Greenes Please don't spend money on this.

FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Contentar Best movie of this year hands down!

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Lee Eisenberg I haven't read Edmond Rostand's original novel - apparently a fictionalized account of Cyrano de Bergerac's life - but Michael Gordon's* screen adaptation is a fine romp. Cyrano is the type of guy who always has something to say, especially if he wants to express his affection for a woman. José Ferrer (in an Academy Award-winning performance) portrays him as a dude who spares nothing in standing up for his honor. And damned if Mala Powers isn't a babe!The only other adaptation that I've seen is 1987's "Roxanne", starring Steve Martin as a long-nosed fire chief wooing a young student. Both that one and this one are worth seeing. "Cyrano de Bergerac" might not be the greatest movie ever, but it's fun, and that's what's important. Good one.*Michael Gordon is Joseph Gordon-Levitt's grandfather.

edwagreen A great performance by Jose Ferrer highlighted by his receiving of the Academy Award for best actor of 1950 in this film based on the Edmund Rostand novel.A story of tragic love, Mala Powers played Roxane, the girl who admits at film's end that she has lost 2 loves.Set in the 1600's, the film tells the tragic tale of Cyrano, a poet playwright, philosopher, and swordsman who loves Roxane but feels rejection because of the size of his nose.When she professes love for Christian, he guides him through the words in expressing his love for the lady.There is politics in this film. I wish it had been stated even more. With war against Spain calling, Christian takes up his duties and his promptly killed.While a tragic fate awaits Cyrano at the hands of other conspirators, his death scene and acting throughout the film will be widely remembered as the part that was meant for him.

John T. Ryan UNITED ARTISTS Corporation presents A Stanley Kramer ProductionCYRANO de BERGERAC From the play by Edmond Rostand. Adaptation by Brian Hooker (Translation) and Carl Foreman (additional dialog). Director Michael Gordon. Producer Stanley Kramer. Associate Producer George Glass. Film Editor Harry Gerstad. Original Musical Score by Dimitri Tiomkin. Cinematographer Frank Planer. Production Designer Rudolph Stenard Starring Jose Ferrer, Mala Powers, William Prince. with Morris Canovsky, Ralph Clanton, Lloyd Corrigan, Virginia Farmer, Edgar Barrier, Elena Verdugo, Albert Cavens, Arthur Blake, Don Beddoe, Percy Helton, Virginia Christine, Gil Warren, Phillip van Zandt, Eric Sinclair, Richaed Avonde, Paul Duboy, John Crawford, Jerry Paris, Robin Hughes, Francis Pierlot, John Harmon.The screen play opened up just about exactly as it was written by Monsieur Edmond Rostand in 1897. As the opening title cards and credits all roll by, we discover that we are in a theatre, Paris in 1640. The current play begins to open before a fairly full house. As the first few painfully dull lines of dialogue are spoken by the Parisian thespians, we are made aware of a boisterous heckler disrupting the dramatic proceedings.The gentleman doing the heckling turns out to be our story's main character and protagonist par excellence, Cyrano de Bergerac (Mr. Jose Ferrer). His verbal barbs continue, and he eventually confronts the playwright and theatre manager, insisting that the play be closed. Cyrano pays a generously large sum in order that the theatrical company be paid and the patrons refunded their Ticketmaster Costs.Upon his being questioned about blowing his whole bankroll in just one moment, he replies, "Yes, but what a moment!"He then is forced into a duel by another theatre patron who purposely insults him about his large nose. He composes a poem about the duel during the sword play and ends both the poem and the duel together at the precise same moment. Monsieur Cyrano, you see is a Master Swordsman and Professional Soldier, as well as a Poet. We learn of his love for the fair Roxanne (Mala Powers), a distant cousin. But he thinks that he dare not even approach her because of his grotesquely over-sized nose. Through a strange set of circumstances, he winds up schilling for one Christian de Neuvilette (William Prince), also a soldier and in Cyrano's unit.It turns out to be the same old Eternal Triangle, as Cyrano loves Roxanne, but she digs this Christian character, but so strong is Cyrano's love that he says nothing for his own interests. He instead coaches the young Christian in the poetic language of love. When the two soldiers are called to active duty at the front in wartime, it is Cyrano who writes letters to the fair Roxanne, but in Christian's name.When Christian is killed, Roxanne enters a lifetime of seclusion in a convent, but Cyrano remains mute on his own behalf; going to visit her almost daily and reading aloud "Christian's" letters to her. He maintains his secret almost to the end of his life, almost but no cigar!Just see the Film, and forget about what I've said here. The play is wonderful, the Film magic and Mr. Jose Ferrer is superb. NOTE: The cast listing shows Miss Elena Verdugo as "Orange Girl"; but the film was done in Black & White. So, how could we tell?

jotix100 Almost never shown these days, "Cyrano de Bergerac", one of the best films of 1950, turned up the other night unexpectedly on a cable channel. It was a pleasure to see it again after so many years since we first saw it. Michael Gordon directed the screen version that became a favorite of people who were delighted to make concessions to a man that was far from being endowed with any physical attributes.The enjoyment of the picture is due to the amazing tour de force by that wonderful actor, Jose Ferrer, a man whose friendship we cherished because he enriched our life with his honesty, frankness and charisma. Mr. Ferrer's contribution to the stage and screen can be best sampled as we watch him become Cyrano, a man in love with his cousin Roxanne, whose great fear is the possible rejection of the beautiful young woman in favor of the handsome, and younger, Christian.This beloved theater play by Edmond Rostand had been translated by Brian Hooker, in what became the most familiar way American audiences met the illustrious French author. The screen play by Carl Foreman clarifies the text in ways that the movie going public of that era could relate to this man whose wit and charm outweighed his appearance, which was dominated by a big nose that rendered him an unattractive man. The poetry of the play is preserved even though it is not done in verse like the original manuscript. Dimitri Tiomkin's score lent itself to the action.Mala Powers was a disappointment though. Yes, she was a beauty, but her Roxanne doesn't quite come across; she is at a disadvantage playing opposite an icon of the theater like Mr. Ferrer, who certainly had more experience. William Prince does a fair job as Christian. Morris Carnovsky, another great stage actor, appears as Le Bret and Ralph Clanton makes his contribution with his take of Guiche."Cyrano de Bergerac" is recommended to movie fans of all ages to watch the magnificent Jose Ferrer at his best.