Fort Saganne (1984) (1 Viewer)

[Scott]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087284/

Fort Saganne (1984)

"..French civilization in the desert. Saganne is of peasant stock, with courage and a forceful will. In 1911, he volunteers and is posted to the Sahara under the aristocratic Colonel Dubreuilh. He catches the eye of Madeline, the daughter of the regional administrator. In the desert, Saganne is a leader, with the respect of Arabs, including Amajan, an independent warrior. After resourceful campaigns, Saganne goes on a diplomatic mission to Paris, where he has an affair with a journalist. Back in Africa, he leads a gallant defense against Sultan Omar, is awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, and marries Madeline. Then the Great War puts at risk his success and happiness."


"..Alain Corneau's sweeping epic stars Gérard Depardieu as Charles Saganne, a French peasant who enlists in the army. Assigned to a garrison town in the Sahara, he quickly moves up the ranks and is awarded the French Legion of Honor. The visually stunning film follows Saganne's adventures from 1911 to 1914, from his military triumphs to his affairs with a spirited journalist (Catherine Deneuve) and a local official's daughter (Sophie Marceau)."



Long, slow, and very "French" (English subtitles) but there are two desert battles between French colonial troops and tribesmen worth watching. Two beautiful actresses, Catherine Deneuve and Sophie Marceau, but the nude scene goes to (?) Gérard Depardieu as Saganne. Nice portrayal of native troops with pretty good uniforms.

Available on Netflix...

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Fort_Saganne/70098838?trkid=226870

 

[The General]

Never heard of it but I'll definately keep an eye out for it.

Sounds pretty good.

 

[PolarBear]

Scott

Thank you for telling us about this film. I immediately rented it from Netflix and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in French Colonial soldiers from the late 19th C through WWI. Here are 2 stills from the film shot from my TV to indicate why this film should appeal to toy soldier collectors. The desert photography throughout the film is breathtaking. There are lots of camels and camel troops as well. The stills show French Spahis and Senegalese Tirailleurs. I have also included 2 late 19th C French Uniform plates of the same subjects, although a little earlier in date than the ones in the film. I have also added a set of WWI Spahis made by Beau Geste.

Randy

 

[Scott]

Randy,

Your welcome. I found with NETFLIX that you can take a chance on films you haven't seen or heard of before. (I hadn't.) I thought the French Foriegn Legion handled all the "desert stuff" but the movie was great at showing the native infantry and the Spahis. Perhaps Armies-In-Plastic Bedouins could be converted to these troops.

I liked the "last stand" fight that turned into a successful "Camerone."

 

[PolarBear]

Pictures of the ruins of the set built as Fort Saganne