sheilahcraft I have just watched this film, and it lives up to the 1885 Jules Verne novel. Louis Jourdan is the perfect choice for the title role, not only because he is an actor of depth and breadth, but because he understood what Mathias Sandorf fought for--liberty. Jourdan worked with the French cause during WW II, and his father was imprisoned. Jourdan knew what it was like to fight for life and liberty, and this is evident in his performance. Equally emotive is his love for his daughter in the film, highlighting the importance of family. Mathias even sets his daughter's beau, who is part of the enemy forces, free at the end of the film: in part due to his daughter's feelings, and in part due to loathing the idea of revenge.This film at heart deals with themes of liberty, loyalty, and love in one of the most emotionally-moving films I have ever seen.

dbdumonteil The novel by Jules Verne was part political ,part "count of Monte Cristo"(dedicated to Dumas,by the way);it was Hungary trying to escape from the Austrian empire's yoke.A long part of the novel was the hero's revenge (like Dumas' hero ).The movie is a fiasco ,in spite of talented actors such as Louis Jourdan (who could have been ,even his age,a dashing hero ,but does not seem to give a damn about the part he plays);the political side is extremely vague and we do not know WHY the people are victims of oppression ;the countries are ,in the screenplay ,imaginary -their names are not known:actually it looks like internal political tensions. .Besides ,the governor (played by Bunelian actor Francisco Rabal:"Nazarin" and "Viridiana" ,two classics) is loyal,nice,good-looking,and to make the matters worse,in love with the hero's daughter;this vapid virgin is in a Cornelian situation,where love and duty conflict!But once again,with such a man ("I must obey orders"),what's the use of rebelling? Two brigands ,who give the movie a Robin Hood side ("I prefer stealing from the Rich") plus an infamous informer ("it's my duty,no more loyal than I" )and his henchman with two huge hounds ,in a desultory script .Besides,Georges Lampin does not know how to direct an action scene and the crowds are left to their own devices .NB:the novel had already been filmed in the silent age,in the early twenties.