Fernandel

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Fernandel, 1937

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, operettas, 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.

Literature [edit]

In The Stranger by Albert Camus, Meursault and his female friend Marie Cordona watch a movie starring Fernandel on the day after Meursault's mother died.

Filmography (selection) [edit]

Main article: Filmography of Fernandel (French)

Year Title Role Director
1931 On purge bébé Horace Truchet Jean Renoir
1934 Angèle "Saturnin Marcel Pagnol
1938 Ernest the Rebel "Ernest Pic" Christian-Jaque
1939 Berlingot and Company François Fernand Rivers
1940 La Fille du Puisatier "Félipe Rambert Marcel Pagnol
1951 Boniface somnambule Victor Boniface" Maurice Labro
1951 I'm in the Revue "Fernand, the painter" Mario Soldati
1951 Le Petit Monde de Don Camillo Don Camillo Julien Duvivier
1952 Forbidden Fruit Doctor Charles Pellegrin Henri Verneuil
1953 Mam'zelle Nitouche Célestin Floridor Yves Allégret
1954 The Sheep Has Five Legs Alain/ Désiré/ Étienne/ Bernard/Charles/Édouard (their father) Henri Verneuil
1956 Around the World in Eighty Days cameo appearance as a coachman in Paris Michael Anderson
The Man in the Raincoat Albert Constantin Julien Duvivier
1957 Paris Holiday Fernydel Gerd Oswald
The Law Is the Law Ferdinand Pastorelli Christian-Jaque
1958 La Vie à deux Marcel Gaboufigue" (Marguerite's husband) Clément Duhour
1959 La Vache et le Prisonnier Charles Bailly Henri Verneuil
1961 The Last Judgement the widower Vittorio De Sica
1962 Le Diable et les Dix Commandements Father Gilbert Julien Duvivier
1965 Don Camillo in Moscow Don Camillo Luigi Comencini

External links [edit]