Double Alain Delon, Double The Fun: ‘The Black Tulip’ Reviewed
by Rachel Bellwoar
As film critic and author Simon Abrams brings up in his commentary, black tulips don’t actually grow in nature, so the fact that Guillaume seemingly has an endless supply of them (and given the unlikelihood that he’s painting those tulips black in his spare time) it’s a funny flaw in this film’s premise. Technically Christian-Jaque‘s The Black Tulip is based on Alexandre Dumas’ novel of the same name (one of the characters is even identified as a descendent of Porthos, one of the musketeers from Dumas’ more famous novel), but that’s not strictly true either, as Abrams gets into. The real Black Tulip is about horticulturists, though, so the story does have flower origins.
Whatever the lack of logic in the tulips Guillaume uses as calling cards and to warn people he’s coming for them, The Black Tulip is extremely entertaining and a great film the whole family can enjoy if the subtitles aren’t a hindrance.
The story is very Robin Hood-coded, with some Prince and the Pauper thrown in for good measure. Alain Delon plays twins. The one twin, Guillaume, has become a bit of a folk hero but is at risk of his identity being exposed. The police commissioner (Adolfo Marsillach) nicked his cheek with a sword so now he needs his brother, Julian, to pretend to be him while it heals. The locals have Guillaume all wrong, though. Julien’s the twin who actually shares their ideals and, as the Black Tulip, plans to improve their situation.
On paper, Guillaume sounds like a Jean-Paul Belmondo role (all charisma and action) more than it does a Delon role (who tends to play aloof), but Delon nails both parts. While he’s not asked to play against himself too often (so no scenes where the film tries to pass the wrong brother off as the other), he gives both twins very different characterisations.
Dario Cecchi‘s costumes are excellent as well, especially Delon’s for the scenes where he’s mingling with the rich and not blending in whatsoever. Wearing an all-white outfit (including powdered wig) will do that, but it’s just rich people being extravagant.
The entire cast is in on the tongue-in-cheek tone and even the stuffy, uppercrust characters are fun to watch (unlike in real life). What’s not a given when it comes to swashbucklers is that the female characters will have much to do but Caro (Virna Lisi) is every bit the heroine the Black Tulip is, fighting beside him (in pants!) and having the ripped sleeves to show for it (and not in a sexist, my-outfit’s-falling-apart way but in a this is legit and I’m matching you blow for blow way). The best part is she doesn’t give up her tomboy ways to become a “lady” by the end of the picture. Turns out you can be the love interest and not treated like a fragile flower.
If I had to be nitpicky, the sword fights are just fine – sufficient, but nothing spectacular and with enough shadows and dirt being kicked around to hide the stunt doubles. They’re bloodless, too, but that’s not a bad thing and adds to the family friendliness. Throw in a catchy theme song by Gérard Calvi and the result’s a delight.
The Black Tulip is available on Blu-ray now from Kino Lorber.
