''Merlusse'' is a 1935 French

comedy drama film Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau In linguistics, a blend—also known as a blend word, lexical blend, or portmanteau—is a word formed by combining the meanings, and parts of the sounds, of two or more words together.

written and directed by

Marcel Pagnol Marcel Paul Pagnol (, also ; ; 28 February 1895 – 18 April 1974) was a French novelist, playwright, and filmmaker. Regarded as an auteur, in 1946, he became the first filmmaker elected to the . Pagnol is generally regarded as one of France's ...

and starring

Henri Poupon Henri Poupon (1884–1953) was a French stage and film actor.Paietta p.128 He worked a number of times with the write-director Marcel Pagnol. Selected filmography * ''The Fortune'' (1931) * '' To the Polls, Citizens'' (1932) * ''Angèle'' (1934) * ...

André Pollack André — sometimes transliterated as Andre — is the French and Portuguese form of the name Andrew and is now also used in the English-speaking world. It used in France, Quebec, Canada and other French-speaking countries, as well in Portugal, ...

and

Annie Toinon Annie Toinon (17 August 1875 – 28 February 1967) was a French stage and film actress.Crisp p.111 She often worked with the writer-director Marcel Pagnol. Selected filmography * '' Fanny'' (1932) * '' Rocambole'' (1932) * ''Jofroi ''Jofroi'' i ...

. It was shot at the Lycée Thiers in

Marseille Marseille (; ; see #Name, below) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Bouches-du-Rhône and of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region. Situated in the ...

, which Pagnol had himself once attended. It should not be confused with the Merlusse fairy, a depiction of

Melusine Mélusine () or Melusine or Melusina is a figure of European folklore, a nixie (folklore), female spirit of fresh water in a holy well or river. She is usually depicted as a woman who is a Serpent symbolism, serpent or Fish in culture, fish fr ...

in the Vosges (France).

Synopsis

A tough teacher charged with looking after the students left behind at a

boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...

during the

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...

holidays rises to the challenge and comes to better understand the boys in his care.

Cast

as Blanchard dit Merlusse *

as Le proviseur *

as Nathalie * Thommeray as Le censeur * Jean Castan as Galubert * Le Petit Jacques as Villepontoux * d'Armans as Philippard * Fernand Bruno as Catusse * Robert Aviérinos as Lupin * Robert Chaux as Godard * Dernard as Delacre * John Dubrou as Pic * Jean Inglesakis as Molinard * Le-Van-Kim as Macaque *

Rellys Henri Marius Roger Bourrelly (12 December 190520 July 1991), known by his stage name of Rellys, was a French actor.- Selected filmography * '' Three Sailors'' (1934) * '' Merlusse'' (1935) * '' Happy Arenas'' (1935) * ''That's Sport'' (1938) * '' ...

as L'appariteur *

André Robert Dr. André Robert (April 28, 1929 – November 18, 1993) was a Canadian meteorologist who pioneered the modelling the Earth's atmospheric circulation. Biography and career Born in New York, NY in 1928, Robert moved to Grand-Mère, Quebec, in ...

as Le surveillant général * Armando Rossi as Le concierge

Reception

Writing for ''

The Spectator ''The Spectator'' is a weekly British political and cultural news magazine. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving magazine in the world. ''The Spectator'' is politically conservative, and its principal subject a ...

'' in 1936,

Graham Greene Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading novelists of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquired a re ...

gave the film a good review, describing it simply as "a slightly sentimental tale". Greene praises Poupon in his portrayal of Merlusse, and expresses admiration for Pagnol's "simpleness, nddirectness". The film inspired

Alexander Payne Constantine Alexander Payne (born February 10, 1961) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He is noted for his satire, satirical depictions of contemporary American society. Payne has received List of awards and nominations rec ...

to make ''

The Holdovers ''The Holdovers'' is a 2023 American Christmas comedy drama film directed by Alexander Payne, written by David Hemingson, and starring Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa. Set in 1970, it tells the story of a strict classics ...

'' (2023), which has a similar plot.

References

Bibliography

* Martin Garrett. ''Provence: A Cultural History''. Andrews UK Limited, 2012. * John J. Michalczyk. ''The French literary filmmakers''. Art Alliance Press, 1980.

External links

* 1935 films 1935 comedy films French comedy films 1930s French-language films Films directed by Marcel Pagnol Films set in Marseille 1930s French films French Christmas films Films scored by Vincent Scotto {{1930s-France-film-stub