Cannes: 150 years of memories of a film fan journalist

How many participants at the Cannes Film Festival really know Cannes? How many share the passion for cinema?
Immersion in Cannes and its festival, through the eyes of a child of Provence, become a cinemaphile from a young age.
Travel in time to Cannes with André Abbe since the 1950s, then through the events of 68, then inside the festival as a journalist. And today, as retired.

Last updated : August 15, 2023

19th century - Cannes in cart

I kind of forgot what my father told me. An Abbe parent left the cart loaded with barrels of wine on Roquebrune's evening. He arrived in Cannes the next morning to deliver his precious merchandise. His horse had travelled within a dozen hours the 45 km of the Esterel road, not yet paved at the time. Who was that parent? How much wine was transported on each trip? I know that the wine was destined for a café in Cannes, a city that counts in our family history.

twentieth century - A simple projector then two cinemas in the village

A film fan mayor

Between 1922 and 25, Jean-Baptiste Giboin, mayor of Roquebrune on Argens, had purchased a film projector for schools.

To recover money, he organized paid screenings of silent films (of course) for the Roquebrunois. I read that in the reports of the municipal council meetings, he was never mentioned in the family. Jean-Baptiste is the father of my mother's mother.

The two cinemas of the village: the Star and the Vox

Later, the talking cinema arrived. Roquebrune had two cinés: Vox, the most chic, and the most mediocre Star.

The star deraped with rotten sound was the property of Pitone du Puget, a cinemaphile. I remember seeing it. « Topaz » with Fernandel (film to watch on Youtube).

A session was scheduled on Thursday afternoon, but Leon, projectionist and Toni Salvetti, cashier and supervisor, only started if there were a minimum of ten spectators. It happened at least twice to go to the street trying to convince ladies to join us. More recently, I was alone at the Vox in Fréjus during a session...

Some of my friends went to the movies that if there were Mickeys (animated drawings) in the first part. They asked spectators on Sunday morning who had gone to the Saturday evening session.

When I first screened, I had to be four or five. I had seen the poster of a movie with a hero dog. Star movies were displayed under our house, near the fountain. They made me dream. My mother took me on Sunday to see this dog who looked unhappy in the movie, I started crying and we went out in the middle of the screening. I remember it like it happened yesterday. Surprisingly, I tend to forget everything.

When I was about ten years old, the ticket cost 30f at the Star and 50f at the Vox, another accurate memory. The difference came from the high standing of the Vox which offered two prices, it was cheaper in the first ranks (same at the Casino in Saint Raph where the balcony was more expensive). Thirty francs is three cents today. Yet there were unsightly people, including the rich. Some parents found it a waste to pay to go and see scumbags.

1949 - The B14 not chic enough at La Croisette

I had the opportunity to talk about our risky B14 outings. The B14 remained in the garage until about 49 because there were no tires or spare parts available. My father bought this model from 1930 before 39 and turned it into a pickup truck. The plateau of the B14 is at the Bastide. My brother-in-law Jo stores wood there, but he doesn't burn anymore.

I'm sorry we didn't have any pictures of our B14. She didn't have a wiper engine. When it rained, the passenger had to turn a handle to make the only wiper walk. She also had no flashing. The driver pulled out his arm to turn left. On the right it was rather optional. If there was a passenger, he would pull out his arm. It seems to me that one day the flasher became mandatory and my father had to have them installed.

I had to write it down already somewhere but so much so I still write. My parents in front, Jean Bérenguier (Jo's brother) and I on the set had picked up my sister and Jo at the port of Nice. By passing on the Croisette in Cannes, we had been caught because our B14 had no right to ride on the Croisette, we had been diverted on the rue d'Antibes. Every time I went to Cannes with my son Pasha, I told him this story and one day he got tired of it, pointing out that I was telling her for the tenth time. My shame of being French comes from this accumulation of sometimes tiny details showing contempt for the populo of our republic remained monarchic.

I remember driving the B14 one last time down the boulevard to go to G. Escoffier who had turned the tray into a trailer and sent the rest to scrap. I don't think the engine was working anymore. At the bottom of the freewheel descent it was towed with the 2cv new van.

1955 - Hollywood film "The Harvest" in Provence

The beginnings of a cinemaphile

In 1955, nothing happened in Roquebrune on Argens. But one day, Director Blay's CM2 class learned the news. American cinema was coming to our house. A brief sequence of the film « Harvests » was turned in front of the small vineyard in front of the vast house of Bagatelle. The foliage of the vines had been covered with a red powder so that it could appear green in technonicolor. I saw everything.

