Cartouche (Film 1962)

Cartouche is a 1962 French adventurer film directed by Philippe de Broca and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale. Audio in French with English subtitles.

In the 18th century, Louis Dominique Bourguignon is working with Malichot's gang but their ways are too 'unethical' for him. He hides out from Malichot and joins the army where he and his two new friends survive by hiding out on the battlefield. Together, they rob the general of his gold. Fleeing, they stop at an inn where they meet Venus, a beautiful gypsy who has been taken prisoner. He rescues her and she joins his gang. Returning to Paris, Bourguignon creates his own gang, acting under the name of Cartouche with most of Malichot's gang joining him. They make audacious robberies of the rich and distribute the loot to the poor. Thus, Cartouche attracts the people's sympathies, Venus's love, and hatred from Malichot and the authorities. Malichot goes to the police to betray Cartouche but Cartouche can escape all the traps they set for him - except the entrapments of love. Eventually, the police use this against him and set a trap while he has a tryst with Venus in the countryside.

Cast & Characters:
Jean-Paul Belmondo - Louis-Dominique Bourguignon alias Cartouche
Claudia Cardinale - Vénus
Jess Hahn - La Douceur
Marcel Dalio - Malichot
Jean Rochefort - La Taupe
Philippe Lemaire - Gaston de Ferrussac
Noël Roquevert - the recruiting sergeant
Odile Versois - Isabelle de Ferrussac
Jacques Charon - the colonel
Lucien Raimbourg - the maréchal
Jacques Balutin - Capucine, the monk
Pierre Repp - the Marquis of Griffe
Jacques Hilling - the hotel keeper
Paul Préboist - a gendarme
René Marlic - Petit Oncle, the inn keeper

Louis Dominique Garthausen, also known as Cartouche (1693, Paris – November 28, 1721, Paris), who usually went by the name of Louis Bourguignon or Louis Lamarre when he wanted to hide his identity, was a highwayman reported to steal from the rich and give to the poor in the environs of Paris during the Régence until the authorities had him broken on the wheel.

Cartouche gained a public following, with plays being written of him. The authorities was forced to shut down his plays after only thirteen performances.[2] His crimes and daring exploits were exploited in ballads and popular prints.