bey however is a sadist, murderer and a
rapist and he wants Angelique in his Harem.
Then King Louis XIV wants her as one of his concubines too, but she wants
to be a free woman and he gets furious. However, his official concubine
no.1 gets furious too with Angelique and Chief of Police Degrez warns
her that her life is in danger and Angelique flees Paris and the Royal
Court.
The films are presented in anamorphic widescreen
2.35:1 with french audio mono and swedish subtitles
Extras in Vol. 1: La Fronde - the historical background to the rebellion
against Cardinal Mazarin, - Nicolas Foquet: the minister of finance to
Louis
XIV and the background to the King visiting Jeoffrey scene in the film,
who treated the King with a too Grand reception and was jailed, - stills
Extras in Vol. 2: About the infamous poor district of
Paris - La Cour des Miracles, - about the Chocolat Salon, - stills gallery
Extras in Vol. 3: Two short featurettes - Versailles and
it's Court and Black Magic, picture gallery
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