The Duraton Family (French: La famille Duraton) is a 1939 French comedy film directed by Christian Stengel and starring Noël-Noël, Jules Berry and Blanchette Brunoy.[1] [2] It was shot at the Billancourt Studios in Paris. The film's sets were designed by the art director Pierre Linzbach. It is based on a popular radio show of the same name. The plot bears similarities to the 1943 American film True to Life. Another French film inspired by the show The Duratons was released in 1955.

The Duraton Family
Directed byChristian Stengel
Written byJean Granier
Noël-Noël
Jean-Jacques Vital
René Wheeler
Produced byChristian Stengel
StarringNoël-Noël
Jules Berry
Blanchette Brunoy
CinematographyAndré Bac
Joseph-Louis Mundwiller
Edited byLouis Chavance
Laura Sejourné
Music byPaul Misraki
Production
company
Société de Production du Film Famille Duraton
Distributed byCompagnie Générale Cinématographique
Release date
  • 6 September 1939 (1939-09-06)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench

Synopsis

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The car of Sammy Walter, an unscrupulous producer for the Paris Radio-Seine, breaks down in the countryside. He manages to find accommodation with the Martin family. He is so amused by their eccentric ways and conversations that he decides to start secretly broadcasting on air every evening, believing listeners will be fascinated by a real portrait of a village in Deep France. Although the show goes out the name The Duration Family, their true identity becomes obvious when indiscreet gossip about local affairs is broadcast.

Cast

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References

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  1. ^ Powrie & Cadalanu p.108
  2. ^ Crisp p.374

Bibliography

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  • Bessy, Maurice & Chirat, Raymond. Histoire du cinéma français: 1935-1939. Pygmalion, 1986.
  • Crisp, Colin. Genre, Myth and Convention in the French Cinema, 1929-1939. Indiana University Press, 2002.
  • Powrie, Phil & Cadalanu, Marie . The French Film Musical. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020.
  • Rège, Philippe. Encyclopedia of French Film Directors, Volume 1. Scarecrow Press, 2009.
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