Reviews

This film is far from the purely cutthroat pirate escapades one might expect from a film about pirates. There is much more to this film. Love, revenge, and sacrifice are at the heart of this engaging story.

The incomparable Louis Jourdan portrays Captain Pierre François LaRochelle, who is forced into pretending to be a prisoner on a pirate ship whose purpose is to spy on Blackbeard (Thomas Gomez) and Captain Providence (Jean Peters. The discovery that Providence is a woman changes LaRochelle's game plan; he woos and romances her all the while holding tight to the fact that he is happily married to Molly (Debra Paget). When LaRochelle plots to have Providence captured, she realizes his truth and kidnaps Molly as revenge.

Revenge because LaRochelle does not truly love her. He had lied to get what was needed in order to get his own ship back. Despite the tough exterior that Providence exhibits, she is still a woman--a reality that LaRochelle had shown her through his (albeit false) tenderness. She even reneges on her banishment to a deserted cay, where she had taken Pierre and Molly, and arranges their departure moments before she engages in battle with Blackbeard--her mentor--and is killed. Her last act is the kindest Providence has ever shown. It also cements her legend as one of the great pirates.

This is a tale of love--true love and unrequited love. Pierre's true love lies with Molly. Providence's love for Pierre is unrequited. However, witnessing the true love shared between Pierre and Molly quenches Providence's thirst for revenge and opens her kindness and humanity. She sacrifices herself so that Pierre and Molly can live out their lives together. That is indeed a noble act.

Once again, I must admit from the beginning that, as a Louis Jourdan completest, I own this film and have watched it several times. It is charming, touching, and emotional. Louis Jourdan portrays Charles Grand, whose daughter Freddy (Marilu Henner) returns to his estate after his death. How does he appear? In video tapes he made for Freddy in which he schools her in how to expertly take over his job as a master thief who had worked for an insurance company to recover stolen property. What Freddy doesn't realize is that the "job" she is sent on is really a test and that the participants were in on it with Charles Grand. The best and most valuable lesson Freddy learns, however, is about her father. After being away from him for almost two decades, she comes to know him via the the video tapes--and to love him. Is this the best film ever made? No. It is not the worst, either. It is a heartwarming story that reminds us that it really is never too late.

The Swan is a magnificently beautiful film in every way--sets, costumes, dancing and music, dialogue, and the actors. Of course Grace Kelly is noted for her blonde regal beauty. Louis Jourdan is the most gorgeous man to ever grace film. The two together, Grace and Louis, are almost too much to watch. They are stunning together.

Their characters, Princess Alexandra and Dr. Nicholas Agi, are just as lovely to watch. From the beginning, Dr. Agi's love for the Princess is clearly evident, and as her attraction to him develops, the audience hopes for the romance to culminate in a romantic Royal Wedding. Alas, that does not happen. Alexandra cannot bring herself to follow her heart and to succumb to love for Nicholas. Instead, after the most enchanting waltz, he realizes the truth and prepares to depart the palace the following morning. Does she merely pity him, as he claims, or does she love him but reject him because he is a tutor and not of royal birth? Or is it that Nicholas is Alexandra's first romance and she realizes it will never last? For whatever reason, Nicholas rides out of her life, leaving her heartbroken yet awaiting future happiness.

It takes Alexandra's uncle, the Father Carl Hyacinth (Brian Aherne), to provide the insights and truths that guide Alexandra into letting Nicholas go. Carl realizes his niece's inexperienced youth, and assures her that true love will find her in due course. Of course, we are left at the end to wonder of that comes in the form of the (forced) marriage to her cousin Prince Albert (Alec Guinness). We must each answer that question for ourselves.

I have just watched this film, and it lives up to the 1885 Jules Verne novel. Louis Jourdan is the perfect choice for the title role, not only because he is an actor of depth and breadth, but because he understood what Mathias Sandorf fought for--liberty. Jourdan worked with the French cause during WW II, and his father was imprisoned. Jourdan knew what it was like to fight for life and liberty, and this is evident in his performance. Equally emotive is his love for his daughter in the film, highlighting the importance of family. Mathias even sets his daughter's beau, who is part of the enemy forces, free at the end of the film: in part due to his daughter's feelings, and in part due to loathing the idea of revenge.

This film at heart deals with themes of liberty, loyalty, and love in one of the most emotionally-moving films I have ever seen.