THE BLACK TULIP - THE STAR OF THE SEINE

After the great success of The Rose of Versailles in 1975 in Japan, a cartoon series appeared, apparently very similar: La Seine no Hoshi which in Italy will be broadcast in 1983 on Italia 1 with the title The black tulip. To tell the truth, the most correct Italian title would have been "The Seine Star", as it is the name of the real protagonist of the cartoon, while the black tulip is the masked hero who will have less and less relevance over the course of the episodes. What unites Lady Oscar to the black Tulip is the historical setting relating to the period of the revolution French, but while the story of Lady Oscar has as its background the court intrigues of the palace of Versailles, the black Tulip and the star of the Seine immediately fight for the defense of the people against the arrogance of the nobles. The series is directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino (the same as Gundam) and Masaaki Ohsumi and was produced by Sunrise Unimax for a total of 39 episodes, all very beautiful and captivating. To note the theme song sung by Cristina D'avena entitled "The boys of the Seine"

The protagonist of the series the Black Tulip is Simòne Loraine, a beautiful girl who lives with her adoptive parents, helping them in the trade of florists. One day Simòne meets a mysterious young man who helps her pick up a basket of flowers, which has fallen from the cart and hands her a beautiful white rose. After that brief meeting, the girl resumes her journey with her parents towards the suburbs of Paris, where she is well liked by everyone and in particular by the young baker Mirand.

