The Cow and I

Last updated
La Vache et le Prisonnier
Directed by Henri Verneuil
Based onUne histoire vraie
by Jacques Antoine
Starring Fernandel
Music by Paul Durand
Release date
  • 16 December 1959 (1959-12-16)(France)
Running time
118 minutes
CountriesFrance
Italy
LanguageFrench

La Vache et le Prisonnier (English version: "The Cow and I") is a French-Italian tragicomedy film from 1959, starring Fernandel and directed by Henri Verneuil, that is based on Jacques Antoine's 1945 novel, Une histoire vraie (A True Story). It tells the story of a French prisoner of war in World War II forced to work on a farm in Germany who decides to escape by walking away with a cow he calls Marguerite (Daisy in English).

Contents

It was the most successful film in France in 1959, with over 8 million seats sold. [1] [ circular reference ]

Plot

Charles Bailly, a French prisoner of war in Germany in the summer of 1943, decides to escape from the farm where he is forced to work and go home to France. Observing that a man with a cow and a milk pail passes unnoticed in the Bavarian countryside, his plan is to take one (whom he names Marguerite) and to walk with her to Stuttgart, where he will leave her and hide aboard a train for France.

Their epic journey takes weeks, during which the two meet many people, some sympathetic and some not. They get into many situations, some dangerous and some hilarious. For example, on a narrow pontoon bridge over the Danube, Marguerite will not budge when a company of German soldiers tries to cross. [2]

Reaching Stuttgart, Bailly has to part from Marguerite and jumps on a train. At its first stop in France, he gets off but is challenged by French police. To escape them he jumps on another train, which viewers can see is heading for Stuttgart.

Cast

Production

The film was shot in black and white, and in 1990 a colorized version was released.

Reception

The film has become a national favourite, being shown often on television. Analysing its enduring popularity, a critic in 2017 wrote that the character created by Fernandel embodies: .. the typical Frenchman, in his stubbornness, resourcefulness and humanity. [3]

Remake

In 2018, Variety reported that an English-language remake would begin development in the fall of that year, with Marc Forster directing, Ewan McGregor starring, and Bill Prady writing. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve</span> French politician (1756–1794)

Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve was a French writer and politician who served as the second mayor of Paris, from 1791 to 1792, and the first regular president of the National Convention in 1792. During the French Revolution, he was associated with the moderate Girondins, and voted against the immediate execution of Louis XVI at the king's trial in January 1793, though he supported a suspended sentence. This led to Pétion's proscription by the Convention alongside other Girondin deputies following the radical insurrection of 31 May – 2 June 1793, and ultimately his suicide together with fellow-Girondin François Buzot while evading arrest during the Terror.

<i>Nightwatch</i> (1997 film) 1997 American horror-thriller film directed by Ole Bornedal

Nightwatch is a 1997 American horror thriller film directed by Ole Bornedal and starring Ewan McGregor, Patricia Arquette, Josh Brolin and Nick Nolte. It was written by Bornedal and Steven Soderbergh. It is a remake of the 1994 Danish film of the same name, which was also directed by Bornedal.

<i>The Password Is Courage</i> 1962 British film

The Password Is Courage is a 1962 British comedy-drama war film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, based on John Castle's 1954 World War II memoir of the same name. Written, produced, and directed by Andrew L. Stone, the film stars Dirk Bogarde, Maria Perschy, and Alfred Lynch. It is a lighthearted take on the true story of Sergeant-Major Charles Coward, written under the pseudonym John Castle by Ronald Payne and John Williams Garrod.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henri Verneuil</span> French-Armenian playwright and filmmaker (1920–2002)

Henri Verneuil was a French-Armenian playwright and filmmaker, who made a successful career in France. He was nominated for Oscar and Palme d'Or awards, and won Locarno International Film Festival, Edgar Allan Poe Awards, French Legion of Honor, Golden Globe Award, French National Academy of Cinema and Honorary Cesar awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Île-à-Vache</span> Island in Sud, Haiti

Île-à-Vache, is a Caribbean island, one of Haiti's satellite islands. It lies in the Baie de Cayes about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) off the coast of the country's southwest peninsula, roughly between the town of Les Cayes and Pointe l'Abacou. It was formerly known by the name of Abacca. Administratively, it became a commune in 1976 as part of the Les Cayes Arrondissement in the Sud department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World War I prisoners of war in Germany</span>

The situation of World War I prisoners of war in Germany is an aspect of the conflict little covered by historical research. However, the number of soldiers imprisoned reached a little over seven million for all the belligerents, of whom around 2,400,000 were held by Germany.

