Marcel Pagnol

Born in Aubagne on February 28, 1895, to Joseph Pagnol and Augustine Lansot, Marcel Pagnol received a classical and republican education tinged with anticlericalism. The son of a teacher, he quickly developed a passion for the classics. He founded at the age of 19 the literary magazine "FORTUNIO" where, in particular, theatrical and lyrical reviews are published as well as a serial novel "PIROUETTES."

In 1916, he entered teaching. He was appointed tutor in Digne, Pamier, Tarascon, and then in Paris in 1922. During his free time, he wrote plays in verse and ancient dramas. Installed in the capital, the young author found his friend Paul Nivoix with whom he wrote in 1924, "LES MARCHANDS DE GLOIRE." The criticism is laudatory but the success is not at the rendezvous. At that time, his friends were Marcel Achard, Henri Jeanson, and Joseph Kessel. They meet every evening to talk about their writings.

In 1926, his new play, "JAZZ" was created at the Monte-Carlo theater. The public acclaims him, and his career is launched. Then came three of the greatest successes of French theater "TOPAZE" in 1928, "MARIUS" in 1929, and "FANNY" in 1931. That year, his meeting with Bob Kane, director of Paramount France, gave him the opportunity to bring "MARIUS" to the screen. The success is phenomenal, and talkies are booming. 

Marcel Pagnol then decides to create his production company and abandon the theater. A page turns, he founds his own studios in Marseilles and a magazine, "LES CAHIERS DU FILM," in order to disseminate his conception of cinematographic art: Dialogue must take precedence over the image. In this way, he establishes the supremacy of the author over the director.

He devoted himself to this new means of expression until 1954, producing and directing more than twenty films "FANNY," "TOPAZE," "ANGELE," "CESAR," "LA FILLE DU PUISATIER," "LA FEMME DU BOULANGER," "REGAIN," "MANON DES SOURCES," "NAÏS" etc... In 1946, he was the first filmmaker elected to the French Academy. He then frequents more and more writers and begins to write in prose. He begins with his cinematographic memories, "CINEMATURGIE DE PARIS," then with a virulent attack against the critics "CRITIQUE DES CRITIQUES," and with an essay on the mechanisms of laughter, "NOTES SUR LE RIRE."

In 1955, he put an end to his film career for personal reasons. After a brief return to the theater with "JUDAS" and "FABIEN," he embarked on writing his "CHILDREN'S MEMORIES": "LA GLOIRE DE MON PERE" and "LE CHATEAU MA MERE." Then comes "L'EAU DES COLLINES," composed of "MANON DES SOURCES" and "JEAN DE FLORETTE," followed by "CONFIDENCES" and "LE TEMPS DES SECRETS." He translates "THE BUCOLICS" by Virgil and "THE DREAM OF A SUMMER NIGHT" by Shakespeare and writes a historical essay on the enigma of the iron mask. Finally, he is working on the last volume of his childhood memories, "LE TEMPS DES AMOURS," which he will not be able to finish. He died in Paris on April 18, 1974