Hercule
1937 Comedy
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Credits
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Summary
Injured during a grape harvest and believing he is not long for this
world, a Provençal peasant makes a confession to his son
Hercule. His real father is none other than Maffre, the
owner of a national newspaper who sacrificed his family life for a
fruitful journalistic career in Paris. Believing that he might be
able to persuade Maffre to support the cause of local fishermen,
Hercule sets out for Paris, only to discover that the newspaper magnate
has died, leaving him his heir and successor. Encouraged by
Juliette, a close associate of Maffre, Hercule takes up the job of
editor in chief, but very quickly finds himself caught up in the
machinations of a ruthless publicist, Vasco…Review
Fernandel is on great form in this effective 1930s satire on the
newspaper business, aided and abetted by some of the most talented
performers of the day - Gaby Morlay, Pierre Brasseur and Jules Berry to
name just three. Slightly lacking in depth and realism, the film
nonetheless offers an amusing take on the life of a newspaper editor
(and it’s surprising how little has changed since the film was
made). The film was originally to have been directed by Jean
Grémillon, but he abandoned the project after shooting the
exterior location scenes. He was replaced by the English director
Alexandre Esway, working in close collaboration with the film’s
screenwriter, Carlo Rim, a former newspaper editor.
© James Travers 2007 |
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