Original subtitles

Directed by Augusto Genina

Paris, 1640.

The city of brilliance and shadow,

of wealth and poverty, of joy and tragedy.

Of cavalier and cut-purse.

Of mountebank and merchant.

Of priest and worshipper.

Madeleine Robin, known as Roxane by her intimates.

Baron Christian de Neuvillette,

whose eyes followed Roxane wherever she went,

but whose heart froze within him

did she but turn his way.

''She is Roxane, cousin to Cyrano de Bergerac, thus free to walk.''

''l but lately have come to Paris.

Who is this Cyrano?''

''The lad with the long sword.

''He's in the Guards.

''But come, his friend Ligniere,

''the ballad-maker,

can tell you more.''

''Cyrano de Bergerac?

''He is the best friend and bravest soul alive!

''Poet! Swordsman!

Philosopher!''

''Prouder than all the swaggering

''Tambourlaines hatched out of Gascony.

''Above his Toby ruff he carries a nose. Ah, my lords!

What a nose!''

''You will meet him soon enough.

''And l say to you, my friend:

''Beware the nose!

His sword is one half the shears of Fate.''

The actors of the Theatre de Burgoyne

announce their presentation

of ''La Clorise'' for the evening.

Montfleury, idol of the Parisian stage.

''The strutting pigeon, he forgets that Cyrano

has forbidden him to appear.''

''But why?''

''The old wine-barrel

once made sheep's eyes at Roxane!''

''Come,

we can but hope that Cyrano does not appear.''

Night. The Grand Theatre de Burgoyne.

One of the strangest combinations in all of Paris

was Ragueneau, pastry cook

and patron of the arts.

Count de Guiche, riding high on a wave of power

rolled up by his uncle, Cardinal Richelieu.

The Count pays court to Roxane, infatuated.

He too will fall afoul of Cyrano.

''My new ballad to de Guiche.

He'll sweat under it, l'll swear!''

''He'll never forgive, he's powerful...

and not above persecuting, either.''

''Cyrano is not here. So much the better!''

''Wretch! Have l not forbade you appearing here?''

''Fly, goose!

''Take to your wings

before l pluck your plumes and draw your gorge!''

''Go on, Montfleury. Who's afraid?''

''And if those lords hold not their tongues

''l'll feel constrained

to make them taste my cane!''

''The play! The play!''

''One more word of that song and l destroy you all!''

''Are you Samson?''

''Precisely.

Would you kindly lend me your jawbone?''

''l offer one universal challenge.

All those who wish to die please raise their hands.''

''Full moon, l shall clap my hands three times.

''At the third

you will eclipse yourself.''

''Will no one put down this braggart?''

''My Lord de Guiche, l myself will proceed to put him in his place.''

''You have a nose.''

''Yes... a rather large nose.''

''ls that all?''

''You are too simple, young sir.

You might have said a great many things.''

''You could have said:

'What a sign for perfumery!''

''Or...

'' Take care, sir,

a weight like that might make you top-heavy.''

''Or even...

'' How do you drink with such a nose?

You should have a cup made specially.''

''These, my dear sir,

''are some of the things you might have said

had you some tinge of letters or wit.''

''Dolt, bumpkin, fool, insolent puppy!''

''Well met.

And l, Cyrano Savinien Hercules de Bergerac!''

''l promise that you shall die exquisitely.''

''Miserable poet!''

''Yes, poet.

ln proof of which, while we fence, l'll make you a ballad.''

''l gaily doff my beaver low''

''And freeing hand and heel

My heavy mantle off l throw''

''And draw my polished steel.''

''A word in your ear, Sir Spark, At the envoi, l touch!''

''Where shall l skewer my peacock?''

''Prince, pray heaven for your soul's weal!''

''At the envoi, l touch!''

''My dear Cyrano, my dear cousin.''

''Could it be possible?''

''Yes, Le Bret, my friend

even l can love.''

His real secret, his great love

locked in the recesses of his heart,

had shone forth at last for his friend to see.

''Yes, l love her, Le Bret.

''Sometimes l see her walking with me,

''holding my arm

''and smiling, and then l see the shadow of my profile

on the wall!''

''My friend, l have my bitter days

knowing myself so ugly, so alone.''

''My lady would know where

''she can see her valiant cousin privately.

She has certain things to tell him.''

''At the shop of Ragueneau, the pastry cook.''

''Me! She wants to see me!

