Marcel Pagnol

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890-1945". Pages 865-870. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1987.

Marcel Pagnol was born on February 28, 1895 in Aubagne, Bouches-du-Rhône, France as Marcel Paul Pagnol.

Distinguished French playwright, novelist, screenwriter and director. He began as a teacher at the Lycee Condorcet in Paris in 1922. The success of his first two plays helped him to set up his own film production and distribution company near Marseilles. Pagnol founded the influential cinema magazine 'Les Cahier du Film' in 1931. He became best known for his comedic depiction of provincial life in the South of France, marked by witty dialogue and well observed local custom. Many of his actors were well-established stars of the theatre. Pagnol's most significant achievement is considered to be the Marius trilogy (Marius, Fanny and Cesar), filmed between 1931 and 1936.

Fathered three children out of wedlock: Jacques, b. 1932, to Kitty Murphy; Jean-Pierre, b. 1933, to Orane Demazis; and, Francine, b. 1935, to Yvonne Pouperon. Frédéric (1946) and Estelle (1951) were born to Jacqueline Bouvier Pagnol.

He was a writer and producer, known for The Well-Digger's Daughter (1940), Le schpountz (1938) and Angele (1934). He was married to Jacqueline Pagnol and Simone Collin.

First filmmaker to be elected to the French academy (1946-1974).

In 1947 he became the first filmmaker to gain entry into the prestigious French Academy.

President of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1957

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1966

Pictured on a EUR2.00 Monaco commemorative postage stamp issued 28 February 2020.