The Well-Digger's Daughter (1940 film)

The Well-Digger's Daughter
The Well-Digger's Daughter
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Marcel Pagnol
Written by	Marcel Pagnol; Herman G. Weinberg (English titles)
Produced by	Marcel Pagnol
Starring	Raimu; Fernandel; Josette Day;
Cinematography
Edited by
Music by	Vincent Scotto
Distributed by	(USA)
Release date	20 December 1940
Running time	170 minutes
Country	France
Language	French

The Well-Digger's Daughter (French: La Fille du puisatier) is a 1940 French romantic comedy drama film directed by Marcel Pagnol.

Plot[]

Patricia, a peasant, becomes pregnant by Jacques, a military pilot from a local family. As war breaks out, Jacques serves in World War II, but his family refuses to support his child and likewise, Patricia's father expels her from her home. Patricia stays with her aunt and gives birth to a boy. After Jacques is reported killed in the war, both families wish to meet their new grandchild. Jacques is not dead, however; he returns and Patricia agrees to marry him.^[1]

Selected cast[]

Raimu as Pascal Amoretti
Fernandel as Félipe Rambert
Josette Day as Patricia Amoretti
Line Noro as Marie Mazel
Georges Grey as Jacques Mazel
Fernand Charpin as Monsieur Mazel
Milly Mathis as Nathalie
Clairette as Amanda Amoretti
as Roberte Amoretti
Raymonde as Éléonore Amoretti

Reception[]

In the film's most famous scene, Patricia and Jacques' families and the rest of the village listen to Philippe Pétain's speech of 17 June 1940 announcing the need for an armistice in the Battle of France. Because of the scene La Fille du puisatier has been called the first "Vichy film". Most of the filming occurred before Pétain's speech the defeat of the French Third Republic, however, with the scene with the speech added later.^[1]

French actor Daniel Auteuil wrote, directed, and starred in a remake of this film in 2011.^[2]

References[]

^ ^a ^b Jackson, Julian (2001). France: The Dark Years, 1940-1944. Oxford University Press. pp. 27. ISBN 0-19-820706-9.
^ The Well-Digger's Daughter at IMDb

External links[]

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[jackson2001-1] Jackson, Julian (2001). France: The Dark Years, 1940-1944. Oxford University Press. pp. 27. ISBN 0-19-820706-9.

[2] The Well-Digger's Daughter at IMDb

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v t Marcel Pagnol
Literature	Topaze Marius Fanny Souvenirs d'enfance My Father's Glory My Mother's Castle Le Secret du Masque de fer The Water of the Hills
Films directed	Jofroi (1935) Angèle (1934) Merlusse (1935) César (1936) Topaze (1936) Harvest (1937) The Baker's Wife (1938) Heartbeat (1938) The Well-Digger's Daughter (1940) The Pretty Miller Girl (1949) Topaze (1951) Letters from My Windmill (1954)