Fernandel
Encyclopedia
Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin (8 May 1903 – 26 February 1971), better known as Fernandel, was a French actor and singer. Born in Marseille
, France, he was a comedy star who first gained popularity in French vaudeville
, operetta
s, and music-hall revues. His stage name is the diminutive form of his first name in Occitan.
In 1930, Fernandel appeared in his first motion picture and for more than forty years he would be France's top comic actor. He was perhaps best-loved for his portrayal of the irascible Italian village priest at war with the town's Communist mayor in the Don Camillo
series of motion pictures. His horse-like teeth became part of his trademark.
He also appeared in Italian and American films. His first Hollywood motion picture was 1956's Around the World in Eighty Days in which he played David Niven
's coachman. His popular performance in that film led to his starring with Bob Hope
and Anita Ekberg
in the 1958 comedy Paris Holiday
.
In addition to acting, Fernandel also directed or co-produced several of his own films.
Fernandel died from lung cancer
and is buried in the Cimetière de Passy, Paris, France.
, Meursault and his female friend Marie Cordona watch a movie starring Fernandel on the day after Maman died.
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, France, he was a comedy star who first gained popularity in French vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
, operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
s, and music-hall revues. His stage name is the diminutive form of his first name in Occitan.
In 1930, Fernandel appeared in his first motion picture and for more than forty years he would be France's top comic actor. He was perhaps best-loved for his portrayal of the irascible Italian village priest at war with the town's Communist mayor in the Don Camillo
Don Camillo
Don Camillo is the main character created by the Italian writer and journalist Giovannino Guareschi , and is based on the historical Roman Catholic priest, WW II partisan and detainee of the concentration camps of Dachau and Mauthausen, Don Camillo Valota . Don Camillo is one of two protagonists,...
series of motion pictures. His horse-like teeth became part of his trademark.
He also appeared in Italian and American films. His first Hollywood motion picture was 1956's Around the World in Eighty Days in which he played David Niven
David Niven
James David Graham Niven , known as David Niven, was a British actor and novelist, best known for his roles as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and Sir Charles Lytton, a.k.a. "the Phantom", in The Pink Panther...
's coachman. His popular performance in that film led to his starring with Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
and Anita Ekberg
Anita Ekberg
Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg is a Swedish model, actress and cult sex symbol. She is best known for her role as Sylvia in the 1960 Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita which features the legendary scene of her cavorting in Trevi Fountain alongside Marcello Mastroianni.-Biography:Ekberg was born in...
in the 1958 comedy Paris Holiday
Paris Holiday
Paris Holiday is a 1958 comedy film starring Bob Hope, which was directed by Gerd Oswald, and written by Edmund Beloin, who was Hope's attorney, and Dean Riesner from a story by Hope. The film also features French comedian Fernandel, Anita Ekberg and Martha Hyer, and a rare appearance by...
.
In addition to acting, Fernandel also directed or co-produced several of his own films.
Fernandel died from lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
and is buried in the Cimetière de Passy, Paris, France.
Literature
In The Stranger by Albert CamusAlbert Camus
Albert Camus was a French author, journalist, and key philosopher of the 20th century. In 1949, Camus founded the Group for International Liaisons within the Revolutionary Union Movement, which was opposed to some tendencies of the Surrealist movement of André Breton.Camus was awarded the 1957...
, Meursault and his female friend Marie Cordona watch a movie starring Fernandel on the day after Maman died.
Selected filmography
- Le rosier de Madame Husson
- Angèle directed by Marcel PagnolMarcel PagnolMarcel Pagnol was a French novelist, playwright, and filmmaker. In 1946, he became the first filmmaker elected to the Académie Française.-Biography:...
(1934) - Le cavalier Lafleur (1934)
- Jim la houlette (1935)
- Un de la légion directed by Christian-Jaque
- Regain directed by Marcel Pagnol (1937)
- Josette directed by Christian-Jaque (1937)
- Ignace (1937)
- Un carnet de bal directed by Julien DuvivierJulien DuvivierJulien Duvivier was a French film director. He was prominent in French cinema in the years 1930-1960...
(1927) - Les rois du sport starring RaimuRaimuRaimu was the stage name for the French actor Jules Auguste Muraire .-Biography:Born in Toulon in the Var département, he made his stage debut there in 1899. After coming to the attention of the then great music hall star Félix Mayol who was also from Toulon, in 1908 he was given a chance to work...
