A faithful adaptation of Rostand’s play, the film is set in 17th century France and tells the story of Cyrano, a soldier and poet who secretly loves his cousin Roxane. Because of his enormous nose, Cyrano prefers to hide his feelings for this young girl, being certain that she would refuse him. Roxane, who is unaware of her cousin’s feelings, confides to him that she is attracted to Christian, a charming recruit who fights in the same company as Cyrano. The latter, disheartened, witnesses the birth of their love affair, becoming the unhappy confidant of the two lovers and suggesting to the incapable Christian verses and words of love for his encounters with the young girl. Roxane ends up loving this devoted and hidden poet. Christian understands what is happening and decides to let himself die in the Battle of Arras between the French and Spanish armies, leaving Roxane to discover the truth so that Cyrano can finally be happy with her. Christian loses his life but Cyrano keeps his secret…
Despite a turbulent production, Genina’s film remains one of the most popular film adaptations of Rostand’s Cyrano.
subject: Edmond Rostand
script: Augusto Genina, Mario Camerini, Dario Angeli
photography: Ottavio De Matteis
other titles: CIRANO DI BERGERAC
color: colorized
taken from: Play by Edmond Rostand