On Guard (1997 film)

On Guard
French theatrical release poster
Directed byPhilippe de Broca
Written by
  • Philippe de Broca
  • Jean Cosmos
  • Jerome Tonnerre
Based onLe Bossu
by Paul Féval
Produced byPatrick Godeau
Starring
CinematographyJean-François Robin
Edited byHenri Lanoë
Music byPhilippe Sarde
Production
company
Distributed byAMLF
Release date
  • 3 December 1997 (1997-12-03) (France)
Running time
128 minutes
CountriesFrance
Italy
LanguageFrench
Budget$23.6 million
Box office$14.6 million

On Guard (French: Le Bossu) is a 1997 French swashbuckler film directed by Philippe de Broca and starring Daniel Auteuil, Fabrice Luchini, Vincent Perez, and Marie Gillain. Adapted from the 1858 historical novel Le Bossu by Paul Féval, the film is about a skilled swordsman named Lagardère who is befriended by the Duke of Nevers. When the duke is attacked by his evil cousin Gonzague, the duke in his dying moments asks Lagardère to avenge him and look after his infant daughter.

On Guard was released on 3 December 1997 in France. The film had 2,385,688 admissions in France and grossed $96,750 in the United States. On Guard received the César Award for Best Costume Design, and eight César Award nominations for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Music, and Best Production Design in 1998. The film also received a BAFTA Film Award nomination for Best Film in 1999.