Original subtitles

This film was inspired by three plays written by BEAUMARCHAIS:

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO

THE GUILTY MOTHER

Surgeon - Apothecary Barber

Public Writer

Dame Marceline,

the most imposing chaperon in Seville.

- Gather up your razors, powders and lotions!

Doctor Bartholo is expecting you!

Do you fear that Dona Rosine will run away?

Doctor Bartholo, just honest enough

to avoid hanging.

Don Bazile, his wretched soul.

Guardianship Accounts for Rosine d'Astorga

Trim my beard with care,

I want to look my best at the engagement dinner.

This marriage will finally get rid

of all those wretches lurking in the vicinity.

...and, in particular, Count Almaviva,

the most dangerous of all.

Doctor, is your ward to be wed?

You have thus found, in Seville,

a gentleman worthy of her beauty,

her birth and her fortune?

I am marrying her tomorrow!

Rosine, an orphan of noble birth.

This confinement is villainous!

Some air!

Your Excellence, here!!

Count Almaviva,

Governor of Spain.

Figaro, I adore her!

I have never been able to approach her!

Her terrible guardian

keeps her under lock and key.

Alas!

In a few hours, she will become Doctor Bartholo's wife.

Figaro, we must prevent this marriage.

It is Bazile, Rosine's music teacher.

To the tune of this music, sing and tell me the name, the title

and the intentions of he who seems so attached to me

I have been loved too often

for my title and my possessions.

How sweet it would be,

to be loved for myself!

I am Lindor, a commoner,

My desires are those of a simple bachelor.

Ah, Figaro! If you prevent this loathsome marriage,

I shall be eternally grateful to you!

The following day, Figaro began his campaign...

The soldiers are sleeping!

My lord can launch his assault.

I was sent by Don Bazile who is seriously ill...

You lie! Your age and your airs indicate

that you are an insolent gentleman.

Give me proof! Or leave at once.

On Don Bazile's orders,

I searched Count Almaviva's home

and found this letter.

...tell me the name, the title and the intentions

of he who seems so attached to me

Excuse me for my unseemly suspicion and stay;

two will watch over her better than one.

Please, sir, continue your lesson.

Although disguised, I recognised Count Almaviva.

Against a governor of Spain rich and powerful,

which weapon shall I use?

Slander.

I know on good authority

that Count Almaviva gave this note

to one of his mistresses,

and mocked you.

Count Almaviva!

I only know the bachelor Lindor.

Lindor is a vile go-between who works for the Count.

How dreadful!

Lindor! That young man!

Sir, if you consent to pardon my error,

I will become your wife.

Figaro, my dear friend, all is not lost, is it?

How impudent of you!

In spite of all your scheming, scoundrel,

I will wed Rosine at midnight.

My lord, I will hurry to the notary's.

I will entrust you with the keys, Don Bazile. Bring the notary.

Lindor, what did you do with my letter?

To ward off your guardian's suspicions, I had to...

Pathetic Lindor!

I was going to leave everything to follow you.

Yes, as you well know,

this man is the emissary of a powerful man, Count Almaviva!

My lord wished to be loved for himself!

Notary, here are the fiance's!

Could you please sign this?

The two witnesses?

Make way for the Countess Almaviva.

A piece of advice, Doctor Bartholo,

tread cautiously!

Your guardianship accounts

are suspicious.

Let him keep the money! I'm taking his greatest treasure.

Patience, Doctor, I know the Count...

He will avenge you.

Bazile was right!...

Almaviva was not made for wedded life!

After a brief period of respite, he returned

to his frivolous life of before with the courtesans.

What a strange man!

He neglects his wife... yet he loves her and is jealous!

Two leagues from Seville, Almaviva possessed

a princely residence: Aguas-Frescas Chateau.

At her side, a few devoted servants,

Marceline, now lady-in-waiting...

...Figaro, guardian of the chateau...

Suzanne, chief chambermaid...

Don Chérubin,

Countess Rosine's godson,

was delighted to be chosen by her

to be chief page.

Suzanne and I wish to marry,

will her ladyship, the Countess,

grant us her consent?

I hope you will be a happily married wife.

