Gallant Ladies

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The digitization and restoration of this film remain

faithful to the body and spirit of the original work.

They have been made

possible by funding from

1575, in France:

the 5th war of religion.

Brantme sets off for war

trying to forget the beautiful

and ardent ladies of his life...

In these days, set

under the cloud of sorrow...

calamity and misery...

it's pleasant to make merry.

Ah! Kissing, cuddling, hugging...

undressing each other...

gently warming each other!

Women are the joy of my life.

I like them lively, broken in...

libertine and a little whorish.

No prudish, wary, faithful ones for me!

You won't stop me thinking of them!

I accepted.

Her servant blindfolds me...

and leads me to a carriage.

One hour later...

I'm pushed up some stairs...

I feel the sweet warmth...

of a wood fire.

A chambermaid says:

"My lady is four steps in front of you.

"Don't try to make her speak,

or remove your blindfold.

Or you'll be killed."

I approached.

The mysterious lady smelled nice.

I started feeling her...

kissing her...

What then?

Then I went six stations with the lady.

At each skirmish...

I tried new caresses...

to make her give herself away.

She never made a single sound.

Six stations...

With God's leave!

In the name of religion!

Should I die tonight...

whom will I think of at the end?

Victoire, of course!

How lovely the arms of a stranger are!

If I have to dream of a lady,

let it be one I never had!

The most mysterious...

a lady of high breeding

and every intrigue!

The Queen of Navarre!

They say the boxes at her waist...

contain the hearts of her dead lovers.

Since her husband left her,

everyone is passionate about her.

They say she is most loving.

Will I die without having

tasted her charms?

Brantme...

you who are so popular, come over here.

The Queen of Navarre and I need

a brave, selfless man for a task.

Forget him, I've better.

I must make women laugh to love them.

What a tiresome business!

Stand! You're my prisoner!

No sir, you're mine!

La Paloterie?

Brantme?

I've lost my men.

Have a drop of brandy.

How can I like war?

I hate the countryside!

After I left court...

did you still frequent Mme. de Chantenac?

You and I were rivals, old boy.

When you joined the Protestants,

I went to her...

and took my leave of her.

If I leave here alive...

war's over for me.

I won't fight the Protestants again.

And I can't afford soldiers.

Why try to change?

I'm only happy at court with the ladies.

All those with whom I've made merry...

thrive within me.

I'm tied to them forever.

I can't forget some of them.

Mademoiselle d'Angoulme...

Ah, yes, Mademoiselle d'Angoulme!

I'm of royal blood. I have to be on top.

Jeanne de Tignonville!

That lasted for some time.

It lasts still.

Really?

A complicated lady.

You have to chase her

for two hours or more.

But then!

Maybe we should return to our armies.

I've an idea.

You'll need arms to continue.

I can sell you some.

For your court expenses.

Goodbye, Brantme.

My love to our ladies.

From now on, the war of love!

Beware! It can be more

dangerous than the other.

When I get to court, I'll find Mme.

de Saint-Luc...

faithful to her husband

as she lifts her skirt.

Not on the lips.

I've sworn to be faithful to my husband.

I'll never waver

between pleasure and duty.

I'll choose both at once!

There's only one who's a lady...

a tasty piece and a wanton hussy.

Victoire! Victoire d'Estrivos!

Recently arrived from Italy...

at the request of her

cousin, the Queen Mother...

Victoire, a lass of lowly birth...

married M. de Mareuil, who had

some vineyards in Touraine.

Like many a cuckold, he thought

his new wife a virgin.

It's pigeon's blood.

The next morning...

she excitedly showed him

the proof of his virility.

I don't remember a thing.

You deflowered me so well!

Within 3 months,

the aphrodisiacs killed him.

I offered his widow my sympathy.

Say and do what you like.

You won't stop me dying!

When nothing can take away sorrow...

there's one last solution.

Stop it!

Believe me, it's the only way.

Thank you.

You're a friend.

A war wound?

No, a jealous husband.

She married the Comte d'Estrivos...

who made a fortune in the spice trade.

Brantme, a wedding

without you isn't a wedding.

To honour Victoire without her

husband suspecting...

I'll pretend to love another.

Paris, the paradise of women...

the hell of mules...

and the purgatory of supplicants...

Was the night good?

It was housebound, Sire.

Some ladies lack inspiration.

Brantme!

No more soldiering?

I can't live away from court, Sire.

Away from court or the ladies?

I did something you'll never

do:
I'm married.

Let's hear of your merrymaking.

I'm too poor to think of ladies now.

Have you heard, Bussy?

No, Sire.

The Comte d'Estrivos died last night.

D'Estrivos?

Yesterday, after supper.

He ate 2 partridges and a pheasant.

The pheasant killed him.

Victoire is a better catch now.

Victoire...

if only I'd known her before I wed!

Tell the queen to go to the chapel.

Here she is, Sire.

I suppose you'll go

to console the countess?

She deserves it.

Tell the countess

that Pierre de Brantme...

wishes to offer his condolences.

My dear friend...

I can't get used to it.

Crying is all that's left to me.

I cry a lot, it does me good.

What a tragedy!

He loved his food!

He ate five meals a day.

Oh, he was a happy man.

He'd put on 60 pounds since the wedding.

Don't let anyone in.

I'm here for all your misfortunes.

Yes.

You took advantage of me last time.

I was so distraught...

It's all very well staying

at court with us...

but it won't feed you.

That's true!

I live off my stipend

as a Lord of the King's Chamber...

and the money from my abbey. And only...

because my brothers are dead.

Thank God I'm not a priest!

Ask the king for another stipend.

He promised me one...

You should have gone to Poland with him.

Is it my fault his wedding changed him?

Before, we often had the same mistresses.

You mustn't rely on others.

Do as I did. I started out with nothing.

I now have a large income,

and my husband's estate.

Get married.

Plight my troth...

I've thought of it.

Plight your troth... That's horrible!

I couldn't live alone.

I need a husband near me.

A more sturdy one this time.

Do you have someone in mind?

I think I've found him.

How delicate of you...

to tell me that just now!

For 6 months now,

the Marchal de Labadens...

has been trying more serious things.

He was a terrible lover.

He'll be a good husband.

Have you ever considered me?

You?

A present, for you.

You refuse a woman's gift?

That's silly of you.

Their bodies are gifts too.

In case you change your mind.

Heavens, my husband's family

from Pithiviers!

Get dressed! They mustn't

see you, for my sake!

Is it safe?

- Don't worry. I'm used to this.

I was always saved...

by never forgetting all the women I knew.

A mighty lord, away at war...

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