, Jules Berry (1937) - Hercule (1938)
- Le schpountz directed by Marcel Pagnol (1938)
- Barnabé (1938)
- L'héritier des Mondésir starring Elvire Popesco, Jules Berry directed by Carlo Rim (1940)
- Monsieur Hector ( 1940)
- La fille du puisatier starring Raimu directed by Marcel Pagnol (1940)
- La nuit merveilleuse (1940)
- Les gueux au paradis starring Raimu
- Simplet directed by Fernandel 1942
- Les petits riens (1942)
- La bonne étoile (1943)
- Petrus starring Pierre BrasseurPierre BrasseurPierre Brasseur , born Pierre-Albert Espinasse, was a French actor.He was the son of actor Georges Espinasse and actress Germaine Brasseur while the latter was married to Albert Brasseur. His grandfather, Jules Brasseur, was an actor as well...
, Simone Simon directed by Marc Allégret (1946) - Coeur de coq (1946)
- Emile l'africain (1948)
- L'armoire volante directed by Carlo Rim (1948)
- L'héroïque Monsieur Boniface directed by Maurice Cloche (1949)
- On demande un assassin (1949)
- Casimir directed by Richard Pottier (1950)
- Meurtres directed by Richard Pottier (1950)
- Uniformes et grandes manoeuvres (1950)
- Topaze directed by Marcel Pagnol (1951)
- Tu m'as sauvé la vie directed by Sacha GuitrySacha GuitryAlexandre-Pierre Georges Guitry was a French stage actor, film actor, director, screenwriter, and playwright of the Boulevard theatre.- Biography :...
(1951) - Boniface somnambule directed by Maurice Cloche (1951)
- Adhémar ou le jouet de la fatalité directed by Fernandel (1951)
- La table aux crevés directed by Henri Verneuil (1951)
- L'auberge rouge starring Françoise Rosay directed Claude Autant-LaraClaude Autant-LaraClaude Autant-Lara , was a French film director and later Member of the European Parliament .-Biography:...
(1951) - Le Petit Monde de Don CamilloLe Petit monde de Don CamilloLe Petit monde de Don Camillo is a 1952 Italian film directed by Julien Duvivier, starring Fernandel and Gino Cervi. It was the first film in the "Don Camillo" series, which made Fernandel an international star. The film was based on the novel Don Camillo by author Giovannino Guareschi....
starring Gino CerviGino CerviGino Cervi was an Italian actor of international fame.Cervi was born in Bologna. His father was the theatre critic Antonio Cervi.In 1928, he married Nini Gordini and they had a son, Tonino Cervi...
directed by Julien Duvivier (1951) - Coiffeur pour dames directed by Jean Boyer
- Le fruit défendu starring Françoise Arnoul directed by Henri Verneuil (1952)
- Le boulanger de Valorgue directed by Henri Verneuil (1953)
- Le retour de Don Camillo starring Gino Cervi directed by Julien Duvivier (1953)
- Carnaval directed by Henri Verneuil (1953)
- L'ennemi public no.1 directed by Henri Verneuil (1953)
- Mam'zelle Nitouche starring Pier AngeliPier AngeliPier Angeli was an Italian-born television and film actress. Her American cinematographic debut was in the starring role of the 1951 film Teresa, in which she won a Golden Globe Award...
directed by Yves AllégretYves AllégretYves Allégret was a French film director in the film noir genre.He is noted as having been the husband of actress Simone Signoret between the years 1944–1949.-Selected filmography:...
(1954) - Le mouton à cinq pattes directed starring Louis de FunèsLouis de FunèsLouis Germain David de Funès de Galarza was a very popular French actor who is one of the giants of French comedy alongside André Bourvil and Fernandel...
by Henri VerneuilHenri VerneuilHenri Verneuil was a French-Armenian playwright and filmmaker, who enjoyed a successful career in France.-Biography:...
(1954) - Ali Baba et les quarante voleurs directed by Jacques BeckerJacques BeckerJacques Becker was a French screenwriter and film director.Becker was born in Paris, in an upper class background. During the 1930s he worked as an assistant to director Jean Renoir during his peak period, which produced such cinematic masterpieces as Grand Illusion and The Rules of the Game...
(1954) - Le printemps, l'automne et l'amour (1955)
- La grande bagarre de Don Camillo (1955)
- Le couturier de ces dames directed by Jean Boyer (1956)
- Don Juan directed by John BerryJohn BerrySir John Berry was an English naval officer of the Royal Navy, and was in 1675 the captain of the annual convoy to Newfoundland that took place during the years of the colony's founding....
