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One of French theatrical release posters
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Based on the novel Blue Boy by French author Jean Giono, it inspired the basis of the American musical “The Baker’s Wife.”
It tells how the peace of a Provençal village is shattered when the baker’s wife runs off with a handsome shepherd. In his despair, the baker becomes heartbroken and can no longer bake. The villagers organize themselves to bring the wife back to her husband in order to regain their daily bread.
One summer night in an idyllic village in South France, the pretty young wife of the baker runs off with a handsome young shepherd. The baker is devastated, but pretends she had gone to see her mother, Nonetheless, people are not fooled and their efforts to console him are fruitless. Going into Sunday mass, he is upset at what seems an unfeeling sermon from the inexperienced young priest and gets publicly drunk.
The marquis, the local landowner, and the schoolteacher get the baker to bed, with the support of the priest. Dividing the area into twelve sectors, twelve patrols mount an exhaustive search. She was seen naked by an angler in a glade with the shepherd. The priest and the schoolteacher persuade her to return, and the priest takes her to a quiet place.
After the priest reads her the story of Jesus and the woman taken in adultery, he forgives her. Her husband also forgives her, though he’s vocal about the randy young shepherds who charm, love, and then left her.
Together they light the oven, so that the village will have bread in the morning.
Cast
Raimu as Aimable, the baker
Ginette Leclerc as Aurélie, the baker’s wife
Fernand Charpin as the Marquis
Charles Moulin as the Shepherd
Robert Vattier as the Priest
Charles Blavette as Antonin
Robert Bassac as the Schoolteacher
Marcel Maupi as Barnabé
Alida Rouffe as Céleste
Odette Roger as Miette
Yvette Fournier as Hermine
Maximilienne as Angèle
Charblay as the Butcher
Julien Maffre as Pétugue
Adrien Legros as Barthélemy
Jean Castan as Esprit
Critical Status
National Board of Review Awards (1940), Best Foreign Film
National Board of Review Awards (1940), Best Acting for Raimu
New York Film Critics Circle Awards (1940), Best Foreign Film
The film was restored by the company Hiventy, in full 4K, from the negative 35mm nitrate original, supervised by the filmmaker’s grandson Nicolas Pagnol.
Credits:
Directed by Marcel Pagnol
Screenplay by Marcel Pagnol, based on Blue Boy, 1932 novel by Jean Giono
Produced by Charles Pons
Cinematography Georges Benoît
Edited by Suzanne de Troeye
Music by Vincent Scotto
Production company: Les Films Marcel Pagnol
Release date: September 7, 1938
Running time: 133 minutes
