Le schpountz (1938)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Marcel Pagnol

Writer:

Marcel Pagnol (adaptation)

Release Date:

4 September 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Meeting a movie team on location near his house, a young man saw a lots of encouragment for his dreaming...

Plot Keywords:

Paris | Film In Film | Satire | Provence | Uncle Nephew Relationship

Cast

Orane Demazis	...	Françoise
Fernandel	...	Irénée Fabre, 'le Schpountz'
Léon Belières	...	Meyerbaum
Robert Vattier	...	Astruc
Fernand Charpin	...	Oncle Baptiste Fabre
Jean Castan	...	Casimir Fabre
Odette Roger	...	Tante Clarisse Fabre
Louisard	...	Charlet
Henri Poupon	...	Galubert
Robert Bassac	...	Dromart
Charles Blavette	...	Martelette
Enrico Glori	...	Glazunoff
Charblay	...	Adolphe, le portier du studio
Tyrand	...	Acteur, 'Le Pape'
Henri Champetier	...	Nic

Also Known As:

Heartbeat (International: English title)

Runtime:

160 min | USA:90 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Phillips Sound

Certification:

USA:Passed | Germany:12

Company:

Les Films Marcel Pagnol

Trivia:

The movie was shot a second time because the confusion around the first shooting when Marcel Pagnol was writing the scenario day by day. Unavailable for the second shooting, Pierre Brasseur was replaced by Roger Forster (I) but some of the shots involving Brasseur were still used.

Goofs:

Continuity: Unavailable for the second shooting (see trivia entry), Pierre Brasseur was replaced by Roger Forster but some of the shots involving Brasseur were still used.

Movie Connections:

Remade as Le schpountz (1999)

Clever innovation

I like this film. It stands out as something completely different in the catalog of Pagnol films - not quite free of the heavy sentiment, but approaching being truly screwball. Irenee's idiotic hopefulness isn't as touching as it is funny - a triumph of Fernandel's hulking gawkiness. Somewhere out there the Marx Brothers, Alphonse Allais and Mark Twain are probably smiling.