My Aunt of Honfleur [Robert Saidreau - Chapter 15]

 To read the previous chapter of this essay on the work of director Robert Saidreau, click here.

Planchet

Armand Bernard

For this film, Robert Saidreau hires for the first time the talents of an up-and-coming comic star, but who will need the director in order to move away from a role that sticks to his skin, and that happens to be also the one that generated his success. Indeed, at the time when he signed with Saidreau, Armand Bernard has been crowned with the triumph of Henri Diamant-Berger's film The Three Musketeers for two years, in which he played the role of the squire Planchet. If the character is far from being the star of the novel, Armand Bernard made it so memorable in the film version that he will play characters named Planchet in 4 of the 5 films that follow and he himself is regularly given the nickname. If the popularity of Planchet is an undeniable tribute to the talent of the actor, it seriously threatens to eclipse Armand Bernard and his multiple talents and to condemn him to only play Dartagnan's servant until most spectators get fed up.
It probably did not escape his notice, since he signs a three-film contract with an already well-established comedy director, to play adaptations of plays no less solid, none of which include a Planchet on the horizon, or even a character approaching. Thanks to Saidreau, Armand Bernard will never play "Planchet" on the screen again, even if this role will remain stuck to him in many articles after that. He is seen here kissing his effigy in a cinema hall for the photographer of Mon Ciné at the French press showing of The Prisoner of Zenda.

Armand Bernard kisses Planchet

The Plot

My Aunt of Honfleur is therefore a successful play by Paul Gavault, of which Robert Saidreau has just adapted The Idea of ​​Françoise, which appeared on the screens when on April 20, 1923 the upcoming filming of this new adaptation is announced. The subject is pure "boulevard": Armand Berthier (Armand Bernard) takes advantage of the financing of his studies by his aunt (Jeanne Loury) to live idle in Paris. One day, the aunt arrives and trouble begins. While Armand tries to exfiltrate a woman, Lucette (Irène Wells?), from his apartment without the aunt noticing, Albertine (Peggy Vère) knocks on the door.

Armand Bernard and Jeanne Loury

 

Armand has promised his friend Adolphe Dorlange (Pierre Etechepare) to notify the young lady of the end of their union. She in turn convinces Armand to try to persuade Adolphe to come back to her. To do this, Armand will seduce the new girlfriend of his buddy, Yvonne (Mary Belson?) And the aunt will approve the union.
In addition to yet another collaboration between Pierre Etchepare and Saidreau, we also notice the second and last with Mary Belson in a role identified on May 26, 1923 as being that of Lucette, which differs from imdb. And Jeanne Loury is here at the beginning of a long career of aunts and mothers at only 26 years old, that is to say much younger than Armand Bernard at the time.

Armand, a 33 year old student

The main cast is very advantageously surrounded by solid supporting roles and whose already established popularity will only grow: Marcel Vallée (the valet), Charles Martinelli (Adolphe's father), Louis Pré-Fils ( Doctor Douce) and Joffre. Four actors who had shared the screen with "Planchet" in The Three Musketeers.

Shooting

L'Intransigeant announced on May 19, 1923 that the filming of Ma Tante d'Honfleur had begun.
However Comoedia warns on May 31 that Planchet, before starting the exteriors, must still go to Bordeaux to play his sketch before filming the exteriors.

Saidreau directs Mary Belson

 

Mon Ciné explains what it is: authors Georges de La Fouchardière and Félix Celval wrote a comedy sketch, "The Adventure of Planchet", which Rachel Devyris and Armand Bernard then play in 28 movie theaters in France, and in which Queen Anne of France pursues Planchet with her assiduity. The tour in Bordeaux and Biarritz is interrupted to complete the filming of Ma Tante d'Honfleur.
The exteriors were done in Bièvre, where Saidreau and Bernard studied the scenario lying on the grass.

Armand Bernard and Robert Saidreau working at Bièvre

 

It is on June 16 that Comoedia announces the end of the shooting of the interiors.

The release

My Aunt of Honfleur (1730 meters) was presented to the press on September 19, 1923 at the Select. After seeing the presentation, Albert Bonneau reported in Cinémagazine on October 5, 1923 that the film "promises the public very pleasant moments." It was not until November 16, 1923 that the public could see it at Luxor, Pathé Palace, Royal Wagram, etc. Then on January 29, 1924 at the Artistic cinema.
Bonsoir published their review on November 18, 1923: "his filmed comedies treated with taste and intelligence have always entertained and held the attention of the public." In light of this success, the play will be adapted for the screen again in 1931 and 1949.

Saidreau ready to wake Peggy Vere from her nap

 

Robert Saidreau has now become a director important enough for his quotes, like a classic author, to be reproduced with emphasis in large print on the sidelines of the Intransigeant articles which deal with his films: "It is more difficult to make people laugh than to make people cry. Let the man who is not imbued with this truth try to stage a comic film."
I do not know if it is by allergic or visionary sensitivity, but it seems that at the time, he was thinking about making a film where no one smokes. L'Intransigeant rose up on June 9: "Some people have all the nerve."; which gives an idea of ​​the incongruity that an anti-smoking attitude could have been at the time.

To read the next chapter on the work of director Robert Saidreau, click here.

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That's all for today folks! See you soon !