ADVENTURES OF GERARD

In the much smaller back room in an undisclosed outpost far from civilization, we had the chance on an overcast blustery day to view Jerzy Skolimowski's first English language film, ADVENTURES OF GERARD (1970). With no reference besides the fact that this film stands between Skolimowski's promising start in Poland and his international career, it became obvious that there is good reason his handful of first big budget films have slipped through the cracks.

If one had not been previously informed that this was a Skolimowski film, there is little to indicate of his influence, at first glance. Taken from a series of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories, and produced by the British Sir Nigel Films, the subject concerns the adventure of a Colonel in Napoleon's army in Spain, a far cry from the previous Skolimowski standard subject of primarily personal stories of student life in Poland. A promising Panavision intro segues into the dreaded and unfortunate pan and scan for the duration of the film. Disappointment over the pan and scan treatment becomes laughable disappointment when the dialogue starts. Although the cast is a mix of English and Italian, even the English dialogue spoken by native speakers is not properly matched in dubbing, and even the sound effects are offset by a second or two. Undaunted, we forged ahead, hoping to discover the Skolimowski beneath.

The budget for the film apparently was sizable, with large cast of fully costumed soldiers, horses, explosions, sumptuous wardrobe for Claudia Cardinale, and was shot on location in Spain and in the studios at Cinecitta. The somewhat well known British theater actor Peter Mc Enery stars as the titular Colonel Girard, with a heavily pancaked Eli Wallach as the Emperor Napoleon and Cardinale as (what else?) the pouty female attraction (Wallach and Cardinale together again, only two years after ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, you may recall.). An amusing score flits around the film, pairing tuba and harpsichord with whistling and more standard Italian spaghetti western style voice and orchestra, but doesn't add much to highlight the scenes. The story, a typical British satire of the French, of war, of love, holds no surprises.

So, where's our man, Jerzy in all this? A few 180-degree panning shots in the beginning of the film bring to mind similar scenes in early black and white Skolimowski films, and there seems to be a touch of the Skolimowski wry humor in the timing of the close ups. DP Witold Sobocinski, who also worked with Wadja and Polanski, may have been an influence, as well. There is a lack of unease and psychological distance that is found in earlier Skolimowski films, yet the film doesn't have the look of contemporary British or Italian films and is too much of a mish-mash to make a cohesive statement with the subject matter of a traditional British novel.

ADVENTURES OF GERARD holds interest mainly in bridging the gap in Skolimowski's career. While not a great find, it provided a way to pass the time on said overcast blustery day and provided a chance to contemplate the careers of directors who have stumbling blocks in their histories in the transition between independent film making and big budget film making. A non pan and scan version would have added more appeal, as the scenery and photography is perfect for the wide screen format. Proper dubbing would also have made the film more watchable, as the actors appear to have been able to carry the dialogue well.