''Le Bret! l could alone fight one hundred men,

aye, an army now!''

At the shop of Ragueneau

the pastry cook, the poet,

the friend of cavalier and wit and noble.

''l expect someone,

someone who doesn't wish to be known.''

''Last night at the Porte de Nesle

''Cyrano fought one hundred men singlehanded,

ruffians who lay in wait for me!''

''De Guiche was mad with fury

''at my ballad of him.

His men were in ambush on my homeward path.''

''Cyrano proffered escort, scorned assistance.''

''Come, doubters, and see the spoils.''

''This letter to her

''l have written on my heart so many times

''that all l have to do

is to remember and write it down.''

''l... l love someone.''

''A big boy who loves me too,

and is afraid of me, and keeps away and never says one word.''

''He is proud, noble, brave,

a soldier of the Guards!''

''And such a man, so handsome!''

''His name?''

''Baron Christian de Neuvillette.''

''He is not in the Guards.''

''Yes. Since this morning,

under Captain Carbon de Castel-Jaloux.''

''They say that in your company,

''the Gascons provoke and torment

each newly joined recruit.''

''And l thought that if you...

whom they all fear.''

''Rest easy.

l will defend your little Baron.''

''Cyrano, bid him write to me.''

''l always did love you, Cyrano.

You are so good to me.''

''They're looking for you,

''all my cadets and a thousand others,

to salute you for last night.''

''De Guiche is here.

Take care, it was he who ordered last night's attack on Ligniere.''

''l wish to express my admiration, l have heard of your affair.''

''The hats of the rascals hired to slay one poor poet.''

''Sir, pray be good enough to take them to your friends.''

''Read 'Don Quixote', Sir. The chapter of the windmills!

''And remember, if you fight with them...

''they may swing their huge arms

and cast you in the mire!''

''Look! A simple young recruit,

and no Gascon he.''

''Monsieur de Neuvillette,

''in the company in which Cyrano serves

there is one thing never mentioned.''

''We never utter that word before him!''

''The nose. Never!''

''The night was inky black, one could see no farther...''

''Than one's nose.''

''A recruit joined today.''

''Baron Christian de Neuville.''

''l see, very well.''

''l approached the spot where l knew the trap was laid

when a man slashed me...''

''On the nose.''

''l parried the blow and found myself...''

''Nose to nose.''

''Out! All of you!

Leave me alone with this man!''

''At last the tiger wakes!''

''You have courage. Come, embrace me.''

''l am her cousin, almost her brother.''

''Roxane's!''

''We shall find him minced into hash.''

''Roxane expects a letter this evening.''

''Alas! l am lost if l write a letter.

l am a fool. l cannot write!''

''Before women l must hold my tongue.

lf l open my lips l lose their favor!''

''Think you could repeat to her

the things l teach you day by day?''

''This is dreadful. Poor young Baron!''

''Come, we'll win her both together.

''Give her yourself put into words,

my words upon your lips!''

''But the letter...''

''Here! l have amused myself writing vows.

You'll find them all the more eloquent, being insincere!''

''A silence like the tomb!''

''Now we are allowed to talk about his nose?''

''What a horrid smell!''

''You should know, Bergerac, what has lately died here.''

''Cabbage heads!''

The world moves fast.

The weeks flew, and war as well as love was in the land.

His Most Christian Majesty, Louis Xlll, King of France.

''An envoy from His Eminence.''

Fresh reinforcement immediately to Arras.

l respectfully recommend for the command

the Count de Guiche.

Richelieu

''Count de Guiche.''

And if my love has touched

your heart but a little,

then l pray you let me

whisper it in your ear

this night.

Be near the tree

that throws its shadow for lovers

just without my door.

And there was Christian,

the heart of Cyrano beneath his doublet,

the love words of Cyrano upon his lips...

Happy lover, happily beloved.

''No, l've had enough

''taking my words and letters from you.

''Now l know she cares,

l'm not afraid, l'll speak for myself.''

And there also was the Count de Guiche,

his love for Roxane the absorbing portion of his life.

Determined to put it to the test

ere he went to battle.

''Give notice to the monastery

that tonight l require an envoy, one discreet.''

''At last! A lover, bold and brave,

speaking for himself!''

''No, l stay here. Mon Dieu!

l know enough to take her in my arms!''

''lt is she! Cyrano, wait! Stay here!''

''Let us stay here in the twilight.

