''Josette'' is a 1937 French

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Christian-Jaque Christian-Jaque (byname of Christian Maudet; 4 September 1904 – 8 July 1994) was a French filmmaker. From 1954 to 1959, he was married to actress Martine Carol, who starred in several of his films, including ''Lucrèce Borgia'' (1953), ''M ...

and starring Fernandel,

Mona Goya Mona Goya (25 November 1909 – 8 October 1961) was a Mexican-born French film actress who rose to fame in the 1930s. Selected filmography * '' Madame Récamier'' (1928) * '' Princess Mandane'' (1928) – Simoun * '' L'Argent'' (1928) * ''Jim ...

and Lucien Rozenberg.Oscherwitz & Higgins p.162 The film's sets were designed by the

art director Art director is a title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, live-action and animated film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supe ...

Pierre Schild.

Synopsis

Albert Durandal, a kindly figure with aspirations to be a

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was most popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850, through the World War I, Great War. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as Varie ...

performer, effectively adopts a young girl Josette when her mother is taken ill and has to go to a

sanatorium A sanatorium (from Latin '' sānāre'' 'to heal'), also sanitarium or sanitorium, is a historic name for a specialised hospital for the treatment of specific diseases, related ailments, and convalescence. Sanatoriums are often in a health ...

. He also assists an elderly man who collapses in the street, looking after him at his house without realising he is the

millionaire A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. Depending on the currency, a certain level of prestige is associated with being a millionaire. Many national currencies have, or ...

Samuel Rothenmeyer. Rothenmeyer repays this help by financing Durandal's career on stage.

Cast

* Fernandel as Albert Durandal aka Albertal * Josette Contandin as Josette *

as La chanteuse Viviane Eros * Lucien Rozenberg as Le baron Samuel Rothenmeyer * Robert Arnoux as Rémy Doré *

Andrex Andrex is a British brand of toilet roll. It is owned by the United States, American company Kimberly-Clark. The "Andrex Puppy", a Labrador Retriever puppy that appears on the company's television advertisements, is synonymous with the brand. T ...

as Lucien *

Robert Seller Robert Seller (1889–1967) was a French stage and film actor.Crisp p.156 Also known by his surname, Seller began his film career in 1931 in Maurice de Canonge's film, ''Olive se marie''. He had parts in many films and plays by Sacha Guitry, in ...

as Émile - le valet du baron * Jacqueline Prévot as Jeanne - la maman de Josette * Joe Alex as Bamboula - le domestique noir * Nicolas Amato as Le chanteur des rues *

Anthony Gildès Anthony Gildès (13 August 1856 – 6 October 1941) was a French actor. Anthony Gildès was born Anatole Gleizes in Metz, France. He died in Paris at age 85. Selected filmography * '' The Zone of Death'' (1917) * '' The Torture of Silence'' (191 ...

as Le professeur au concours de puériculture * Marcel Laporte * René Lestelly * Sinoël

References

Bibliography

* Oscherwitz, Dayna & Higgins, MaryEllen. ''The A to Z of French Cinema''. Scarecrow Press, 2009.

External links

* 1937 films French comedy films 1937 comedy films 1930s French-language films Films directed by Christian-Jaque French black-and-white films 1930s French films Films scored by Vincent Scotto {{1930s-comedy-film-stub