Scaramouche (1952) review

Fatherless rascal Andre Moreau (Stewart Granger) hops on the scene to discover his actress girlfriend Lenore (Eleanor Parker) is about to marry another man (which he stops), falls quickly in love with Aline de Gavrillac de Bourbon (Janet Leigh) only to realize she might be his biological sister (whoops!), learns his best friend Philippe de Valmorin (Richard Anderson) is spreading revolutionary pamphlets, watches him get killed by the Marquis de Mayne (Mel Ferrer) and then craves revenge (with proper training in the art of fencing).  While he may not be Fairbanks, Flynn or Barrymore, Granger is more than adequate as the lead of this classic adventure tale which was adapted from the novel by Rafael Sabatini - as it's been noted elsewhere, the fight choreography is exemplary, the ladies are pretty and Ferrer is clearly relishing playing the villain.  The story flags a tiny bit in the middle, but I find it clever that Moreau "finds refuge" in a theatrical troupe, accidentally taking over the role of holy fool "Scaramouche" (who conveniently wears a mask to hide his "hideous face") and getting slapped around on-stage for the audience's enjoyment ... and then the ending has some extra "twists" just for fun.  Disappointing side note: he does not, at any point, do the fandango.