Here we find the perfidious police lieutenant Jeroul, who forbids the show to a theater company, guilty of making fun of the nobles, but little Danton does not mince words and protests lively against Jeroul. After the departure of the bandwagon Danton is alone and is adopted by Simòne who invites him to work with them. Soon after they hear the sound of a cannon announcing the arrival of Queen Marie Antoinette, wife of King Louis VI, who announces a ball in his honor. Unfortunately, it is always the people who pay the costs and Lieutenant Jeroul forces shopkeepers to offer the meat and fruit necessary to set up the court banquet. The people rebel and the first to pay the price is the baker Mirand who is arrested. That same evening Lieutenant Jeroul also wants to arrest Mirand's friends who had gathered under Simone's house, but at that moment a mysterious masked man arrives, with a black tulip drawn on the chest. The young man proves to be a skilled swordsman and after a short fight, he puts Jeroul and his henchmen to flight. After an intense look with Simòne, he disappears on his black horse. This is none other than Robert de Vaudrel, son of the Comte de Vaudrel, the young man who had collected Simone's basket. One day while the girl goes to Versaile to bring flowers, she meets Count Vaudrel who, having learned of her surname, decides to buy roses every day to be able to see her more often. The next day Simone begs the count to free Mirand, but unfortunately he does not have this power. That same evening Mirand is transferred to the Bastille and his friends manage to free him during the journey, but a spy reports the plot and Jeroul sets a trap for the boys. At that moment the Black Tulip arrives, which puts Jeroul and the policemen on the run, also supported by the same Mirand and his friends. Meanwhile, the news of Mirand's release spreads and Simòne keeps in touch with his friend through little Danton.
Like every day Simòne goes to the count to bring him the roses, but to his amazement he decides to give her fencing lessons, to make her become a skilled swordsman. Simone's father is worried about that meeting, but on the same day he has an urgent work commitment, as the superb Countess Madame Catherine, on the occasion of the ball in honor of Marie Antoinette, decides to wear a more beautiful dress than the queen , adorned with many roses and to meet the burdensome request, Mr. Loreine also gets help from other florists. On the evening of the ball, Madame Catherine wears a beautiful dress covered with flowers, but at the sight of Marie Antoinette, she pales in seeing the queen's dress, even more beautiful as it is covered with very rare black roses. To take revenge for the insult, Madame Catherine orders her men to kill the Loreine florists, guilty of having procured black roses for the queen. Simone arrives just when her father is pierced by a sword and on his deathbed confides to the girl, who has been adopted by them and that her real parents are noble and that she has a sister in Versailes, therefore he invites her to become a noblewoman. Simòne entrusts herself to Count Vaudrel and begins her studies at the prestigious convent of Pontemon, while in the evening in secret, she continues to take fencing lessons.
One day Sim n while walking in the courtyard of the convent meets Danton who informs her of the capture of Mirand and his friends by Jeroul and that the Black Tulip, wounded in the fight, wants to talk to her. Simòne meets the Black Tulip who invites her to put her fencing lessons to good use in order to fight for the good of justice. So he gives her a costume and from that day she will become there Seine star. The first task will be to free Mirand and the girl, wearing the black costume with the red mask, goes riding her white horse to face the evil Jeroul. The guards run away and the Star of the Seine beats Jeroul in a duel, thus freeing Mirand, who decides to leave for the Americas after bidding farewell to Simone.
One day the Count of Vaudrel meets Count Hans Kauniz, an old fellow student who is aware of Simone's true identity and who claims the right to adopt the girl, so after Vaudrel's opposition, he treacherously wounds him with his sword and steals his certificate of adoption. De Vaudrel is seriously injured and invites Simòne to recover the precious document, while he confides the truth about Simòne to Robert. The emperor of Austria, father of Marie Antoinette, fell in love with a beautiful opera singer and from their love was born Simòne, but since he was married to Maria Theresa of Austria, no one had to know that secret, so he entrusted the little to the Loraine. From this it follows that Simone and Queen Marie Antoinette are sisters of different mothers. Meanwhile, the Star of the Seine retrieves the precious document and Count De Vaudrel dies peacefully alongside Robert and Simòne.
After a few years, Simòne finishes her studies and as a prize Robert takes her to Versailles where she will meet her sister, but he does not reveal her name. Meanwhile, the people rise up and put Jeroul's army to flight. The news of Mirand's return from America arrives, but the police are ready for his arrest. Robert disguised as a monk with a hood, goes to welcome him at the port and hides him in a wagon, after which he will be able to hug his friends again. Mirand studied laws and will now be able to represent the people (the Third Estate) in the National Assembly called by the King as a deputy. However, Queen Marie Antoinette and the king fear that dangerous elements for the monarchy could infiltrate inside the Third Estate, therefore severe investigations will be carried out on the representatives of the people, who will have to undergo severe interrogations. Representatives rebel as they claim to be free citizens. When Mirand and other deputies reach the palace gates, the King proclaims that any of their proposals must obtain his approval in order to become law. Mairand is not there and his act of rebellion is arrested and locked up in the Bastille. The people rise up and Robert tries to convince the queen for Mirand's release, with little success. The people are in total revolt and are organizing for the taking of the Bastille. Simòne wears the clothes of the Star of the Seine in order to free Mirand and succeeds thanks to the confusion of the revolt that after a bloody (and historic) battle occupies the Bastille on July 14, 1789.
Meanwhile, Robert De Vaudrel's double game is discovered in the palace and he is arrested. Queen Marie Antoinette, disguised as a food warden, goes to the prisons to speak with Robert and ask for the reason for his betrayal. Once released and arrived at the palace, Robert reveals to Marie Antoinette that the much hated Star of the Seine is actually his sister. At that moment, a stained glass window shatters and the Star of the Seine arrives, so Simòne also knows the identity of her sister: Queen Marie Antoinette. Simòne is incredulous; how can his sister be guilty of so many abuses against the people? However, after that meeting and seeing her whole world collapse, the queen is repentant and has the pleasure of hugging her sister, the only true affection she has left now. But soon the kings will be deposed and executed as the history of the French Revolution teaches and from that moment on we will no longer hear of the Star of the Seine and the Black Tulip.

All characters and images of The Black Tulip - The Star of the Seine are copyright Sunrise Unimax and of the right holders. they are used here for cognitive and informative purposes.

Episode titles

01. A rose for Simone 02. An important meeting 03. The count's secret 04. Black roses for the queen 05. The sword of justice 06. A prisoner to be released 07. Deadly ambush 08. The last race 09. Two friends for the skin 10. Claujere's plot 11. The den of brigands 12. Tragic stake 13. The midnight surprise 14. The traitor 15. A hot air balloon in Paris 16. The false archbishop 17. The secret of Montesquieu 18. The return of the Black Tulip 19. The swordswoman and the pianist 20. The concert

21. Travel across the border 22. Deserter for love 23. Death comes by dancing 24. The fallen mask 25. The flower of luck 26. The principal 27. The false beard 28. Wind of revolt 29. The struggle for freedom 30. The insurrection 31. The hostage 32. Intrigues in the palace 33. Childhood memories 34. Blood link 35. The march on Versailles 36. The victory of the people 37. Towards freedom 38. Love and pride 39. A family for Simone

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