History Film / LeBossu1959

In the year 1701, Duke Philippe de Nevers (Hubert Noël) is an influential French nobleman at the court of King Louis XIV, and one of the richest in the kingdom. He has secretely married the beautiful Isabelle de Caylus (Sabine Sesselmann) and has a baby daughter with her, named Aurore. His cousin Philippe de Gonzague (François Chaumette), while feigning to like him, actually plots to assassinate him and his daughter in order to inherit his wealth and possessions.

Two other notable theatrical film versions of the novel were made, one in 1944 starring Pierre Blanchar and one in 1997, ''Film/OnGuard'', starring Daniel Auteuil. Television saw a two-part miniseries in 2003, titled ''Lagardère''.

''Le Bossu'' (''The Hunchback'') is a French {{swashbuckler}} film directed by André Hunebelle, released in 1959. It is based on Creator/PaulFeval's eponymous novel and stars Creator/JeanMarais, François Chaumette, Creator/{{Bourvil}} and Sabine Sesselmann[[note]](credited as Sabina Selman)[[/note]].

* HeelFaceTurn: Passepoil is one of the {{mooks}} hired by Gonzague to get rid of the Duke de Nevers initially, but upon witnessing his prowess in combat against a dozen men, [[LovableCoward decides to flee]]. Trying to steal Lagardère's horse, he warns the chevalier about Nevers being ambushed, and ends up joining him as sidekick.

* TheGrotesque: [[http://www.cinemotions.com/photo.Le-Bossu.12398.jpg Lagardère's disguise]] is that of a hideous old hunchback.

* MookFaceTurn: Passepoil starts as a sword hired to kill the Duke de Nevers. Upon recognizing the Botte de Nevers on the head one of his fellow {{mooks}} that had been killed in a mere second, he [[DirtyCoward runs away]] and bumps into Lagardère. After Lagardère has helped Nevers to get rid of the killers, he has a conversation with Passepoil in a tavern and convinces him to become his trusted sidekick.

** Passepoil passes for a mute in Segovia. Gonzague's men throw an egg at him, which makes him blow his cover.

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: The Regent [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_II,_Duke_of_Orléans Philippe II, Duke of Orléans]].

Two other notable theatrical film versions of the novel were made, one in 1944 starring Pierre Blanchar and one in 1997, starring Daniel Auteuil. Television saw a two-part miniseries in 2003, titled ''Lagardère''.

* AdaptationalBadass: Lagardère is [[ExperiencedProtagonist a very proficient fencer]] in this film compared to the novel or any of the other adaptations. The only thing he truly has to learn here is the "Botte de Nevers" fencing trick, and he doesn't really need it to kick ass.

* AdaptationalBadass: Lagardère is already a very proficient fencer in this film compared to the novel or any of the other adaptations. The only thing he truly has to learn here is the "Botte de Nevers" fencing trick, and he doesn't need it to kick ass.

'''''Le Bossu''''' (''The Hunchback'') is a French {{swashbuckler}} film directed by André Hunebelle, released in 1959. It is based on Creator/PaulFeval's eponymous novel and stars Creator/JeanMarais, François Chaumette, Creator/{{Bourvil}} and Sabine Sesselmann[[note]](credited as Sabina Selman)[[/note]].

In the year 1701, Duke Philippe de Nevers (Hubert Noël) is an influential French nobleman at the court of King Louis XIV, and one of the richest in the kingdom. He has secretely married the beautiful Isabelle de Caylus (Sabine Sesselmann) and has a baby daughter with her, named Aurore. His cousin Philippe de Gonzague (François Chaumette), while feigning to like him, actually plots to assassinate him and his daughter in order to inherit his wealth and possessions. The first murder attempt by Gonzague's men is thwarted by the Duke with some help from the chevalier[[note]]knight, as a nobility title[[/note]] Henri de Lagardère (Jean Marais), who has been warned by a defector from Gonzague's men, Passepoil (Bourvil). To thank Lagardère, Nevers teaches him "la Botte de Nevers", his secret fencing trick to impale someone on the forehead, and they leave Paris for the castle of Caylus. Despite fending off a new wave of henchmen sent to kill him with Lagardère's help, Nevers ends up impaled in the back with a masked Gonzague's sword. Lagardère slashes Gonzague's hand to recognize him when the time of vengeance will come. He also vows to protect and raise Aurore, avenge Nevers and make sure Aurore gets her family's inheritance, not matter how much time it will take.

In the year 1701, Duke Philippe de Nevers (Hubert Noël) is an influential French nobleman at the court of King Louis XIV, and one of the richest in the kingdom. He has secretely married the beautiful Isabelle de Caylus (Sabine Sesselmann) and has a baby daughter with her, named Aurore. His cousin Philippe de Gonzague (François Chaumette), while feigning to like him, actually plots to assassinate him and his daughter in order to inherit his wealth and possessions. The first murder attempt by Gonzague's men is thwarted by the Duke with some help from the chevalier[[note]]knight, as a nobility title[[/note]] Henri de Lagardère (Jean Marais), who has been warned by a defector from Gonzague's men, Passepoil (Bourvil). To thank Lagardère, Nevers teaches him "la Botte de Nevers", his secret fencing trick to impale someone on the forehead, and they leave Paris for the castle of Caylus. There, despite fending off a new wave of henchmen sent to kill him with Lagardère's help, Nevers ends up impaled in the back with a masked Gonzague's sword. Lagardère slashes Gonzague's hand to recognize him when the time of vengeance will come. He also vows to protect and raise Aurore, avenge Nevers and make sure Aurore gets her family's inheritance, not matter how much time it will take.