We shall be alone.''

''Now tell me beautiful things.''

''l love you!''

''Yes, speak to me about love.''

''l love thee.''

''Yes, that is your theme, but...''

''l love you so!''

''You love me, you love me! That l know! Adieu!''

''For Mademoiselle Robin, to her in person. l will follow.''

''l've found a remedy. lt's more than you deserve.''

''Stand there, poor wretch.

l'll go beneath and whisper what to say.''

''No, go away. You tell me nothing.

You do not love me anymore.''

''No, no, not anymore.

l love you ever more and ever more, and more!''

''Love grows and struggles like a child,

breaking my heart.''

''A trifle better.

But tell me why you speak so haltingly.''

''Give place, this grows too difficult!''

''My words falter because they grope in the darkness

toward the light of you.''

''You have never heard till now my own heart speaking!''

''No, your voice is not the same.''

''How should it be?

''l have another voice tonight,

my own!''

''Your name is like a golden bell

''hung in my heart.

''And when l think of you l tremble

''and the bell swings and rings:

Roxane! Roxane!''

''Only let me ask one thing more.''

''A kiss!''

''She is willing! Why not make the most of it?''

''What is that you say to yourself?''

''l said, what is a kiss when all is done?

''A secret whispered to listening lips apart.

A new song, a sacrament of blossoms.''

''Mount, blockhead!''

''The feat of love.

And l am Lazarus lying at the gate in darkness!''

''lt is l, Cyrano. ls Christian there with you?''

The drums are beating

for the march,

but l remain to see you once again.

Be alone tonight,

waiting for one who cares to hope.

De Guiche

''Father this letter concerns you.''

''The Cardinal sends

''this holy man to you

''to perform at once

''the rite of Holy Matrimony.

''You and Christian will be married tonight.

''Be resigned to the Cardinal's command

and receive my respect.''

''l pray you keep the Count out here, until...''

''Where did this man fall from?''

''From the moon!''

''l arrived by the last thunderbolt, my eyes full of stardust,

a tooth of the Great Bear stuck in my boot.''

''Six schemes have l discovered to violate the virgin sky.''

''l might construct a rocket

like a huge locust, driven by impulses of salpetre.''

''Or in a globe blown full of smoke.''

''And last, seated on an iron plate,

''l hurl a magnet in the air.

''The iron follows.

l catch and throw again the magnet.''

''And now the time is up.

''Your Grace is free

and they are bound in wedlock.''

''And now, madame, bid your husband farewell.''

''Somehow that news fails to disquiet me.''

''And have him write to me every single day!''

''That l promise!''

ln Arras, behind the lines of Spain.

And behind the lines of France.

''What a war,

when even the besieger starves!''

''Fine war indeed! We besiege Arras and are in turn besieged!

''And Cyrano laughs and risks his life each night

''to send a letter.

But from what he saw this night, the French today will eat or die!''

The Reveille!

Farewell, Roxane, because today l die,

my heart still heavy with love

l have not told.

''l have something on my mind.

My stomach!''

''ls all your courage in your stomachs?''

''The Count de Guiche!

''ls he to see us miserable?

Quick! Pipes! Cards! Dice!''

''Gentlemen, the Spaniards will attack within the hour.

''You shall have the post of honor,

the privilege of laying down your lives that the rest may live.''

''Sir, l offer all our thanks.

''We shall add

to our six Gascon chevrons,

blue and gold,

a seventh, blood-red!''

''l should like to write farewell to her,

for her to keep.''

''l thought of that.

l have written your letter.''

Farewell, Roxane,

because today l die,

my heart still heavy with love

l have not told.

''This little spot, what is it?''

''A tear!''

''You wept!''

''Why yes, it is a little thing to die, but not to see her...

and l shall never.''

''On the King's service, you?''

''Yes, my own king: Love!

''You cannot stay here. We expect an attack!''

''But l'm not afraid.

''And my hat will look so nice

in the glare of the guns.''

''Will someone bring me a drum?''

''lf you are going to fight, l remain here.

l will die with you!''

''My dear cousin!''

''How did you get through?''

''Why, through the Spanish lines, of course!''

''Where are you going, Se�ora?''

''To my lover.''

''Pass, Senorita!''

''Forgive me.

''lf l had said 'my husband'

no one would have let me pass.''

''My company now

has the fairest banner in the army!''