My lord, I have chosen my wife.

Young lady, I haven't yet kissed you

to celebrate your engagement!

Figaro, thank his lordship

for finding your fiancée to his liking.

The Count appears to forget that I am her future husband.

The wedding day.

Grippe-Soleil, you know my intentions!

Go to Suzanne's room!

Suzanne, the Countess is waiting for you at the Temple of Love.

Ah, Suzon! If you wish...

Do not forget my consent is necessary

for you to wed.

And if I added a condition?

Meet me here an hour before the ceremony, otherwise...

I solemnly promise madam two things...

Has madam heard the ballad Don Chérubin composed for her?

Dress up the page as a bride and send him instead of Suzanne.

Madam will exploit my lord's confusion,

and oblige him to respect others!

Make Chérubin practice his part. I will keep watch.

...there was a godmother

that I had always adored...

Suzanne is hanging up my dresses. Do you dare to follow her here?

I must admit, sir... it is not Suzanne!

But someone of little interest...

You duped me, you hussy!

Tonight, my kisses will avenge me!

Chérubin will not replace you to meet the Count...

Say not a word... not even to Figaro!

Where is Suzanne? Have you seen her?

Open your eyes, Figaro!

I saw Suzanne go to meet my lord at the Temple of Love.

Let me embrace you.

In order to please you, I must disguise myself.

Excuse him, madam! To not further delay my marriage.

At the chateau everyone is talking about a certain romance...

You are tall for a page.

I will entrust you with a company in my army.

You will leave tomorrow.

The next morning, many tears were shed.

Sacred Mother, protect his child.

The following spring, Countess Almaviva

spent several weeks

on an isolated estate

that she had inherited.

A sturdy boy.

The same year... the regiment's post.

Our sin has been punished. I have given birth to a son.

Bégéarss, a wily adventurer,

for whom war

is a means of succeeding.

On my deathbed, I beg you

to not render the child responsible for his father's error.

For... Countess Almaviva...

Aguas-Frescas Chateau.

When the peace treaty was signed...

I had the honor of being Don Chérubin d'Astorga's friend.

On his deathbed,

Don Chérubin considered me worthy of his confidence.

On my deathbed, I beg you

to not render the child

responsible for his father's error.

I die adoring you. Chérubin.

He atoned! I shall atone.

May God forgive us both.

Major, would you join me in my boudoir?

I have a favour to ask of you.

Bégéarss is a dangerous hypocrite. Watch over him!

I consider this letter a sacred relic.

I can't bear to forsake it.

Where is Suzannne?

I want this box to have a hidden compartment.

Can you carry out this work, in secret?

The Count returns, more mature, calmer, changed.

I was wrong to treat you so, Rosine!

I swear that from now on, I will be worthy of such a perfect wife.

Warmly recommended by the guileless Rosine,

Bégéarss became the Count's private secretary.

This schemer has a plan: we must discover what it is!

Always seeing you so sad! It pains my heart sol!

Suzanne, you are so shrewd, worthy of your husband!

You must manipulate this man, as you would this puppet!

No... no... it is not me that you love!

It is true! I am skillfully wooing the Countess...

...An ambitious tactic, my dear!

A great dame can do much

for the one she loves.

Do not abuse my kindness, sir...

If you talk of your love once more,

I will chase you away like a lackey.

I do not know what to give the Countess for her birthday!

Advise me, you are her confidant.

I know that madam wishes to add to her turquoise jewels.

Suzon, give me your mistress' jewelry box.

I beg you, my lord, do not go to such trouble...

What will madam say? Her box is broken.

I fear for my poor mistress! Bégéarss is a monster.

Sir... you scare me! What troubles you so?

Madam, you have betrayed me!

Dear God, let me die!

Thus, my lord, neither death nor tears

can redeem a moment of folly?

Stay, Rosine, let us try to forget.

Perhaps I am the guilty one!

He has been branded with an iron, the monster.

THE END

Scan 4K of two negatives, A and B roll,

from the Cinémathéque francaise and Gaumont Restauration 2K

in collaboration with the CNC and Image Animée.

The work was carried out by Eclair.

Subtitles: ECLAIR V&A