Heartbeat (1938)
"Le schpountz" (original title)

Meeting a movie team on location near his house, a young man saw a lots of encouragment for his dreaming carreer as a movie star in what was only sarcasm from the members of the team. (This... See full summary »

Director:

Marcel Pagnol

Writer:

Marcel Pagnol (adaptation)

Stars:

Fernandel, Orane Demazis, Fernand Charpin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fernandel	...	Irénée Fabre, 'le Schpountz'
Orane Demazis	...	Françoise
Fernand Charpin	...	L'oncle Baptiste Fabre (as Charpin)
Léon Belières	...	Meyerboom
Enrico Glori	...	Bodigar Glazunoff
Robert Vattier	...	Astruc
Marcel Maupi	...	Le barman
Louisard	...	Charlet
Henri Poupon	...	Galubert
Robert Bassac	...	Dromart
Charles Blavette	...	Martelette (as Blavette)
Jean Castan	...	Casimir Fabre
André Pollack	...	L'avoué (as Pollack)
Charblay	...	Adolphe, le portier du studio
Tyrand	...	Le pape (as Tyran)

Storyline

Meeting a movie team on location near his house, a young man saw a lots of encouragment for his dreaming carreer as a movie star in what was only sarcasm from the members of the team. (This is the caracteristic of a schountz: someone who see himself as a born movie comedian and is blind on the critics to his dream) After he has signed a fake contract which he blindly take as genuine even if it is ridiculous, he starts to Paris without money to make his carreer.

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Plot Keywords:

uncle nephew relationship | paris france | provence | satire | film in film

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

4 September 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Heartbeat

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films Marcel Pagnol

Technical Specs

Runtime:

160 min 90 min (1939) 130 min (TCM print) 140 min (premiere)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Philips Soundsystem)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was shot a second time because the confusion around the first shooting when Marcel Pagnol was writing the scenario day by day. Unavailable for the second shooting, Pierre Brasseur was replaced by Roger Forster (I) but some of the shots involving Brasseur were still used.

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Goofs

Unavailable for the second shooting (see trivia entry), Pierre Brasseur was replaced by Roger Forster but some of the shots involving Brasseur were still used.

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Connections

Remade as Le schpountz (1999)

User Reviews

"Le schpountz" : what's that thing?

Gerard Oury, who recently died ,made a remake in 1999 starring Smain and Sabine Azéma.It was greeted by a poor reception in France and the users on the IMDb agree,given its very low rating.

One cannot redo a Pagnol movie ,one cannot take on a Fernandel part.They were unique.

Not that "Le Schpounz" is a perfect movie:its last part (or should I say its last act for,as most of Pagnol's movies of that era,it was first a play) drags on a bit too much.

"Le Schpounz" is not a word which is in the French dictionary;it means "idiot' "moron".

Irénée (Fernandel) is sick and tired of working in his uncle 's(Charpin) grocery.He's dreaming of Hollywood .One day a film crew stops in his small village and have the poor moron sign a phony contract for Meyerboum productions.The poor fool really believes he is bound for glory so he takes a train to Paris where he is subject to bad jokes again until...

Fernandel easily switches from laughter to tears,and his words ,when he discovers he's been led up the garden path ,are bitter and harsh.There are interesting thoughts about a comic actor ,particularly when Orane Demazis talks about Charlie Chaplin.

Like "Topaze" (1932 and 1950) it's also a revenge :Irénée was humiliated in his grocery (this boy is no good at anything!)as Topaze was a ridiculous little teacher in love with his headmaster's daughter who laughed behind his back.Both have made their way of life:the former has become a star,the latter a businessman.Irenée,however,remains a nice person (so does his uncle who 's got a heart of gold in fact) whereas Jouvet made Topaze a disturbing character in the first version.

NB.Watch out for Pierre Brasseur's cameo as "Cousine" ,a gay who thinks that men should not marry women.(sic)