The Fighting Guardsman

{{short description|1946 film by Henry Levin}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = The Fighting Guardsman | image = File:The Fighting Guardsman.jpg | caption = | director = Henry Levin | producer = Michael Kraike | screenplay = Edward Dein <br />Franz Schulz | based_on = ''The Companions of Jehu'' by Alexander Dumas | narrator = | starring = Willard Parker <br> Anita Louise <br> Janis Carter <br> John Loder | music = Paul Sawtell | cinematography = Burnett Guffey | editing = Viola Lawrence | studio = Columbia Pictures | distributor = Columbia Pictures | released = {{film date|1945|3}} | runtime = 84 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = }} '''''The Fighting Guardsman''''' is a 1945 American historical adventure film directed by Henry Levin and starring Willard Parker, Anita Louise, Janis Carter and John Loder. Distributed by Columbia Pictures, it is a swashbuckler based on the 1857 novel ''The Companions of Jehu'' by Alexander Dumas.

==Plot== A French baron leads rebels like a Robin Hood, stealing Louis XVI's taxes to give to the poor. He is love with an aristocrat woman, Amelie, whose brother Gaston is determined to catch the thief.

==Cast== * Willard Parker as Roland, also known as the Baron de Saint-Hermaine * Anita Louise as Amelie de Montrevel * Janis Carter as Christine Roualt * John Loder as Sir John Tanlay * Edgar Buchanan as Pepe * George Macready as Gaston de Montrevel * Lloyd Corrigan as King Louis XVI * Shelley Winters as Nanette * Edith Evanson as Madame Paquin * Mauritz Hugo as Andre * Ray Teal as Albert * Maurice Tauzin as Edouard de Montrevel * Victor Kilian as Montebar * Elisabeth Risdon as Madame de Montrevel * Ted Hecht as Emile * Ian Wolfeas Prefect Berton * John Cason as Baptiste * Ethan Laidlaw as Jacques * Gino Corrado as Roualt

==Production== It was Parker's first lead role; he made it on his return from the army.<ref>{{cite news|title='Hunk of Man' Parker Cast as Swashbuckler: Metro Captures Warners' Find, Plans Build-up; Robert Duke Lead in 'Faces'|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=11 Dec 1944|page= 11}}</ref> Leslie Brooks was to play a key role but fell ill and was replaced by Janis Carter.<ref>{{cite news|title=Illness causes switch in Gauardman leads|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |date=16 December 1944|page=5}}</ref> Filming started in December 1944.<ref>{{cite news|title=Willard Parker to Play Lead Role in Columbia's 'The Fighting Guardsman' -- Six Films Due This Week|newspaper=New York Times| date=11 Dec 1944|page= 19}}</ref>

==Reception== ''Variety'' said "Film, despite its period setting, is an overdressed cops-and-robbers opera with plenty of flintlock and saber play to provide the major source of interest... Henry Levin's direction strives too hard for swashbuckling effects and while the film-goes at a fast clip, it falls foo casily into hokey lines. Attempts to set off Parker as a superman capable of takine on a dozen adversaries imultaneously often brings titters. Acting is routine."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Fighting Guardsman|magazine=Variety|date=10 October 1945|url=https://archive.org/details/variety160-1945-10/page/n71/mode/1up?|page=8}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb title|0037698}} *[https://archive.org/details/pressbook-col-the-fighting-guardsman/mode/2up? Complete pressbook] at Internet Archive *[https://letterboxd.com/film/the-fighting-guardsman/watch/ ''The Fighting Guardsman''] at Letterbox DVD * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130609050453/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/27485/The-Fighting-Guardsman/ ''The Fighting Guardsman''] at TCMDB

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fighting Guardsman, The}} Category:1945 films Category:American swashbuckler films Category:1940s swashbuckler films Category:Films directed by Henry Levin Category:Films set in France Category:Films set in the 18th century Category:1940s historical adventure films Category:American historical adventure films Category:Columbia Pictures films Category:American black-and-white films Category:Films scored by Paul Sawtell Category:Films based on works by Alexandre Dumas Category:1945 English-language films Category:1945 American films Category:English-language historical adventure films