Jour de Fête
Date: 1949
Director: Jacques Tati
Production Company: Cady Films, Panoramic Films
Stars: Guy Decomble, Jacques Tati, Paul Frankeur, Santa Relli
Location(s): Cher, Indre (France)
Region(s): France
Storyline:
Once a year, for one day only, the fair comes to a small French town.
Additional Information:
Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson
The film was originally shot in both black and white and an early, untried colour process but it wasn’t until 1995 that the colour version was released.
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If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.
We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.
- Capture 1
- 'Now' required
A travelling fair heads for the fictional town of Follainville.
- Capture 2
- 'Now' required
A small boy sees the fair and runs to follow. Rien Kleinjan advises that this shot is taken from near the houses on the hill on Les Terriers de Saint-Espr, Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre 36160 in Centre-Val de Loire.
- Capture 3
- 'Now' required
The youngster skips along behind the trailer filled with carousel horses.
- Capture 4
- 'Now' required
Geese walk ahead of the slow moving tractor as it enters town.
- Capture 5
- 'Now' required
The tractor draws up in the town square and Roger, the proprietor of the fair, goes to find the Mayor. This is Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre, France.
- Capture 6
- 30 Mar 2022
At the cafe, Roger (Guy Decomble) sits down as Bondu (Jacques Beauvais) points out the newly varnished seats to Monsieur le Maire.
Howard Baker made a detour on his way home to capture 'some shots', he says, but I think he is being modest with regard to the number. (RL)
- Capture 7
- 30 Mar 2022
Marie, Bondu's wife, shows off her new dress. Many of the actors appearing in this film were residents of Sainte-Sévère.
Perhaps Howard should have enlisted some residents too. (RL)
- Capture 8
- 30 Mar 2022
The Hairdresser (Roger Rafal) and another Shopkeeper come out into the square as an Old Woman (Delcassan) watches.
Howard clearly had difficulty in enticing any 'local's'. (RL)
- Capture 9
- 30 Mar 2022
The evening's cinema performance is announced. Jacques Tati fan Tony Turner advises that the town looks pretty much unchanged and that there is now a museum in the square which is dedicated to the film.
Does one get the feeling that the locals are avoiding Howard? (RL)
- Capture 10
- 30 Mar 2022
Roger approaches Jeannette (Maine Vallée) as she reads a poster advertising the fair's cinema.
Surely this isn't the town's cinema Howard? (RL)
- Capture 11
- 'Now' required
A dress is carefully carried home by Monsieur Charpi for his daughter to wear at the fair.
- Capture 12
- 'Now' required
On his round, François (Jacques Tati) the postman cycles towards town. Unknown location.
- Capture 13
- 30 Mar 2022
As preparations for the fair get under way, the men of Follainville struggle to put up the flagpole. Place du Marché, Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre.
Had there been a flagpole Howard would have had put it up himself. (RL)
- Capture 14
- 30 Mar 2022
After François rides into town, he gets involved with the problem flag pole.
After Howard 'rode into town' he got involved with his camera. (RL)
- Capture 15
- 30 Mar 2022
Roger and Marcel (Paul Frankeur) discus the raising of the pole and put François in charge.
I think that I am beginning to see the problems that Howard is about to encounter. (RL)
- Capture 16
- 'Now' required
Because he has neglected his postal duties, François rushes to finish his round.
- Capture 17
- 'Now' required
François leaves a house after delivering a telegram.
- Capture 18
- 'Now' required
Even though he's running late, François still makes time to stop and tell everyone about his supervision of the flag pole.
- Capture 19
- 'Now' required
After a delivery to Emile, François has difficulty locating his mail bag.
- Capture 20
- 'Now' required
Now also carrying a cake as a favour for the Baker, François gets caught up as a donkey is reversed into a cart's shafts.
- Capture 21
- 30 Mar 2022
François cycles away after collecting mail from a post box. Pascheco advises that this is Église Sainte-Anne de Nohant in Nohant-Vic, some 20 km to the north of Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre and next to the childhood home of novelist George Sand.
Is that an artist or someone eating their chips Howard? (RL)
- Capture 22
- 30 Mar 2022
Mothers with children make their way past the stalls and carousel erected in the square.
As you said Howard, it's beginning to look like market day! (RL)
- Capture 23
- 30 Mar 2022
The organ starts up and townsfolk begin heading for the fair.
We are both lost for words here Howard. (RL)
- Capture 24
- 'Now' required
A crowd gathers as a trumpeter rides pillion through the square.
- Capture 25
- 'Now' required
More people ride and walk to the fair.
- Capture 26
- 'Now' required
The trumpeter catches up with his band as they march through the town. Rue du Vatican in Sainte-Sévère, Indre.
- Capture 27
- 30 Mar 2022
The band reaches the square.
