Cartouche

Cartouche is a 1962 French-Italian swashbuckler directed by Philippe de Broca, also described as a comedy. Shot in French and running 114 minutes, it was produced by Vides Cinematografica. Jean-Paul Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale share the leads. It is counted among the films that reinforced Belmondo's star image.

The story takes loose inspiration from a real highwayman, Louis Dominique Bourguignon (1693-1721), known as Cartouche. The historical figure was a brigand and later gang leader active in Paris around the Court of Miracles in the early 18th century, during the Regency. In the film Belmondo plays him as a daring, witty and amorous robber who empties the pockets of the rich, wins the affection of ordinary people and keeps one step ahead of the authorities. Cardinale plays the woman who captures his heart. Jean Rochefort, Marcel Dalio, Odile Versois, Jess Hahn and Pierre Repp also appear, with Bernard Haller, Dominique Davray, François Nadal and Georges Montant among the players.

Daniel Boulanger, Charles Spaak and de Broca wrote the screenplay together. Combining swordplay, humour and romance, the film is regarded as a distinctive example of the popular adventure cinema of its day.