Marquis is a 1989 French-language film, produced in Belgium and France, based on the life and writings of the Marquis de Sade. All the actors wear animal masks,[1] and their voices are dubbed. There are a few scenes involving clay animation. The film was a project by French cartoonist Roland Topor, who had previously delivered the imagery for the animated cult classic La Planète Sauvage (1973). Marquis too is considered a cult classic today.[2][3][4]

Marquis
German poster
Directed byHenri Xhonneux
Written byMarquis de Sade (writings)
Roland Topor
Henri Xhonneux
Produced byClaudie Ossard
Eric van Beuren
StarringFrançois Marthouret (voice)
Valérie Kling (voice)
Michel Robin (voice)
Isabelle Wolfe (voice)
Vicky Messica (voice)
René Lebrun (voice)
CinematographyÉtienne Fauduet
Edited byChantal Hymans
Music byReinhardt Wagner
Production
companies
Aligator Producciones
Tchin Tchin Productions
Distributed byNetherlands: Cor Koppies Filmverhuur
USA: YC Alligator Film
Release date
  • 26 April 1989 (1989-04-26) (France)
Running time
88 minutes
CountriesBelgium
France
LanguageFrench

The tagline used in the US release was, "A bizarre tale of sex, lust, and the French Revolution".

Plot

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In pre-revolutionary France, the canine Marquis de Sade sits in jail working on his writing and having conversations with his penis which has a face and is named Colin. When Colin is not whining about his need for stimulation and espousing his impulsive philosophies, he is "telling stories" that make up the Marquis' work (some of which is illustrated via clay animation).

The Marquis was imprisoned for allegedly defecating on a cross, however he is also accused of raping and impregnating the bovine Justine. The latter is a plot by the camel-headed priest Don Pompero and the cocky Gaetan De Preaubois try to keep secret the fact that Justine's rapist was actually the King of France.

Meanwhile, the revolutionaries prepare to stage a coup and depose the king, under the lead of Juliette de Titane, an equine noble. Several of the inmates are also political prisoners leading to several failed escape attempts which land the inmates in the Bastille dungeon. They are eventually freed, however, by the revolutionaries.

Colin eventually falls in love with Juliette and runs away with her to continue the revolution, leaving the Marquis to continue his writing and to muse about his life in peace.

Voices

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Character Voice of:
Marquis de Sade François Marthouret
Colin Valérie Kling
Ambert Michel Robin
Justine Isabelle Wolfe
Don Pompero Vicky Messica
Gaetan De Preaubois René Lebrun

Sources

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  1. ^ "Roland Topor - Lambiek Comiclopedia".
  2. ^ "Roland Topor, short biography, prints Champetier". Mchampetier.com. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Theatrical Catalog". First Run Features. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Roland Topor - Lambiek Comiclopedia".
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