Tribute: “Monaco celebrates Marcel Pagnol”

Tribute: “Monaco celebrates Marcel Pagnol” is organized on Tuesday 16 April 2024, at 11 am, Square Marcel Pagnol.

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 various events held in France and particularly in Provence, H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince called for a special day to celebrate the eminent man of letters, and bring his works to a contemporary audience. With the agreement of the Pagnol family, this special event will take place 48 hours before the anniversary of the writer’s death on 18 April 1974.

At 11 am, Prince Albert II will pay a public tribute at a ceremony attended by pupils from local schools, before the stele on Square Marcel Pagnol in the Trocadéro Gardens.