* UnsafeHaven: The farm near Segovia, Spain, where Lagardère and Passepoil settled to raise Aurore is spotted and attacked by Gonzague's henchmen a few years after Nevers' assassination, when Aurore is still a little girl. Lagardère then decides they will move to a noble friend's household in Toledo, which is a much safer place.

* SignatureMove: The "Botte de Nevers", the Duke de Nevers' secret fencing trick to impale someone on the forehead. Lagardère makes it his own after Nevers' death.

* AdaptationalBadass: Lagardère is already a very proficient fencer in this film compared to the novel or any of the other adaptations. The only thing he truly has to learn here is the "Botte de Nevers" fencing trick.

* AdaptationalBadass: Lagardère is already a very proficient fencer in this film compared to the novel or any of the other adaptations. The only thing he truly has to learn here is the "Botte de Nevers".

Two other notable theatrical film versions of the novel were made, one in 1944 starring Pierre Blanchar and one in 1997, starring Daniel Auteuil.

* TheBladeAlwaysLandsPointyEndIn: Lagardère kills a mook with a throwing dagger this way near Segovia.

* DistinguishingMark: The scar he made on Gonzague's hand when he slashed it allows Lagardère to identify him 15 years after the murder of Nevers.

'''''Le Bossu''''' (''The Hunchback'') is a French {{swashbuckler}} film directed by André Hunebelle, released in 1959. It is based on Creator/PaulFeval's eponymous novel and stars Jean Marais, François Chaumette, Creator/{{Bourvil}} and Sabine Sesselmann[[note]](credited as Sabina Selman)[[/note]].

Two other notable theatrical film versions were made, one in 1944 starring Pierre Blanchar and one in 1997, starring Daniel Auteuil.

* AdaptationalBadass: Lagardère is already a very proficient fencer in this film compared to the novel or other adaptations. The only thing he truly has to learn here is the "Botte de Nevers".

In the year 1701, Duke Philippe de Nevers (Hubert Noël) is an influential French nobleman at the court of King Louis XIV, and one of the richest in the kingdom. He has secretely married the beautiful Isabelle de Caylus (Sabine Sesselmann) and has a baby daughter with her, named Aurore. His cousin Philippe de Gonzague (François Chaumette), while feigning to like him, actually plots to assassinate him and his daughter in order to inherit his wealth, title and possessions. The first murder attempt by Gonzague's men is thwarted by the Duke with some help from the chevalier[[note]]knight, as a nobility title[[/note]] Henri de Lagardère (Jean Marais), who has been warned by a defector from Gonzague's men, Passepoil (Bourvil). To thank Lagardère, Nevers teaches him "la Botte de Nevers", his secret fencing trick to impale someone on the forehead, and they leave Paris for the castle of Caylus. There, despite fending off a new wave of henchmen sent to kill him with Lagardère's help, Nevers ends up with a masked Gonzague's sword in the back at the castle of Caylus. Lagardère slashes Gonzague's hand to recognize him when the time of vengeance will come. He also vows to protect and raise Aurore and avenge Nevers.

* AdaptedOut: There is no mention of Lagardère learning fencing with Cocardasse and Passepoil (see below for the latter) in this version. Here, Passepoil is an entirely different character, and Cocardasse is neither seen nor mentioned.

''Le Bossu'' (''The Hunchback'') is a French {{swashbuckler}} film directed by André Hunebelle, released in 1959. It is based on Creator/PaulFeval's eponymous novel and stars Jean Marais, François Chaumette, Creator/{{Bourvil}} and Sabine Sesselmann[[note]](credited as Sabina Selman)[[/note]].

* BestServedCold: Following the murder of Nevers and with Gonzague's men and French royal authorities on their trail, Lagardère and Passepoil first settle on a farm near Segovia to raise and protect Aurore. Then they move to Toledo, after being spotted and attacked by Gonzague's men. 15 years after Philippe de Nevers' assassination and upon King Louis XIV's death, Lagardère decides they will move to Paris to accomplish his revenge and make sure Aurore can finally inherit her father's fortune and possessions.

** Upon returning to Paris with Aurore and Passepoil, Lagardère disguises himself as a hideous hunchback to infiltrate Gonzague's household, hence the title -- according to a superstitious belief in France at the time, touching a hunchback's back is supposed to make you lucky. The disguise proves effective as Gonzague increasingly trusts him without the slightest hint of suspicion.

* BestServedCold: Following the murder of Nevers and with Gonzague's men and French royal authorities on their trail, Lagardère and Passepoil first settle on a farm in the Spanish Pyrenees to raise and protect Aurore. Then they move to Toledo, after being spotted and attacked by Gonzague's men. 15 years after Philippe de Nevers' assassination and upon King Louis XIV's death, Lagardère decides they will move to Paris to accomplish his revenge and make sure Aurore can finally inherit her father's fortune and possessions.