Hercule (1937) - film review

Injured during a grape harvest and believing he is not long for this world, a Provençal peasant makes a confession to his son Hercule.   His real father is none other than Maffre, the owner of a national newspaper who sacrificed his family life for a fruitful journalistic career in Paris.  Believing that he might be able to persuade Maffre to support the cause of local fishermen, Hercule sets out for Paris, only to discover that the newspaper magnate has died, leaving him his heir and successor.  Encouraged by Juliette, a close associate of Maffre, Hercule takes up the job of editor in chief, but very quickly finds himself caught up in the machinations of a ruthless publicist, Vasco…

Fernandel is on great form in this effective 1930s satire on the newspaper business, aided and abetted by some of the most talented performers of the day – Gaby Morlay, Pierre Brasseur and Jules Berry to name just three.  Slightly lacking in depth and realism, the film nonetheless offers an amusing take on the life of a newspaper editor (and it’s surprising how little has changed since the film was made).  The film was originally to have been directed by Jean Grémillon, but he abandoned the project after shooting the exterior location scenes.  He was replaced by the English director Alexandre Esway, working in close collaboration with the film’s screenwriter, Carlo Rim, a former newspaper editor.

© James Travers 2007

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