In 1640 France, soldier and poet Cyrano de Bergerac (Gérard Depardieu) is in love with Roxane (Anne Brochet), but he’s too ashamed to admit it because of his big nose. When a cadet, Christian (Vincent Perez), falls for Roxane, he asks for Cyrano’s help in sharing his feelings. Cyrano writes love letters signed with Christian’s name, and Roxane doesn’t realize that it’s Cyrano’s words she falls for. She marries Christian, and Cyrano continues to keep the other man’s secret, even after tragedy strikes.
It is expansive, funny, gross, dainty, and always humane. It’s a disciplined whirlwind of conflicting emotions that finds surprising new life in a theatrical antique. (It is) a physically elaborate period spectacle. Seventeenth-century France is re-created in grand sets, magnificent costumes and the kind of crowd scenes in which everybody roisters heartily on cue. Mr. Depardieu’s must be the definitive Cyrano, the Cyrano that will make all other actors hesitate before they take on the role. – New York Times
“Cyrano de Bergerac” is a splendid movie not just because it tells its romantic story, and makes it visually delightful, and centers it on Depardieu, but for a better reason: The movie acts as if it believes this story. Depardieu is not a satirist – not here, anyway. He plays Cyrano on the level, for keeps. – Roger Ebert
In French with English subtitles.
Starring Gérard Depardieu, Anne Brochet, Vincent Perez, Jacques Weber, Roland Bertin.
Note: The full movie Cyrano De Bergerac (1950) is [available to stream for free](https://youtu.be/-QAOlNYnotc) on the Willow and Thatch Period Drama Channel. Also, Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah starred in the well received modern-dress comedy [Roxanne (1987)](http://amzn.to/1NQGkVH), which was inspired by the 1897 play “Cyrano de Bergerac” by Edmond Rostand.