<i>The Elusive Corporal</i> 1962 film

The Elusive Corporal is a 1962 French film directed by Jean Renoir that stars Jean-Pierre Cassel, Claude Brasseur, and Claude Rich. It was entered into the 12th Berlin International Film Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ewan McGregor</span> Scottish actor (born 1971)

Ewan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. His accolades include a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2013, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama and charity.

Jean Keraudy (1920–2001) was the stage name of Roland Barbat, a French prisoner, later came to fame playing himself in the French film The Hole. He was one of five inmates involved in a 1947 escape attempt from France's La Santé Prison.

<i>Run for Cover</i> (film) 1955 film by Nicholas Ray

Run for Cover is a 1955 American Western film directed by Nicholas Ray and starring James Cagney, Viveca Lindfors, John Derek, and in his final film, Jean Hersholt. Distributed by Paramount Pictures, this film was made in VistaVision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">French prisoners of war in World War II</span> French and French colonial soldiers captured by Nazi Germany

Although no precise estimates exist, the number of French soldiers captured by Nazi Germany during the Battle of France between May and June 1940 is generally recognised around 1.8 million, equivalent to around 10 percent of the total adult male population of France at the time. After a brief period of captivity in France, most of the prisoners were deported to Germany. In Germany, prisoners were incarcerated in Stalag or Oflag prison camps, according to rank, but the vast majority were soon transferred to work details (Kommandos) working in German agriculture or industry. Prisoners from the French colonial empire, however, remained in camps in France with poor living conditions as a result of Nazi racial ideologies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belgian prisoners of war in World War II</span>

During World War II, Belgian prisoners of war were principally Belgian soldiers captured by the Germans during and shortly after the Battle of Belgium in May 1940.

Sous le Manteau is a French documentary consisting of footage shot clandestinely by French officers held during World War II in Oflag XVII-A, a POW camp in northeastern Austria.

<i>Heartbeat</i> (1938 film) 1938 French film

Heartbeat is a 1938 French comedy film directed by Marcel Pagnol and starring Fernandel, Orane Demazis and Fernand Charpin. It was remade in 1999 as Le schpountz, directed by Gérard Oury.

Robert Macaire and Bertrand is a 1906 French silent film directed by Georges Méliès.

<i>The Trip to Biarritz</i> 1963 film

The Trip to Biarritz is a 1963 French-Italian comedy film directed by Gilles Grangier and starring Fernandel, Michel Galabru and Rellys. It is based on the play of the same title by Jean Sarment which was staged at the Comédie-Française in 1936.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marguerite Frick-Cramer</span> Swiss legal scholar, historian and humanitarian activist

Marguerite "Meggy"Frick-Cramer, born Renée-Marguerite Cramer, was a Swiss legal scholar, historian, and humanitarian activist. She was the first woman to sit on the governing body of an international organization, when she was made a member of the board of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1918.

<i>Skylark</i> (1934 film) 1934 film

Skylark is a 1934 French comedy film directed by Jean Tarride and starring Noël-Noël, Fernandel and Junie Astor. The character of Adémaï had previously appeared in short films but this was his first feature-length appearance. He subsequently appeared in the historical comedy Adémaï in the Middle Ages in 1935.

References

  1. fr:Liste des films numéro un par année en France
  2. "La Vache et le Prisonnier". Youtube.com. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  3. Télérama.fr , retrieved 16 March 2018
  4. Clarke, Stewart (May 7, 2018). "Ewan McGregor to Star in Marc Forster's Remake of French Classic 'The Cow and I' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 29, 2023.