Courtesy Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The most astounding thing about Cyrano is not that this film, based on a French comedy from the 1890s, begins with Peter Dinklage performing a sword-fighting rap battle. It’s that this is, in fact, how the original play began.
The original play introduces Cyrano as a large-nosed, charismatic, obnoxious, lovable, bombastic poet who declares his genius in clever verse while insulting his enemies. At one boorish rival, he playfully offers a rhyming speech that translates something like: “Huge, my nose! Vile shrimp, stupid pug, flat head, suppose / that this appendage is a point of pride.” He’s fun, a little mean, bold, and under it all woefully
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