Mel Ferrer and the one who played his brother, jacket on the shoulder, arrived and asked « Are you hiring for the harvest? ». An old peasant answered them « See our vineyard, it was devastated by hail ». Director Jeffrey Hayden had shot the short scene at least ten times, before reaching the right shot. I was impressed.

The 1957 film had not been very successful, but it was not a turnip. Michèle Morgan, the blonde and Pier Angeli, the brunette, beautiful, had saved her bet.

Yesterday I saw Mel Ferrer, an American actor of Catalan origin, in « The longest day ». He played in a multitude of movies without ever becoming a star of the first order. In « Harvests »Michèle Morgan fell in love with him. Every time I see him, I think of Bagatelle whose vine has disappeared. But my love of cinema remained.

Years 50-60 - Magali or my early love of cinema

Last night, I saw « Razzia on the chump » thanks to the recently installed TNT. Magali Noël played there with Jean Gabin. The memory of an evening at the "Green Theatre" came back. » Issambres, a grand gala organized by a certain Claude Tabet who presented invited artists, then a singer, then a film in the world premiere. I remember a turnip taking place in the virgin forest of which André Claveau was the star. Another time, Edmond Taillet fanciful singer had done his singing trick. « I'm made of one block, I'm cut from the rock... » was his tube. He had an amazing turtle profile of resemblance.

A few years later, TV had learned that Edmond Taillet was an international gangster, a drug dealer. I never heard of him again. I'll search some friends for him on the internet. In chic summer dresses, Magali Noël, Rosana Podesta and Dawn Adams had answered ordinary Tabet questions. I was amazed by their grace and charm. If I forget the proper names, I remember those names. None of the three have made a star career, but we see it from time to time in 50-60 movies on TV. I was about 15 years old. I attended all these parties thanks to Mr. Bardou who worked for Beaumont.

Much later, I had an accreditation « pink », the best for the press, at the Cannes festival which opened all the doors including the press conferences of the stars. I wasn't going. The pleasure of seeing the actresses closely had passed. My favorite stars were Eva Marie Saint, Grace Kelly and Marylin. Yet in real life I preferred brunettes, in general.

1972 - Young Directors' Fortnight

I wrote on Monday the story of my time at the Festival and my disappointment. But the real reason I came to Cannes was a pilgrimage, 50 years after my first joys as a festivalist shared with my wife. I wandered around Cannes, made a self-portrait in front of what remains of the Star, in works, hidden by panels. Cafard and nostalgia. To finish my day I attended the organ concert of Notre Dame church. I discovered the new organ, new to me, it dates from 2010 and Henri Pourteau, organist and lecturer of talent.

At the beginning of May 1972, a childhood friend who lived in Cannes at the time explained that he had just created himself, on the margins of the Festival « Official », « the Fortnight of young directors » and that when we managed we could see projections.

In fact, at the top of the street of Antibes, the three rooms of the Star and the Salle du Français presented feature films from the 5 continents. A new world for us to film occasionally.

We went there on Thursdays, weekends, and sometimes when the program was tempting, after my wife's class release. In principle, the entrance was reserved for pros but the controllers let the public in when there were seats. Atmosphere good kid back then. But it quickly changed... anyway. I found some movies on the internet that we loved: « Family Life » Ken Loach, already here. « Los dias de l'Agua » by Manuel Gomez, « Los dias del Amor » d) Alberto Isaac. We were discovering Latin American cinema.

The Star was not far from the old Palace which became the Hilton, convenient for it to come and go. Today, the red carpet and bunker are at the other end of Antibes Street and our Star has lost all its appeal to the festival organizers. I hope he will reopen after modernization. I'm afraid it'll be replaced by chic shops. The Frenchman has long disappeared.

Had I not accompanied Nana to the station, I would not have gone to Cannes; the page is now turned on the Festival. Clap, no regrets.

I owe my best memory of x72 to the screening, with my wife and this childhood friend, of the medium film « Camille or the catastrophic comedy » by Claude Miller with Philippe Léotard and Juliet Berto, long gone. We laughed a lot. A forgotten pearl...

I'd like to see him again, but I don't know how to find him. If you know any way...

1974 - Down the steps

The old Palace has become a hotel

From the time of the old Palais des Festivals, the actor, the actress, the producer who went down the steps were facing the sea, the islands of Lérins to their left, the peaks of the Esterel to their right. Nowadays, the descent of the steps is faced with thick but ugly buildings. But there are more steps to go down...

