''Gilberte de Courgenay'' is a 1942

Swiss Swiss most commonly refers to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Swiss may also refer to: Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss Café, an old café located ...

biographical film A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or group of people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from Docudrama, docudrama films ...

about Gilberte Montavon directed by Franz Schnyder and starring

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

, 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 waitress 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 or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, 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 (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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

Spiritual national defence The spiritual national defence (German: ''Geistige Landesverteidigung''; French: ''Défense ationalespirituelle'') was a political-cultural movement in Switzerland which was active from circa 1932 into the 1960s. It was supported by the Swiss ...

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 Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton ...

: Friedrich Odermatt * Max Knapp: Fritz Gubler * Erwin Kohlund: Peter Hasler * Ditta Oesch: Tilly Odermatt * Schaggi Streuli: Gustav Hannart * Jakob Sulzer: Otto Helbling * Heinz Woester: Hauptmann/Captain

External links

* {{Authority control 1942 films Films about waiters 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