The well-digger’s daughter (1940)

Synopsis

When war is declared, Patricia, a modest young girl, sees Jacques Mazel, a pilot in the army, leave. Blamed by her father, a well-digger, and rejected by the Mazels, wealthy merchants, she gives birth at an aunt’s house. But when Jacques is reported missing, the grandparents gather around the cradle and listen together to the Head of State announce the surrender of France.

“In 1940, when France was sinking into the debacle, Pagnol met again, for the first time on the sets of the Marseille studios, his old colleague Raimu for the shooting of “LA FILLE DU PUISATIER”. The production started on May 20, 1940, was interrupted by the exodus, then resumed on August 13, 1940, with the same main actors, including Fernandel, who was on leave at the time.

“Pagnol ou le cinéma en liberté” by Claude Beylie.

Technical data

• Genre: comedy-drama
• Duration: 2h50
• Director: Marcel Pagnol
• Script, adaptation and dialogues: Marcel Pagnol
• Images: Willy Gricha
• Music: Vincent Scotto
• Sound: Marcel Lavoignat
• Editing: Jeannette Ginestet
• Sets: Marius Brouquier
• Shooting: La Treille, Aubagne, Salon-de-Provence
• Production: Marcel Pagnol
• Director of production: Charles Pons
• Production company: Les Films Marcel Pagnol
• Distribution company: Gaumont

Distribution

• Raimu: Pascal Amoretti, the well-digger
• Fernandel: Félipe Rambert, Pascal’s assistant
• Josette Day: Patricia Amoretti, Pascal’s eldest daughter
• Fernand Charpin: André Mazel, owner of the “Bazar
• Line Noro: Marie Mazel, his wife
• Georges Grey: Jacques Mazel, fighter pilot, their son
• Milly Mathis: Nathalie, Pascal’s sister
• Claire Oddera: Amanda Amoretti, Pascal’s youngest daughter
• Félicien Tramel: Maxime Exbrayat, the waiter
• Marcel Maupi: the clerk
• Charles Blavette: the dyer
• Lucien Callamand: the airman colonel
• Jean Heuzé: the aviator captain
• Raymonde : Eléonore Amoretti, a daughter of Pascal
• Josette Frégier (Rosette): Marie Amoretti, a daughter of Pascal
• Liliane: Isabelle Amoretti, a daughter of Pascal
• Roberte Arnaud: the little Roberte Amoretti