A Hilton hotel replaced the old Palais des Festivals. I am one of those who have signed petitions to keep this Palace witness of an era, facing the sea, on the Croisette. In the Hilton basement, a room was built that looks a bit like the old one. The story of nostalgia among the elders. The « Directors' Fortnight » presented his selection.

(In 2022 the Hilton was no longer a Hilton, it appears.)

Michel Piccoli came to demonstrate with us

I participated in the first demonstration against Giscard d'Estaing, who had just been elected president a few hours earlier. In a modest cinema in the suburbs of Cannes, was to be screened at the initiative of the PSU, « History of A », film about abortion. The screening was banned and the CRS had kicked us out of the room. While walking through small streets known to our friends in Cannes, we sat on the Croisette in front of the Palace, in the presence of dozens of photographers and cameramen. The CRS who arrived after us had hesitated to beat us before so many witnesses. We were yelling « Barely elected he makes us hit » full lungs.

The moment of the descent of the steps, at the end of the film in competition. Piccoli was there in tuxedo. We shouted « Piccoli with us, Piccoli with us!" and he had actually come to sit in the middle of us. I regretted not taking my camera.

Men in suit and women in evening dress came to walk on the Croisette shouting Freedom of Expression. The most beautiful manifestation of my life as an activist against one of the most disappointing presidents of the Republic.

1974 - Arcand, or my modest presence in films

In « Barbaric invasions », Denys Arcand basically makes one of his characters say « Western has produced nothing between Virgile and Dante ». I obtained his e-mail from the Brousseau and explained to him that before Dante there had been the troubadours which Dante said to be the continuation of their work. In the next film of the trilogy « Age of Darkness » Arcand answers me. He makes a character say « The troubadours have nothing to do with it. ».

In « Dupont Lajoie », Boisset tells the local police commissioner « We must not scare tourists already that occitanist bombardments scare them ». The film is going on in St Aygulf and it's about my bombardments. « Tourism »- « Paris decides, the Midi dies ». My combos are replaced by postless tags today.

Here is my modest contribution to Quebec and French cinemas. But let's go back to Cannes after a detour to Fayence.

Once with Peter who was staying with the Henriot on our plot, we went early to make white truffles in Saint Paul (courtesy the owner of the truffles). He had found at least one kilo before going to the Light Auditorium at 8 1/2. The truffles disappeared in Saint Paul and the Light would be forbidden if I decided to go.

For several years, Alain Martin's modest but comfortable sailboat had served us as a lodging... 200m from the new palace. J-y had shot a subject in Provencal saying that viewers were welcomed on Vaqui's yacht. A modest show, in a modest language, on a modest yacht, had pleased the viewers.

1989 - The pirate ship

The galion of "Pirates" takes off.
Thanks to Passadoc, I look for and find old photos. In May 1989, I was on the island of Saint Honorat, near Cannes.

Surprised! I had seen the galion of Roman Polanski's Franco-Tunisian film "Pirates" (1986) appearing behind the old monastery while moving away.

For several years, the imitation of a galion of pirates who had served in Polanski's film, presented out of competition at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival, remained docked in the port of Cannes. Outings were organized for tourists. I was not excited about this film but I had found the replica of the galion very successful.

For me, the most beautiful film on this subject is "La Flibustière des Antilles" (1951).
70 years old, the beautiful Jean (female first name in the USA) Peters playing the role of Anne Providence, the libustière.

An opportunity for me to pay tribute to Louis Jourdan (born Louis Gendre) on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth, June 19, 1921.

1995 - Gina Lollobirigida

In May 1995, I found myself behind Gina Lollobrigida in the Light Auditorium in Cannes, I already wrote it but I know more now.

Born in 1927, she was 68 years old and superb. I didn't ask him to stand up to compare our sizes! I didn't dare talk to her, yet we waited 10′ before the screening and she wasn't in conversation with her neighbors. Mitterrand had just given him the legion of honor, which he did better in 14 years of reign ending. In that year she made an appearance in a film by Agnes Varda, which explained her presence. In addition to the banal « I admire you very much. » I could have talked to her about photography, her passion.

Since I missed meeting Gina, I always look at who's in front of me when I go to the show. Gina is the Bersagliera of « Bread, Love and Fancy » (1953) de Comencini, of which » Marechal » Sica is in love. A Sunday I went with Charlot to the Rialto in Saint Raph to see him. We enjoyed it. Eskimo in the intermission.

Persuasion

I lack persuasion power. Two recent examples prove this: at the Cannes Film Festival, two young people ask me where the movie Arcades is. I tell them the right direction, but they keep walking in the opposite direction.

