The Black Tulip/La Tulipe noire (Film 1964-ENG SUB)

The Black Tulip (French: La Tulipe noire) is a French-Italian-Spanish film which reused some names in the novel of the same title by Alexandre Dumas but its story does not follow the novel. Audio in French with English subtitles (click on CC).

In June 1789 in the town of Roussillon, aristocrat Guillaume de Saint Preux leads a double life as a masked bandit known as the Black Tulip. The Black Tulip only robs rich aristocrats, so the local peasants regard him as a hero. Baron La Mouche is convinced Guillaume is the Tulip. During a robbery, he scars the Tulip's face, and hopes to use this to expose Guillaume.

Guillaume asks his twin brother Julien to impersonate him. Julien is much more gentler and idealistic than his brother. While the impersonation goes well at first, Julien is shocked to discover that Guillaume robs aristocrats for the thrill and the money, not for political reasons.

Delon made the film after seeing the success Jean-Paul Belmondo had in a swashbuckler, Cartouche (1962). The film was shot on location in Spain, including Cáceres. Interiors were shot at the Victorine Studios in Nice. The film was a big success at the French box office. It was the tenth most popular film of 1964.

Alain Delon used this opportunity to demonstrate his range as an actor by playing both brothers. In 1975, he would again play a masked swashbuckler in his Zorro film.

Cast & Characters:
Alain Delon – Julien de Saint Preux / Guillaume de Saint Preux
Virna Lisi – Caroline „Caro“ Plantin
Adolfo Marsillach – Baron La Mouche
Dawn Addams – Marquise Catherine de Vigogne
Akim Tamiroff – Marquis de Vigogne
Laura Valenzuela – Lisette
George Rigaud – Polizeichef
Francis Blanche – Plantin
José Jaspe – Brignon
Robert Manuel – Prince Alexandre de Grassillac de Morvan-Le-Breau