As November is now upon us, I share some Cinema brewed with a House Blend of warmth and Season ... And brother I mean it (90° in the Fall? Who does that?)
And there is no better aroma to fill your first cup up of Fall with than a film that will break your heart and make you laugh all in one watch. FANNY (1961).
Though I have seen each of the previous film adaptations (more on their life coming up), this was, and always will be, a film I cherish as it was a film my mom and I adored. It is a film you can always catch me watching or mentioning, as it was continuously played in the house upon discovery. (Another film I was able to hep mom to the jive on ... and she loved it.)
Though I have seen each of the previous film adaptations (more on their life coming up), this was, and always will be, a film I cherish as it was a film my mom and I adored. It is a film you can always catch me watching or mentioning, as it was continuously played in the house upon discovery. (Another film I was able to hep mom to the jive on ... and she loved it.)
Though we had known Leslie Caron from the start (I have a long history with AN AMERICAN IN PARIS), it was through FANNY that the title character's name (acted in this film adaptation by Leslie Caron) became our nickname for Ms. Caron whenever we'd see her, "It's FANNY!" ... in our French accents, of course.
The story itself has a Cinematic history of its own, birthed through French novelist Marcel Pagnol after the then teacher (of English) moved to Paris, and was later exiled, he would soon create the play called Marius. |
From Pagnol's success with his 1926 play Jazz, and later his 1928 play Topaze, he wrote Marius, the first of Pagnol's plays to be adapted to film in 1929, the latter also to be adapted for screen in 1933,
1929 would not be the last time the screen would see MARIUS. Thus the trilogy began:
MARIUS (1929)
FANNY (1932)
CESAR (1936)
1929 would not be the last time the screen would see MARIUS. Thus the trilogy began:
MARIUS (1929)
FANNY (1932)
CESAR (1936)
In 1954, "Fanny" would undergo a bit of a transformation by way of the novel by S. N. Behrman and Joshua Logan, combining the trilogy into one storyline, 'Fanny'. And it was through this medium that "Fanny" would undergo yet another transition. A Musical adaptation that would open on Broadway on November 4, 1954.
The non-Musical which was to come in 1961 by way of a dramatic piece, instead used the songs from the Musical play as the films score throughout the storyline to be heard as accompanying instrumentals in the scene's proper places, as was sung musically in the 1954 play.
The non-Musical which was to come in 1961 by way of a dramatic piece, instead used the songs from the Musical play as the films score throughout the storyline to be heard as accompanying instrumentals in the scene's proper places, as was sung musically in the 1954 play.
This film finds a great cast, that includes charming performances from two of our favorite Frenchmen from way back, Charles Boyer and Maurice Chevalier. And also brings attention to another great actor, who, at the time, I was not familiar with, but vast became "best friends" with soon thereafter, Horst Buchholz (Marius). I could not recommend watching his films highly enough. Your film-watching career will be thankful.
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However, the film would not be complete or as enjoyable without the cast of characters that surround it, Lionel Jeffries, Salvatore Baccaloni, Raymond Bussieres, and the wonderful performance by Georgette Anys, who had to mouth her dialogue as her lines were dubbed in, for she did not speak English ... Perfect performance. |
I can't leave the café without sharing some of the dialogue that were quotes that my mom and I used often and with bravado:
"Don't cry on the rolls. They're salty enough." --César
"Don't cry on the rolls. They're salty enough." --César
Yep. That one was probably our favorite to use anytime cooking was underway.
But not to be outdone:
"And what's more, it's going to be a 7 months baby!" --Panisse
But not to be outdone:
"And what's more, it's going to be a 7 months baby!" --Panisse
Hahaha! Though we had no reason to ever use this line, the way Maurice delivers this news to Boyer's César, was a scene my mom and I would recreate in full performance, with facial expressions on the house to emphasize Maurice Chevalier's deliverance of this line.
Though a perfect film to watch any time of the year, if you see it on hand this Season with a little film time on your hands, have a cup brewed with your favorite film fan friend and let César's son Marius pour you a café ... #ForMyMom
(For my other two Charles Boyer CINEMA COFFEE blog pieces visit HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT (1937) and CLUNY BROWN (1946).)
For my other CINEMA COFFEE blog pieces:
#ForMyMom Cinema Coffee ... | COFFEE CINEMA: Talking Streetcar | CINEMA COFFEE: "Et tu, Brute?" | CINEMA COFFEE: "La Chocolaterie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Milk? I loathe milk!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Elderberry Wine ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The choice I never had ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The smell of Mimosa" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Mighty like a Rose" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Don't cry on the rolls" | CINEMA COFFEE: "You're the first Kansas I ever met" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Everybody calls me Gracie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "What the devil are Belinskis?!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Hello friends and enemies." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Stop remindin' me of heaven." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Even Gatsby could happen" | CINEMA COFFEE: "I made a wish" | CINEMA COFFEE: Audie Murphy | CINEMA COFFEE: Put The Blame on Mame | CINEMA COFFEE: "Just Singleton." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Where I Come From, Nobody Knows" | Film Therapy: Coping through Cinema | CINEMA COFFEE: Socks fall down | CINEMA COFFEE: "The moon's reaching for me" | CINEMA COFFEE: The Horne: Luso World Cinema Blogathon | CINEMA COFFEE: Aunt Bettye Lightsy | CINEMA COFFEE: I never lose | CINEMA COFFEE: "I have a mother!" | CINEMA COFFEE: THE SIGN OF GEMINI | CINEMA COFFEE: Venus Rising | CINEMA COFFEE: Stan vs Geek | CINEMA COFFEE: "Positively the same dame"
#ForMyMom Cinema Coffee ... | COFFEE CINEMA: Talking Streetcar | CINEMA COFFEE: "Et tu, Brute?" | CINEMA COFFEE: "La Chocolaterie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Milk? I loathe milk!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Elderberry Wine ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The choice I never had ..." | CINEMA COFFEE: "The smell of Mimosa" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Mighty like a Rose" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Don't cry on the rolls" | CINEMA COFFEE: "You're the first Kansas I ever met" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Everybody calls me Gracie" | CINEMA COFFEE: "What the devil are Belinskis?!" | CINEMA COFFEE: "Hello friends and enemies." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Stop remindin' me of heaven." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Even Gatsby could happen" | CINEMA COFFEE: "I made a wish" | CINEMA COFFEE: Audie Murphy | CINEMA COFFEE: Put The Blame on Mame | CINEMA COFFEE: "Just Singleton." | CINEMA COFFEE: "Where I Come From, Nobody Knows" | Film Therapy: Coping through Cinema | CINEMA COFFEE: Socks fall down | CINEMA COFFEE: "The moon's reaching for me" | CINEMA COFFEE: The Horne: Luso World Cinema Blogathon | CINEMA COFFEE: Aunt Bettye Lightsy | CINEMA COFFEE: I never lose | CINEMA COFFEE: "I have a mother!" | CINEMA COFFEE: THE SIGN OF GEMINI | CINEMA COFFEE: Venus Rising | CINEMA COFFEE: Stan vs Geek | CINEMA COFFEE: "Positively the same dame"