''Monsieur Leguignon, Signalman'' (French: ''Monsieur Leguignon lampiste'') is a 1952 French

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending ( black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Maurice Labro Maurice Labro (21 September 1910 – 23 March 1987) was a French film director. Filmography * 1947: ' * 1948: ''Three Boys, One Girl'' * 1949: '' The Heroic Monsieur Boniface'' * 1950: ' * 1951: ''The King of the Bla Bla Bla'' * 1951: '' T ...

and starring Yves Deniaud,

Jane Marken Jane Marken (born Jeanne Berthe Adolphine Crabbe, sometimes credited as Jeanne Marken, 13 January 1895 in Paris 10th arrondissement – 1 December 1976 in Paris 4th arrondissement) was a French actress. She was the first wife of the actor Ju ...

and

Bernard Lajarrige Bernard La Jarrige (25 February 1912 – 29 May 1999) was a French film and television actor.Paietta p.17 His name is sometimes written as Bernard Lajarrige. Selected filmography * '' Orage'' (1938) - Un copain (uncredited) * ''La cité des lumi ...

. It was shot at the

Boulogne Studios Boulogne-sur-Mer (; pcd, Boulonne-su-Mér; nl, Bonen; la, Gesoriacum or ''Bononia''), often called just Boulogne (, ), is a coastal city in Northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department of Pas-de-Calais. Boulogne lies on the C� ...

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

. The film's sets were designed by the

art director Art director is the title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and unify the vis ...

Paul-Louis Boutié Paul-Louis Boutié (1910-2004) was a French art directorCoates-Smith & McGee p.96 who designed the sets for many film productions in postwar France cinema. Selected filmography * '' Beautiful Star'' (1938) * ''The Acrobat'' (1941) * '' Gringalet ...

. It was based on a radio programme and was followed by a sequel ''

Leguignon the Healer ''Leguignon the Healer'' (French: ''Leguignon guérisseur'') is a 1954 French comedy film directed by Maurice Labro and starring Yves Deniaud (actor), Yves Deniaud, Jane Marken and Nicole Besnard. The film's sets were designed by the art director ...

'' in 1954.

Synopsis

signalman A signalman is a person who historically made signals using flags and light. In modern times, the role of signalmen has evolved and now usually uses electronic communication equipment. Signalmen usually work in rail transport networks, armed for ...

employed by the

SNCF The Société nationale des chemins de fer français (; abbreviated as SNCF ; French for "National society of French railroads") is France's national state-owned railway company. Founded in 1938, it operates the country's national rail traffic ...

constantly has to deal with difficult situations in spite of his well-meaning efforts. After a dispute with a group of children who lay claim to some

treasure Treasure (from la, thesaurus from Greek language ''thēsauros'', "treasure store") is a concentration of wealth — often originating from ancient history — that is considered lost and/or forgotten until rediscovered. Some jurisdictions le ...

discovered in a dilapidated

shack A shack (or, in some areas, shanty) is a type of small shelter or dwelling, often primitive or rudimentary in design and construction. Unlike huts, shacks are constructed by hand using available materials; however, whereas huts are usually r ...

that he uses, the matter ends up in court.

Cast

* Yves Deniaud as Diogène Leguignon *

as Mrs. Leguignon *

as Mr. Follenfant *

Pierre Larquey Pierre Larquey (10 July 1884 – 17 April 1962) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1913 and 1962. Born in Cénac, Gironde, France, he died in Maisons-Laffitte at the age of 77. Selected filmography * ''Patr ...

as Mr. Petitot *

Roland Armontel Roland Armontel (21 December 1901 – 15 March 1980) was a French actor. Born Auguste Louis Magnin in Vimoutiers, Orne, France, he died in Paris. Selected filmography * ''Fun in the Barracks'' (1932) * ''Let's Touch Wood'' (1933) * ''Les Mis ...

as Mr. Maltestu *

Christiane Barry Christiane Fernande Boursaud (1918–1992) was a French stage and film actress.Cowie p.34 Selected filmography * ''Paris Frills'' (1945) * '' Mademoiselle Has Fun'' (1948) * ''The Last Vacation'' (1948) * ''Two Loves'' (1949) * '' Scandal on the ...

as Louise *

Jean Carmet Jean Carmet (25 April 1920 – 20 April 1994) was a French actor. Life and career Jean Carmet began working on stage and then in film in the early 1940s becoming a very popular comedic actor in his native country. He is best known internatio ...

as Mr. Grosjean, policeman * Jacques Emmanuel as Mr. Pabroc *

Paul Faivre Paul Faivre (3 March 1886 – 5 March 1973) was a French actor. Selected filmography * '' The House Opposite'' (1937) * ''Behind the Facade'' (1939) * '' Vidocq'' (1939) * ''Annette and the Blonde Woman'' (1942) * ''The Count of Monte Crist ...

as Mr. Paulin *

Pierre Magnier Pierre Frédéric Magnier (February 22, 1869 - October 15, 1959) was a French actor who began on the stage in the 1890s and became a prominent silent film actor in France. He was the second actor to portray '' Cyrano de Bergerac'' in any film in ...

as Général de Saint Bouquet * Henri Niel as M. Chadoul *

Jean Berton Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * Jea ...

as M. Caïman *

Christian Argentin Christian Robert Pierre Argentin (11 October 1893 – 27 November 1955) was a French stage and film actor. Argentin was born in Elbeuf, Seine-Inférieure (now Seine-Maritime), France and died in Paris. He made his film debut in a 1912 short ...

as Advocate *

Georges Baconnet Georges Baconnet (1892–1961) was a French stage and film actor.Gabanelli & Mattirolo p.47 He was a member of the Comédie-Française from 1946 to his death. Selected filmography * ''The Last Judgment'' (1945) * '' La carcasse et le tord-cou'' ...

as A local resident *

Paul Mercey Paul may refer to: * Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...

as A local resident *

Louis de Funès Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza (; 31 July 1914 – 27 January 1983) was a French actor and comedian. He is France's favourite actor, according to a series of polls conducted since the late 1960s, having played over 150 roles in fil ...

as A local resident * Pierre Havet as Le secrétaire de Pabroc *

Albert Duvaleix Albert Duvaleix (1893-1962) was a French stage and film actor. Bessy & Chirat p.138 A character actor he appeared in a number of supporting roles in French comedies and drama films. His son Christian Duvaleix also became an actor. Selected filmo ...

as Le président de la 9ème chambre correctionnelle * Marcel Josz as Le président de la 11ème chambre correctionnelle *

Robert Lussac The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

as Le président de la 13ème chambre correctionnelle *

Claude Boissol Claude Boissol (1920–2016) was a French film and television director and screenwriter. Rège p.116 He co-created the long-running crime television series '' Commissaire Moulin''. Selected filmography * '' Three Boys, One Girl'' (1948) * '' The ...

as Le substitut #1 * Jean Brunel as Le substitut #2 * Georges Tourreil as Le substitut #2 * Alain Chanu as reporter

References

Bibliography

*Dyer, Richard & Vincendeau, Ginette. ''Popular European Cinema''. Routledge, 2013. * Rège, Philippe. ''Encyclopedia of French Film Directors, Volume 1''. Scarecrow Press, 2009.

External links

*
Monsieur Leguignon, lampiste (1952)
at the ''Films de France'' 1952 films French comedy films 1950s French-language films French black-and-white films Films directed by Maurice Labro 1952 comedy films Films shot at Boulogne Studios 1950s French films {{1950s-France-film-stub