Cartouche is a Franco-Italian adventure film, directed by Philippe de Broca and released in 1962.
At the beginning of summer 1961, one of the greatest French directors, Philippe de Broca, came to Pézenas, Molière's city, to set up his cameras to shoot "Cartouche".
The film was released the following year and proved to be a real triumph in cinemas, exceeding three million admissions.
The outdoor scenes were shot in Béziers, Pézenas, Saint-Pons-de-Mauchiens and the old Roquemengarde mill.
The actors
Jean-Paul Belmondo: Louis-Dominique Bourguignon dit Cartouche
Claudia Cardinale : Venus, the Cartridge's companion
Odile Versois: Isabelle de Ferrussac, the wife of the Lieutenant General
Jess Hahn: The Sweetness, a Cartridge Lieutenant
Jean Rochefort: La Taupe, a Cartridge Lieutenant
Philippe Lemaire: Lieutenant General Gaston de Ferrussac
Marcel Dalio: Malichot, the head of the Court of Miracles
Noël Roquevert: The recruiting sergeant
Alain Decock: Louison Bourguignon, Cartouche's little brother
Jacques Balutin: Capucine (Capuchin friar)
The synopsis
The film is inspired by the character of Cartouche, a brigand then gang leader, who was rampant in Paris at the Court of Miracles at the beginning of the 18th century, under the Regency.
Fighting but charming and with a big heart, Cartouche steals the pay of the regiment where he had been enlisted with La Douceur and La Taupe, and, accompanied by the charming Venus, they arrive in Paris where they will take control of Malichot's gang.
They rob the rich and powerful with a certain good humour, until Cartouche falls in love with the wife of the Lieutenant General of Police, which will make him take more and more risks...
One day, during an ambush, Venus sacrifices herself to save Cartouche and, after her burial, she decides with her gang to avenge her...
The exterior shots of the film were taken in Pézenas and the surrounding area.
Jean-Paul Belmondo performed all his stunts.
The shooting often took place at night and Jean-Paul Belmondo was staying on Agde, to enjoy the sea.
Shooting then continued in Larzac, at La Couvertoirade, for a week.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
