What IS that film?

July 21, 2010 12:44 AM

Name that film: A noble woman in 18th C. France dresses as a man. I seem to remember her wearing a uniform but am unsure if she's in the military. She sets something of a trend and other women begin to copy her. She meets a man. He doesn't initially know that she's a woman. A love interest develops. I probably saw it on HBO or the like sometime in the mid 80's. It was probably released around the same time.
posted by Vavuzi to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

Orlando?
posted by Ghidorah at 12:59 AM on July 21, 2010

Impromptu, with Judy Davis as George Sand?
posted by roger ackroyd at 1:23 AM on July 21, 2010

Impromptu (1991) about George Sand, with Judy Davis?
posted by xueexueg at 1:24 AM on July 21, 2010

Seconding Impromptu.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 1:43 AM on July 21, 2010

Uh, thirding, that is.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 1:43 AM on July 21, 2010

Lady Oscar?
posted by Phanx at 2:05 AM on July 21, 2010

Young Catherine?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkbUDkq1scg&feature=related

See 1:55 for men's clothing

I know, it's not France, and it's from the 90s not the 80s, but she does dress as a military man and her court is made to follow suit as discussed in the comments. There's also a 1995 version with Catherine Zeta Jones that might include that type of scene as well...
posted by avidreader at 4:32 AM on July 21, 2010

Response by poster: Definitely not Orlando or Impromptu. I've taken a look at a slice of Lady Oscar on the nets, but can't tell if it's the movie I remember. Off to Netflix! (And thanks for the answers!)
posted by Vavuzi at 12:59 PM on July 21, 2010

Could it be Madamigella di Maupin?. It's an Italian films which otherwise corresponds quite well to your description.
posted by rom1 at 1:32 AM on August 3, 2010