In opera Garnier (Paris), I was on the basket level, two ladies asked me in English where the balcony is. I signal them to go up. Not convinced, they ask a woman who tells them to come down to the orchestra. They're rushing! I've always had a hard time convincing others and it cost me a lot.

June 2017 - Cannes, of all colours

One could once show his journalist card at the reception get a daily pass that allowed access to the stands and pavilions of participating companies and get tickets to attend screenings.

Yellow, blue, pink, pink with pastille and white, it was in my time the colors of the accredits of the journalists and according to the color one had little or many rights, especially that of attending the press conferences.

2018 - Two palm trees

Two Golden Palms for a single Cannes Festival, this is a premiere.
Simple Gold Palm for Japanese Film « Family business ».
The jury wanted to honor Jean-Luc Godard with a Palme d'Or « Special » for « the Book of Image » (I've seen a singular and plural image written, I don't know which one to choose), an assemblage that has not been unanimous.
Godard is capable of the best and the worst. Young cinemaphile I had been disappointed and upset by his film « Female male » (1966).

I never went to see a Godard in the movies again, I've been content with TV.
Godard said watching a movie on TV is a sacrilege.
I assume my Godardian sacrileges.

2022 - Sheeting in action

Film enthusiasts have left room for business enthusiasts

More questions of participation in the Festival without accreditation, access to the projections, enter the Palais to collect information. Faction controllers scan your badge that serves as an attestation.
My last time at the Cannes Film Festival was before Macron's election. On May 22, 2022, I went to the Festival with the illusion that thanks to my press card and that of the Scam, I could attend the screenings of the films selected by the Acid and the Week of Criticism. But no, the press card is as devalued and useless as a phone token in Cannes. There are questions about access to information for the press. Our Festival is the victim of Americanization, unlike its 1939 vocation.

The spirit of the founder of the Cannes Film Festival Jean Zay is far away

Jean Zay wanted to found a Popular Festival as opposed to the Venice Mostra in the hands of the fascist government. A plaque in tribute to Jean Zay was placed inside the Palace but was not allowed to go and photograph it. Disillusion.
I walked around Cannes for no reason, no destination, no option and to continue in my selection of « On », I found myself a little shitty.

It is possible, to be precise, to buy tickets to attend the projections of the « Directors' Fortnight » In the Hilton basement... Provided that accreditation holders do not occupy all comfortable vermilion armchairs.

Remains the projection at 10 p.m. of the meeting of « Cinema of the Beach »open to the population without distinction. We were planning on the 22nd, « A monkey in winter » with Gabin and Bébel in action, but at that time I was already back home.

Cannes preserves remains of Provencal village

Before being a seaside resort of the Jet Set, before offering its setting at the Film Festival, Cannes was a Provençal fishing port dominated by the Suquet district, the Provençal terrace.

« L-Escolo de Lerin » (The Lérins school, the name of the archipelago of the islands of Sainte Marguerite and Saint Honorat) linked to the Félibrige, perpetuates the Provençal language and traditions in Cannes.

There is a structure in Cannes that deals with apartment rentals called « Félibriges ». Mèfi, there is only one Félibrige, founded by Frédéric Mistral and his friends in the mid-19th century. I never asked the honor to belong to the Félibrige but I have very good friends there.

During my day spent in Cannes on Sunday, May 22, I met a painter in the market for antiques and fine arts, who spoke to me in English and then in Nice, and then to talk After walking on the Croisette (the Crouseto-the Croseta- small cross in Provençal), going to my car in the evening, I passed the building « Lou Suquetan » (inhabitant of the Suquet).

There is a saying in Provencal which says that when you come to stay in Cannes, you no longer want to leave but I forgot the exact text. I've got the memory that goes wrong, like Jeanne Moreau.

Conclusions of 150 years of memories about Cannes and its festival

This passion for the 7th art started with this sequence with Mel Ferrer shot in Bagatelle (Roquebrune sur Argens), then our first Cannes Festival, my wife Francine and I in 72, « the Directors' Fortnight ». My bulimia afterwards when I had an accredit, sometimes with 5 films a day to confuse and mix everything the next day.......

In more than 40 years during the Festival I spoke only with an actor, Philippe Léotard, leaving a session to tell him that I had loved a film of his youth « Camille or the catastrophic comedy ». Accompanied by Nathalie Bayle, he had been surprised and glad that he had evoked this rarity of less than an hour which never went out in the hall. I had seen him at the Fortnight years earlier. Today I regret not trying to interview or photograph actors I loved and met. Timidity or discretion. Most would have sent me to hide and I would have been upset.