''With her smiling on me, l could die happy,

if only l had something in my...''

''l too am starving.

Some partridge, pastry, a little wine, will someone bring them to me?''

''ln my carriage, ready to serve.''

''Ragueneau!''

''lf she should speak of the letters

you have written oftener than you think.''

''How often? Twice a week? Three times? Four?''

''Every single day!''

''Now tell me why you came

through all these dangers to me.''

''Your letters. l went mad with you!''

''Each one was like hearing your voice there in the dark.

Each a page like a petal fallen from your soul!''

''l come to sue for pardon,

''for once l loved you only because you were beautiful!

But now l... l could love you were you ugly.''

''l am keeping you! Go smile at those poor fellows,

they are going to die!''

''She does not love me!''

''She loves only my soul that she has read in my letters!''

''That means you! And you love her!''

''Tell her!''

''No! Look me in the face!''

''She said she'd love me if l were ugly.''

''Shall l ruin your happiness because l have a cursed pretty face?

Tell her everything! Let her choose!''

''Cyrano has important news for you.''

The Spanish advance.

''Nothing. Only Christian thinks you ought to know.''

''Did you tell him you would love him even...''

''lf he were ugly?''

''Even grotesque?''

''l... Roxane... listen...''

''Struck by the first fire.

''He stood forth alone,

uncovered, unarmed, took it in his heart!''

''All gone. l cannot ever tell her now, ever.''

''Roxane!''

''l have told her, she loves you.''

''My letter!''

''He is dead, and so am l.

My love mourns for me and does not know.''

''Fly with her, De Guiche. Save her!

l will take your place!''

''l have two deaths to avenge now,

Christian's and my own!''

''Who are these men who are so fond of death?''

''The cadets of Gascoyne,

''the defenders of Carbon,

''free fighters, free lovers, free spenders,

the cadets of Gascoyne!''

Loneliness, sadness, silence flung across the years.

''And you stay here still, ever vainly fair,

ever in weeds... Still faithful?''

''You see Cyrano often?''

''Every Saturday at dusk.

As the hour strikes, he comes.''

''Ah, Ragueneau, still my friend.''

''l'm the snuffer-out of candles for Moli�re.''

''Each day he draws his belt up a hole.

And he has but one coat left, the serge he saves for Saturdays.''

''That will make you fresh enemies.''

''l am always happy to make fresh enemies out of hypocrites.''

The friendship of Count de Guiche.

''The other day at court

l overheard a man say that Cyrano would die by accident.''

''Keep him at home all you can. Tell him to be careful.''

lt was Saturday.

''We have brought our old friend's favorite chair.''

''l will run for the surgeon!''

''How strange for him to be late, for the first time.''

''Silence! 'Tis nothing!''

''After fourteen years, late for the first time.''

''l shall not let you go till darkness falls.''

''Perhaps a little before dark l must go.''

''That old wound... at Arras.''

''lt is nothing. lt will soon be gone.''

''We all have our old wounds.''

''Mine is here, beneath this faded scrap of writing,

hard to read now, all but the blood and the tears.''

''His letter! You promised that some day you would let me read it.''

''Farewell, Roxane, for today l die.''

''My heart still so heavy

with love l have not told.''

''You read his letter...

''in such a voice...

l seem to remember.''

''That voice, in the darkness long ago.''

''My heart cries out and keeps crying... Farewell, my dear, my dearest.''

''l shall not leave you. ln another world, l shall still be

the one who loves you, loves you beyond measure.''

''lt was you!''

''The letters, that was you! The dear, foolish words, that was you!''

''The voice that thrilled me in the night, that was you!''

''You loved me!''

''No, no, my own dear love, l love you not!''

''He has killed himself, Madam, coming here!''

''Then the Gazette will say,

''an hour before dinner,

''Monsieur de Bergerac died,

foully murdered.''

''Ragueneau, weep not for me.''

''l have done this to you!''

''l had never known womanhood and its sweetness, but for you.''

''Not there! Not seated!''

''Let the old fellow come!

He shall find me on my feet.''

''Sword in hand!''

''He grins, he's looking at my nose,

that skeleton!''

''l know them now. Ancient enemies.''

''Falsehood! Prejudice! Compromise! Cowardice!''

''All my laurels you have given away,

''all my roses.

''But there is one crown, one thing without stain,

in spite of doom mine own, that l bear away to God!''

''And that is...''

''My white plume.''

THE END