Captain Fracassa's Journey is a 1990 Italian comedy film directed by Ettore Scola. The film is based on the 1863 novel Captain Fracasse by Théophile Gautier. It was entered into the 41st Berlin International Film Festival.

Plot

The story takes place in France during 1600s. A ramshackle theater company of Commedia dell'arte (Comedy of Art) has to roam through the provinces, hoping to reach the court of Louis XIII. However, it often remains for days on a single place. In fact, a member of the company is seriously ill and so the actor who plays Punch (Troisi) tells how it all took place to a traveler who sees the bandwagon. The theater company recently was already going to visit the King of France that he might have better luck presenting their games and shows, but they ran into a storm. There, the members sought refuge in what appeared a ruined castle, where they are greeted by a servant (Ciccio Ingrassia) and his young impoverished master, Baron Sigognac. The servant understands well that the young man would spend a useless life if he continued to live with him, and throws him out the next day with the company so that it can find fortune. The young man struggles to acclimate to the new conditions imposed on him, but gradually get used to and make friends with almost all the members of the company who all have an interesting story to tell about their past.