Overview
A tale of betrayal and hidden legacies unfolds in the French countryside.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- romantic
- thrilling
- witty
- adventure night
- period film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an enchanting, richly detailed French swashbuckler balancing romance, political intrigue, exciting swordplay, and warm comic energy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lagardère survives the massacre, conceals Aurore, and spends two decades preparing to confront Gonzague.
Lagardère gains Gonzague’s confidence and employment by presenting himself as a hunchbacked bookkeeper.
Gonzague plots against his cousin while concealing the existence of the Duke’s rightful daughter and heir.
The film is presented as a richly detailed seventeenth-century period piece with elaborate costumes, settings, and swordplay.
Films like On Guard, and why
The Three Musketeers
shared swashbuckling adventure, historical intrigue, romance, and elaborate swordplay
The Count of Monte Cristo
shared French period setting, revenge narrative, disguise, and romantic adventure
The Man in the Iron Mask
shared lavish historical spectacle, political conspiracy, and charismatic swordplay
The Prisoner of Zenda
shared classic swashbuckler energy, court intrigue, disguise, and playful romance
Movie Details
- Director
- Philippe de Broca
- Release Date
- 1997-12-03
- Runtime
- 128 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (214)
Cast
- Daniel Auteuil
- Fabrice Luchini
- Vincent Perez
- Marie Gillain
- Yann Collette
- Jean-François Stévenin
- Didier Pain
- Claire Nebout
- Philippe Noiret
- Charlie Nelson
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is On Guard about?
- A master swordsman hides behind a hunchbacked disguise to protect a lost heiress and avenge a dynastic massacre.
- What is On Guard like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of On Guard as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is On Guard violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in On Guard as moderate.
- What did critics think of On Guard?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an enchanting, richly detailed French swashbuckler balancing romance, political intrigue, exciting swordplay, and warm comic energy.
- Which films are like On Guard?
- Films with a similar feel include The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Man in the Iron Mask, and The Prisoner of Zenda.
- How long is On Guard?
- On Guard runs 128 minutes.
- Where can I watch On Guard?
- In United States, On Guard is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
