Monaco honours Marcel Pagnol on 16 April 2024

This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Marcel Pagnol (1895-1964), who was a resident of the Principality from 1943 until the death of his daughter Estelle, at age three, in 1954.

A friend of Prince Pierre (1895-1964) and confidant of Prince Rainier III (1923-2005), Pagnol brought all his talents to the Principality. His play Jazz was first performed here in 1926, and his film Topaze premiered here in 1951. As an honorary consul of Portugal, he took part in all the major dynastic events: the 25th anniversary of the reign of Prince Louis II in 1947, his funeral, and both the accession and wedding of Prince Rainier III. A member of the Literary Council since its creation in 1950, he chaired the board of judges for the first television festival in 1961. Pagnol created his plays with amateur actors from the Studio de Monaco, and collaborated with a Monegasque publisher, Clément Pastorelly, to release his works.

Alongside the events organised in France, particularly in Provence, H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince would like to dedicate a special day to this renowned man of letters, so that new generations will discover his work. In agreement with the Pagnol family, this day will take place on 16 April 2024, two days before the anniversary of the writer's death on 18 April 1974. 

Prince Albert II will be paying public tribute at 11am, attended by schoolchildren, in front of the monument in the Marcel Pagnol square in the Jardins du Trocadéro.

At 3pm, a round table will be held at the Théâtre des Variétés. Organised by the Palace Archives and the Audiovisual Institute, the theme will be 'Pagnol the Monegasque'. The speakers will be joined by Nicolas Pagnol, the writer's grandson, to present never-before-seen archives and audiovisual documents, personal accounts, readings, and theatre scenes performed by actors from the Studio de Monaco.

The Audiovisual Institute will be screening the restored version of The Baker's Wife (1938) at 8pm as part of its ‘Tout l'art du cinéma’ programme.

On Friday, 19 and Saturday, 20 April, there will be two performances of extracts from Marcel Pagnol's theatrical repertoire by the Studio de Monaco, at the Théâtre des Variétés.

The Nice-Matin group will be publishing an 80-page illustrated special edition to mark this fiftieth anniversary, which will include a chapter on Pagnol's links to the Principality and will be released on 28 February. 

This tribute day is supported by the Prince’s Government (the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Department of National Education, Youth and Sport) and brings together the Prince Pierre Foundation, the Studio de Monaco, the Monaco Media Library, the Television Festival and the Palace Archives and the Audiovisual Institute.