Jose Ferrer was born in Puerto Rico in 1909. He had a booming, acerbic voice, and something of a British accent. Nonetheless, many of his most famous film roles were as Frenchmen. His first Oscar nomination, for Joan of Arc (1948), was as the Dauphin Charles VII. He also played the legendary French painter Toulouse-Lautrec in Moulin Rouge (1952), which is not to be confused with the much more recent musical version.

But his career would be most closely linked with that of the title character from Cyrano de Bergerac. The Broadway production of the Edmon Rostand play was an enormous success, and Ferrer won a Tony award for the role. United Artists purchased the film rights, and of course re-cast Ferrer as Cyrano. Ferrer promptly won the Oscar and Golden Globe awards for Best Actor. Ferrer also played Cyrano in live televised performances in 1949 and 1955.

But time has not been kind to Cyrano de Bergerac. The film has long been in need of preservation, and its darkened print seems to keep it off the major cable networks. I managed to find it as the Flea Market Movie on the lower tier Good Times channel, where it ignomiously suffered multiple commercial interruptions for a "Best of Bobby Vinton" album.

The play itself still thrives, of course. Most people today are more familiar with Steve Martin's updated version, Roxanne (1987), or the traditional performances from Derek Jacobi (1985) and Gerard Depardieu (1990). The balcony scene in particular has been the subject of countless parodies and tributes over the years.

But it is difficult to imagine anyone giving a better performance as Cyrano than Ferrer, who knew just how to balance maudlin self-pity with a cold regal bearing. As would be the case with his rendition of the real-life Toulouse-Lautrec, Cyrano believes himself too physically deformed to win the love of a beautiful woman. He hides his bitterness behind his talent and wit, and almost looks forward to death as it will release him from self-torment.

Cyrano de Bergerac is a romantic tragedy. Of course, the love of Roxane (Mala Powers) is there for the taking all along, if only Cyrano would drop his scornful guise and instead become the embodiment of his many love letters to her. But Cyrano needs to have the likes of privileged pretty boy Baron Christian (William Prince) as his front. Not really because of his humongous proboscis, but because he could never give up his precious freedom, or remove the contemptuous mask from which he regards all others.

Ferrer's charismatic performance can convince the audience that the film is his alone. The supporting cast adds to this illusion, as they are all little more than props to provide an ear or a motive for Cyrano's next speech or demonstration.

But much credit has to be given to noted poet Brian Hooker, who carefully translated the film from its French source. Hooker's deft skill for language was as great as Cyrano's mastery of swordplay, and he gives Ferrer the necessary ammunition for his eloquence. Director Michael Gordon spices up the dialogue with plenty of action. Gordon's achievement is the more significant as it is apparent that he has little budget to work with.

Ferrar had other memorable film roles. He was a formidable lawyer in The Caine Mutiny (1954), where he reduced Humphrey Bogart into a babbling paranoid. He was a hissable German villain in the marvelously underrated Ship of Fools (1965). Ferrer was less successful as a director. His films were competent but unremarkable and unprofitable. The flop of State Fair (1962) more or less ended that stage of his career, although with Pat Boone in the lead, he was dealt a bad hand to begin with.

Ferrer went through numerous marriages, including two with singer/actress Rosemary Clooney, the aunt of current box office behemoth George Clooney. His film roles began to decline by the mid-1960s, although he never seemed to have trouble finding work. He remained active until his death in 1992. (77/100)

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Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8