Quentin Durward

Quentin Durward is a French-German swashbuckler TV series. It was produced in 1970, directed by Gilles Grangier and broadcast in 1971. The series starred the German actor Amadeus August as the protagonist and the French actress Marie-France Boyer as Isabelle de Croye. The series was based on Sir Walter Scott's in 1823 published novel Quentin Durward. It concerns a Scottish soldier who serves French King Louis XI while the King has to overcome the schemes of his rival Charles the Bold and Jean Balue. The TV series kept close to the classic novel and was often shot at historic French locations. The French version consists of 7 instalments of 52 minutes each, while the dubbed German version had 13 episodes of about 25 minutes apiece. Both versions have been made available on DVD.

Directed by Jacques Sommet, Quentin Durward leans on a strong ensemble — Amadeus August, Marie-France Boyer, Georges Marchal — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about history titles of 1971.