The Adventures of Gerard (1970)

Based on the short story collection The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard, by Arthur Conan Doyle, first published in 1896.

Set in Spain during the Napoleonic wars, a series of comical adventures involving a vain and not very bright Hussar of the French army. He is assigned with delivering a message to a French officer who is trying to capture a castle, and gets involved with a beautiful Spanish woman.

Farcical comedy. Wikipedia, talking about the literary source, describes the movie well:

"Conan Doyle, in making his hero a vain, and often rather uncomprehending, Frenchman, was able to satirise both the stereotypical English view of the French and – by presenting them from Gerard's baffled point of view – English manners and attitudes."

Too bad it does not work so well in the movie. The humor comes off awkward and unfunny, even though the main actor does what he can to lend some dignity to it.

Rating: 40