Tartarin de Tarascon

This is the third film adaptation of Alphonse Daudet's immensely popular picaresque novel 'Adventures of Tartarin of Tarascon'. The first was conceived by pioneer Georges Mélies in 1908 and the third in 1962 by actor Francis Blanche who directed himself in the role and thereafter wisely decided to stick to acting.

This second version has been adapted by Marcel Pagnol and stars the prodigiously talented Raimu as the fictional lion hunter of Provencal but cannot begin to compare with their classic collaborations from the same decade whilst accomplished director Raymond Bernard would not seem the ideal choice for this material.

Tartarin is a loveable clown whose dreams of adventure resemble those of Don Quixote but whose physique and love of creature comforts makes him more akin to Sancho Panza. As one would expect Raimu personifies the character whilst his superb comic timing reminds one that he had honed his craft in Parisian vaudeville.

Although not without its moments it remains alas in the 'not quite' category and as such is in very good company!

....transferred to the screen by Raymond Bernard whose best films are not comedies (Hugo's "les Misérables" and his pacifist "les Croix de Bois" one of the best films dealing with WW1).

After seeing a lion in the local zoo,Tartarin begins to think that shooting caps is nor worthy of a hunter.And he tells his friends he's going to leave for Africa where greater glories are waiting for him.But he's too fearful to carry out his plans.However, his good friends are not prepared to accept it and his honor is at stake...

Raimu is ideally cast as Tartarin,and the film is pleasant,if not particularly memorable.