Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)
“The greatest lover who never dared speak his own name.”
Streamed free from the Internet Archive · no signup, no cost — this film is in the public domain.
Synopsis
In 17th-century Paris, the brilliant poet and master swordsman Cyrano de Bergerac is hopelessly in love with his beautiful cousin Roxane, but believes his grotesquely large nose makes him unlovable. When Roxane confides that she has fallen for the handsome but tongue-tied cadet Christian, Cyrano agrees to lend his eloquence, ghost-writing the love letters and speeches that win her heart for another man. As war and rivalry press in, Cyrano keeps his own devotion hidden behind Christian's face — a story of sacrifice, wit, and a love confessed far too late.
Cast
About the Director
Michael Gordon — Michael Gordon was an American stage and screen director who brought theatrical discipline to the project, working closely with Ferrer to translate his acclaimed Broadway Cyrano to the screen and earning a Directors Guild nomination. Soon after, he was caught up in the Hollywood blacklist; he later returned to direct hit comedies such as 'Pillow Talk' (1959).
Why It’s Free: The Public-Domain Story
'Cyrano de Bergerac' is in the public domain because its copyright was not renewed, causing it to lapse into the public domain in the mid-1980s. As a result it has been freely distributed on home video and streaming for decades.
Behind the Scenes
The film was an independent production by Stanley Kramer's company, distributed by United Artists, and was the first English-language film version of Edmond Rostand's 1897 play, using Brian Hooker's blank-verse translation. To control costs, the production rehearsed the full cast for ten days and used innovative wheeled "mobile sets," allowing the entire film to be shot in roughly 30 days. Ferrer reprised the role he had played to acclaim on Broadway; despite strong reviews, the film recorded a financial loss.
Did You Know?
- José Ferrer became the first actor ever to win both an Academy Award and a Tony Award for the same role.
- A plastic surgeon who had written a book titled "Noses" was hired as technical adviser; two prosthetic noses were built each day, each taking six hours to make.
- In Rostand's play Cyrano is killed by a falling log; on film that looked like slapstick, so his death was changed to a carriage trampling.
- Stanley Kramer's first choice for Roxane was Elizabeth Taylor, who was unavailable, so the role went to newcomer Mala Powers.
Reception & Legacy
Critics hailed Ferrer's towering performance, and he swept the era's Best Actor honors, winning the Oscar and a Golden Globe. In 2022 the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
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