César runs a bar along Marseilles' port, assisted by his 23-year-old son, Marius. Friends since childhood, Fanny and Marius love each other, but Marius has a secret wanderlust: every ship's whistle stirs a longing for foreign lands. When M. Panisse seeks Fanny's hand in marriage and when a departing clipper needs a deckhand, Marius and Fanny must decide who and what they love most. César, with his generous, wise spirit, tries to guide his son.
Acting
Raimu's César — one of cinema's greatest fathers.
Writing
Pagnol's dialogue sings with wit and ache.
Production
Marseilles port recreated with theatrical intimacy.
Director
Alexander Korda
Raimu
César Ollivier
Pierre Fresnay
Marius Ollivier, fils de César
Orane Demazis
Fanny Cabanis, fille d'Honorine
Fernand Charpin
Maître Honoré Panisse
Robert Vattier
Monsieur Brun
Paul Dullac
Félix Escartefigue
Alida Rouffe
Honorine Cabanis
Alexandre Mihalesco
Piquoiseau
Édouard Delmont
Le Goelec
Lucien Callamand
Le quartier-maître du ferry-boat (uncredited)
Milly Mathis
Tante Claudine Foulon (uncredited)
Marcel Maupi
Innocent Mangiapan le chauffeur du ferry-boat (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Part of Marcel Pagnol's 'Marseilles Trilogy' — Fanny (1932) and César (1936) complete the saga.
Raimu was a legendary stage actor; this was his screen breakthrough at 47. Pagnol refused to cast anyone else.
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