(1956) - Honoré de Marseille (1956)
- Sous le ciel de Provence (1956)
- L'homme à l'imperméable starring Bertrand BlierBertrand BlierBertrand Blier is a French screenwriter and film director.Born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. He is the son of Bernard Blier....
directed by Julien DuvivierJulien DuvivierJulien Duvivier was a French film director. He was prominent in French cinema in the years 1930-1960...
(1957) - Sénéchal le magnifique directed by Jean BoyerJean BoyerJean Boyer was a French film director and songwriter.- Songs :* 1930 : Un regardé, dans le film Flagrant délit...
(1957) - Le chômeur de Clochemerle (1957)
- La loi c'est la loi starring TotoToto- People :* Saint Toto, the Roman name for Saint Theodore of Amasea* Toto of Nepi , Roman strongman* Totò, diminutive for Salvatore in Sicily, and Antonio in Campania* Totò , stage name of an Italian actor, writer, and songwriter...
directed by Christian-Jaque (1958) - La Vie à deux (1958)
- Paris HolidayParis HolidayParis Holiday is a 1958 comedy film starring Bob Hope, which was directed by Gerd Oswald, and written by Edmund Beloin, who was Hope's attorney, and Dean Riesner from a story by Hope. The film also features French comedian Fernandel, Anita Ekberg and Martha Hyer, and a rare appearance by...
(1958) co starring with Bob HopeBob HopeBob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel... - Les vignes du seigneur (1958)
- Le grand chef starring Gini Cervi directed by Henri Verneuil ( 1959)
- Le confident de ces dames directed by Jean Boyer (1959)
- La Vache et le PrisonnierLa Vache et le PrisonnierLa Vache et le Prisonnier is a French-Italian tragicomedy film from 1959 starring Fernandel and directed by Henri Verneuil. The story was based on Jacques Antoine's novel, Une histoire vraie. It is considered to be a classic and one of Fernandel's most iconic and popular films...
directed by Henri VerneuilHenri VerneuilHenri Verneuil was a French-Armenian playwright and filmmaker, who enjoyed a successful career in France.-Biography:...
(1959) - Crésus directed by Jean GionoJean GionoJean Giono was a French author who wrote works of fiction set in the Provence region of France.-First period:...
(1960) - Le caïd directed by Bernard Borderie (1960)
- Cocagne (1961)
- Don Camillo...Monseigneur! (1961) starring Gino Cervi
- Le jugement dernier directed by Vittorio de SicaVittorio de SicaVittorio De Sica was an Italian director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement....
(1961) - Dynamite Jack (1961)
- L'assasin est dans l'annuaire directed by Léo Joannon (1962)
- Le Diable et les Dix Commandements directed by Julien Duvivier (1962)
- En avant la musique (1962)
- Le voyage à Biarritz starring Arletty directed by Gilles Grangier (1963)
- Blague dans le coin (1963)
- Le bon roi Dagobert (1963)
- La cuisine au beurre starring BourvilBourvilAndré Bourvil, born André Robert Raimbourg was a French actor and singer best known for his roles in comedy, most notably in his collaboration with Louis de Funès in La Grande Vadrouille .-Biography:His father was killed in the First World War before Bourvil was born...
directed by Gilles Grangier (1963) - Relaxe-toi chérie directed by Jean Boyer (1963)
- L'âge ingrât starring Jean GabinJean Gabin-Biography:Born Jean-Alexis Moncorgé in Paris, he grew up in the village of Mériel in the Seine-et-Oise département, about 22 mi north of Paris. The son of cabaret entertainers, he attended the Lycée Janson de Sailly...
directed by Gilles Grangier(1964) - Don Camillo en RussieDon Camillo in MoscowDon Camillo in Moscow is a 1965 Italian comedy film directed by Luigi Comencini. It's the fifth and penultimate film in the Don Camillo series.-Cast:*Fernandel ... Don Camillo*Gino Cervi ... Giuseppe 'Peppone' Bottazzi*Leda Gloria ... Maria Bottazzi...
(1965) - La bourse et la vie directed by Jean-Pierre MockyJean-Pierre MockyJean-Pierre Mocky is the pseudonym of Jean-Paul Adam Mokiejewski, a French film director, actor, screenwriter and producer...
(1966) - Le voyage du père (1966)
- L'homme à la Buick starring Danielle Darrieux directed by Gilles Grangier(1967)
- Heureux qui comme Ulysse (1970)