''Merlusse'' is a 1935 French

comedy drama film Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

written and directed by

Marcel Pagnol Marcel Paul Pagnol (; 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 Académie française. Although his work is less fashionable ...

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'' (19 ...

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. It is a variation o ...

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'' (1934) * '' ...

. It was shot at the Lycée Thiers in

Marseille Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Fran ...

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

Melusine Mélusine () or Melusina is a figure of European folklore, a female spirit of fresh water in a holy well or river. She is usually depicted as a woman who is a serpent or fish from the waist down (much like a lamia or a mermaid). She is als ...

in the Vosges (France).

Synopsis

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

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...

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 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 * Jean ...

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 John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

as Pic *

Jean Inglesakis 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 * Jean ...

as Molinard * Le-Van-Kim as Macaque *

Rellys Henri Marius Bourrelly (12 December 190520 July 1991), known by his stage name of Rellys, was a French actor.- Selected filmography * '' Three Sailors'' (1934) * '' Merlusse'' (1935) * ''Tobias Is an Angel'' (1940) * '' Frederica'' (1942) * ''The ...

as L'appariteur * André Robert as Le surveillant général * Armando Rossi as Le concierge

Reception

Writing for ''

The Spectator ''The Spectator'' is a weekly British magazine on politics, culture, and current affairs. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving weekly magazine in the world. It is owned by Frederick Barclay, who also owns ''Th ...

'' 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 English novelists of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquir ...

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". (reprinted in: )

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 {{1930s-France-film-stub