Howard was actually happy to see less activity. (RL)
- Capture 28
- 30 Mar 2022
Follainvilliens flock to join in the fun. Sainte-Sévère's 17th century Market Halle is prominent in the square.
White vans amassing, market day beckons says Howard. (RL)
- Capture 29
- 30 Mar 2022
Bondu and his Wife are busy at the cafe.
It looks Howard that this might now be a residence. (RL)
- Capture 30
- 30 Mar 2022
A car speeds into town. What a giveaway! A sign on the outskirts of Sainte-Sévère. Rue du Pont Rouge.
It looks as though the towns 'speeding day' have gone Howard. (RL)
- Capture 31
- 'Now' required
The car skids to a halt as François passes in front.
- Capture 32
- 'Now' required
François tries his hand at one of the side shows.
- Capture 33
- 'Now' required
After much wine drinking the night before, morning dawns on the day after the fair.
- Capture 34
- 'Now' required
Godot comes out of his home and the town begins to come back to life.
- Capture 35
- 30 Mar 2022
François sleeps inside a railway van at the town's station after consuming far too much red wine and cognac on the previous evening. The station is on Rue des Vaslins, Marçais, Cher.
Howard replaces theGoogle Street View from 2013. (RL)
- Capture 36
- 30 Mar 2022
The railway van is shunted along the siding towards another wagon. The narrow gauge line was operated by the Société générale des chemins de fer économiques (SE) and ran between La Guerche and Châteaumeillant before closing in 1951.
As Howard notes, the tracks are still under the road surface, thanks to the wet. (RL)
- Capture 37
- 30 Mar 2022
The impact wakes François, who climbs out of the van to look for his bike. Marçais station.
Thanks Howard, another opportunity to view the ghost of the chemins de fer. (RL)
- Capture 38
- 'Now' required
Remembering the documentary film shown at the fair about the speed of the U.S. Mail system, François approaches Roger and Marcel for help in making his own service more efficient.
- Capture 39
- 'Now' required
The Showmen advise François on his methods.
- Capture 40
- 'Now' required
Practicing new ways to mount and dismount, François heads for the Post Office.
- Capture 41
- 30 Mar 2022
François arrives at the Post Office. The sign on the wall reads 'Sainte-Sévère' and the building still stands near the corner of Rue Pierre et Paul Boury and Place de l'Église.
Similar to the UK, Howard found what appears to be another closed post office. (RL)
- Capture 42
- 30 Mar 2022
When he leaves the Office, François grabs onto a passing truck to speed him on his way. Place de l'Église and the junction with Avenue de l'Auvergne.
Howard found the home of 'white van man'. (RL)
- Capture 43
- 30 Mar 2022
Now being super efficient, François postmarks his letters on the tailgate of the truck as he is pulled along. Looking along Avenue de l'Auvergne.
It looks as though Howard found himself alone here. (RL)
- Capture 44
- 'Now' required
Customers are called to their doors to speed up the round.
- Capture 45
- 'Now' required
The speedy postman rides off to make more deliveries.
- Capture 46
- 30 Mar 2022
François rushes towards the church. Rien Kleinjan identifies this as Place de l'eglise, Pouligny-Notre-Dame 36160 in Centre-Val de Loire.
Howard captures the same tranquil scene. (RL)
- Capture 47
- 'Now' required
After wasting no time, deliveries are made to outlying farms and François heads back towards the town centre.
- Capture 48
- 30 Mar 2022
The Baker rides ahead, telling everyone to look out for François.
The gates were closed for Howard's visit. (RL)
- Capture 49
- 'Now' required
François leans his bike agaist a car as he makes another delivery.
- Capture 50
- 'Now' required
After the car is driven away with his bike attached, François takes chase.
- Capture 51
- 30 Mar 2022
Townsfolk watch as the pursuit continues.
It would appear that nobody was watching Howard, or were they 'curtain twitchers'? (RL)
- Capture 52
- 'Now' required
The bike becomes detached as the car turns a corner.
- Capture 53
- 'Now' required
François follows the 1911 Peugeot bicycle as it runs on out of control.
- Capture 54
- 'Now' required
Man and machine race on.
- Capture 55
- 'Now' required
A car brakes as the bike passes, followed by François.
- Capture 56
- 'Now' required
A moment is taken to deliver a letter. The sign probably says Hotel de la Commerce.
- Capture 57
- 'Now' required
The riderless cycle passes a Policeman on point duty.
- Capture 58
- 'Now' required
The bicycle comes to rest outside a cafe.
- Capture 59
- 'Now' required
François continues his search before being reunited with his bike and finishing the round "American style".
- Capture 60
- 'Now' required
The flagpole is taken down. Sainte Sevère-sur-Indre, France.
- Capture 61
- 'Now' required
Roger and his travelling fair move on to the next town.