The Corsican Brothers
by Alexandre Dumasliterary work· published 1845
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The Corsican Brothers (French: Les Frères corses) is a novella by Alexandre Dumas, first published in 1844. It is the story of two conjoined brothers who, although separated at birth, can still feel each other's physical distress. It has been adapted many times on the stage and in film. In March 1841, the narrator travels to Corsica and stays at the home of the widow Savilia de Franchi, who lives near Olmeto and Sollacaro. She is the mother of formerly conjoined twins Louis and Lucien. Louis is a lawyer in Paris, while Lucien clings to his Corsican roots and stays at his mother's home. The brothers were separated at birth by a doctor with his scalpel, but Louis and Lucien can feel each other's emotions, even at a distance. Lucien explains he has a mission to undertake, with reluctance.
Adaptations (6)
The Corsican Brothers has been adapted into 6 films, from 1920 to 1985.
The Corsican Brothers1920 · film · 60 min · dir. Colin Campbell · IMDb ↗Although separated at birth, Siamese twins Fabien and Louis de Franchi remain united emotionally. One day, Parisian Emilie de Lesparre arrives in their Corsican village with her father, and both brothers fall in love with her. Louis goes to Paris to study law and sees Emilie often, but Emilie loves Fabien who has remained in Corsica with their mother. While attending a dinner given by another admirer of Emilie's, M. Chateau Renaud, Louis is drawn into a duel with Renaud and killed. Back home, Fabien senses what has happened and journeys to Paris to avenge his brother's death. After he kills Renaud in a duel, Emilie finally confesses her love to Fabien.
The Corsican Brothers1941 · film · 111 min · dir. Gregory Ratoff · IMDb ↗IMDb6.5Cultured Mario and outlaw Lucien, twins separated at birth, join forces to avenge their parents' death at the hands of evil Colonna. Because each feels all the same sensations experienced by the other, swordplay is difficult for them. Worse yet, raised very differently, they struggle to find common ground between their conflicting personalities. But to defeat their enemy, the two will have to overcome the obstacles and work as a team.
The Bandits of Corsica1953 · film · 81 min · dir. Ray Nazarro · IMDb ↗IMDb5.5Siamese twins separated at birth retain a psychic link; each feels the other's pain and happiness.
Start the Revolution Without Me1970 · film · 90 min · dir. Bud Yorkin · IMDb ↗IMDb6.483%Two sets of identical twins are accidentally switched at birth. One pair, Phillipe and Pierre DeSisi, are aristocratic and haughty, while the other, Charles and Claude Coupé, are poor and dim-witted. On the eve of the French Revolution, both sets find themselves entangled in palace intrigue.
Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers1984 · film · 82 min · dir. Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin · IMDb ↗IMDb4.635MetacriticTwo brothers who can feel each others' pain and pleasure mess up the French revolution.
The Corsican Brothers1985 · film · 100 min · dir. Ian Sharp · IMDb ↗IMDb5.6In the 18th century were born two siamese brothers on Corsica who paradoxically carry different feelings of hate and reconciliation in their blood.
