''Gilberte de Courgenay'' is a 1942 Swiss biographical film directed by

Franz Schnyder Franz Schnyder (5 March 1910 – 8 February 1993) was a Swiss film director and screenwriter. He directed 15 films between 1941 and 1968. His film ''Der 10. Mai'' was entered into the 8th Berlin International Film Festival. Filmography * '' ...

and starring

Rudolf Bernhard Rudolf Bernhard or Rudolf Bernhard Conrath (26 March 1901 – 21 October 1962) was a Swiss comedian, radio personality, and stage and film actor starring usually in Swiss German language cinema and television and stage productions. In 1941 Berhar ...

, Anne-Marie Blanc and Zarli Carigiet.

Story

The Film was based on a novel by Rudolf Bolo Maeglin and based on the story of the real Gilberte de Courgenay (actually Gilberte Montavon), who was a servant in a hotel in Courgenay, a small town near the Swiss-French border. She served thousands of Swiss soldiers that were stationed in Courgenay during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, when the neutral Switzerland had to protect its borders. Hanns In der Gand made the song ''La petite Gilberte de Gourgenay'' by Robert Lustenberger and Oskar Portmann from the Winter 1915/16 very famous across Switzerland. The popularity of this song quickly resulted in Gilberte becoming an idol for the soldats that had to keep watch far from home and their families. The film is a love story around Gilberte de Courgenay (played by Anne-Marie Blanc). In the winter of 1915/16 the artillery battalion 38 is sent to Courgenay. Initially assuming that the war will soon be over, they're disappointed when they hear that they won't be able to celebrate Christmas at home. Gilberte organises a Christmas celebration for the soldiers and so becomes their idol. Secretly, she loves Peter Hasler (Erwin Kohlund), who is upset because his fiancee Tilly (Ditta Oesch) is not answering his letters. When a colleague of Hasler has to travel to Berne with a sick horse, he finds out why: Tilly's rich father had seized all the letters from Peter because he thought that he was not appropriate for her. Tilly immediately travels to the Jura when she discovers this. She finds Peter just during the most famous part of the film: When he sings ''La petite Gilberte'' in the ''Hôtel de la Gare'' in Courgenay adoring Gilberte. But Gilberte steps back and leaves Peter to Tilly.

Creation

The film was made during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, in an attempt to raise national morale in the face of potential invasion (so called ''Geistige Landesverteidigung''; Spiritual national defence).

Cast

: René Gengenbach * Anne-Marie Blanc: Gilberte Montavon * Zarli Carigiet: Luzi Caviezel * Hélène Dalmet: Madame Montavon *

Heinrich Gretler Heinrich Gretler (1897–1977) was a Swiss film and television actor, who also starred on stage at the Bernhard-Theater in Zurich. Selected filmography * '' The Mysterious Mirror'' (1928) * '' Struggle for the Matterhorn'' (1928) * ''The Man ...

: Friedrich Odermatt * Max Knapp: Fritz Gubler *

Erwin Kohlund Erwin Kohlund (1915–1992) was a German actor. Filmography References External links * 1915 births 1992 deaths Actors from Dortmund German male film actors 20th-century German male actors {{Germany-film-actor-stub ...

: Peter Hasler *

Ditta Oesch ''Ditta'' is a genus of plants, under the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1861. It is native to the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean.Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2012). Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies. Sm ...

: Tilly Odermatt *

Schaggi Streuli Schaggi Streuli (1899–1980) was a Swiss film and television actor, who also starred on stage at the Bernhard-Theater Zürich. Selected filmography * '' Gilberte de Courgenay'' (1942) * ''Madness Rules'' (1947) * '' Palace Hotel'' (1952) * ''Sac ...

: Gustav Hannart * Jakob Sulzer: Otto Helbling *

Heinz Woester Heinz Woester (1901–1970) was a Swiss film and television actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as ...

: Hauptmann/Captain

External links

* {{Authority control 1942 films Swiss historical drama films 1942 drama films 1940s historical drama films Swiss German-language films 1940s French-language films Films directed by Franz Schnyder Swiss biographical drama films World War I films based on actual events Swiss black-and-white films 1940s biographical drama films 1940s multilingual films Swiss multilingual films