The Well-Digger's Daughter (1940)
"La fille du puisatier" (original title)

A rural maiden's two suitors go off to war, leaving her pregnant.

Director:

Marcel Pagnol

Writers:

Marcel Pagnol (dialogue), Marcel Pagnol (screenplay),

Stars:

Raimu, Fernandel, Josette Day

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Raimu	...	Pascal Amoretti
Fernandel	...	Félipe Rambert
Josette Day	...	Patricia Amoretti
Line Noro	...	Marie Mazel
Georges Grey	...	Jacques Mazel
Fernand Charpin	...	André Mazel (as Charpin)
Milly Mathis	...	Nathalie
Clairette	...	Amanda Amoretti (as Claire)
Roberte Arnaud	...	Roberte Amoretti
Raymonde	...	Éléonore Amoretti
Tramel	...	Maxime Exbrayat - le garçon de café
Marcel Maupi	...	Le commis du bazar Mazel (as Maupi)
Charles Blavette	...	Le teinturier (as Blavette)
Lucien Callamand	...	Le colonel aviateur
Jean Heuzé	...	Le capitaine-aviateur

Storyline

Rural well-digger Pascal has a pretty 18-year-old daughter Patricia who grew up in Paris; he dreams of her marrying his middle-aged partner Felipe. But she meets young Jacques Mazel from the village; one thing leads to another, and when both Jacques and Felipe go off to war, she's carrying Jacques's child. Faced with estrangement from her father, denial by Jacques' family, and the news that Jacques himself is missing in action, will Patricia agree to marry Felipe?

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Plot Keywords:

mother

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

28 September 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Well-Digger's Daughter

Filming Locations:

La Treille, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films Marcel Pagnol

Technical Specs

Runtime:

170 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was started on 20th May 1940 but interrupted because of the war. It was only resumed on 13th August of the same year with Line Noro replacing Betty Daussmond in the role of Marie Mazel. The film was released in France unoccupied zone in December 1940, but only in April 1941 in the occupied zone.

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Connections

Remade as The Well Digger's Daughter (2011)

User Reviews

Marius In Khaki

Pagnol is on record as saying that his stories are essentially simple about simple people and here he gives us Marius under another name; Pascal hopes that his daughter Patricia will eventually marry his assistant Felipe despite the fact that Felipe is on the cusp of middle age and not the soundest bucket in the well. Patricia however falls for Jacques so much so that she winds up slightly pregnant as both men leave for the front. Eventually they hear that Jacques has made the ultimate sacrifice for France and it looks like wedding bells for Felipe and Patricia but wait ... who's that on the horizon, surely not Martin Guerre. Okay, it's hoke and we've seen it before - let's face it, Pagnol himself got a Trilogy out of this one - but as always it's not what you say but how you tell it and WHO you get to tell it and here Pagnol got the best in the business, Raimu as Pascal, Fernandel as Felipe and Charpin as Mr. Mazel, father of Jacques. These guys could read The Farmer's Almanac to camera and make it sound good. Yet another from Our Man In Scandinavia to whom much thanks.