Wednesday 9th April- research

History of Paul Grimault

Paul Grimault was one of the most important French animators. He made many traditionally animated films that were delicate in style, satirical, and lyrical in nature.

His most important work is La Bergère et le Ramoneur (The Shepherdess and the Chimneysweep). He began it in 1948 and it was highly anticipated, but Grimault’s partner André Sarrut showed the film unfinished in 1952, against Grimault’s wishes. This caused a rift between partners and a stop in production. In 1967, Grimault got possession of the film and was able to complete it under a new title, Le Roi et l'oiseau (there are many names for it in English that have been used in various releases, including: The King and the Bird, The King and the Mockingbird, The Curious Adventures of Mr. Wonderbird and The King and Mr. Bird) (1980).

Grimault’s first film to receive International acclaim was Le Passagers de la Grande Ourse in 1942.
Paul Grimault was the winner of the 1st Emile-Reynaud prize awarded in 1943 by film criticis for the body of his work. He was again awarded the Louis-Delluc prize for his full-length feature Le Roi et l’oiseau. Grimault had worked since 1945 to complete this film which was released by Sarrut in 1952 under the title, La Bergère et Le Ramoneur. This caused a great rift between Sarrut and Grimault. With his cohort and companion, Jacques Prévert, he was able to reclaim the film and complete the definitive version released in 1980.
In the interval, several short films were made under the of Grimault’s direction - Le Petit Soldat (1947), Voleur de Paratonnerres(1944), etc. - and more recently,
Le Diamant (1970), Le Chien Mélomane (1973) and La Table Tournante (1977).

The story

The immense kingdom of Takicardia is ruled by a king under the unwieldy title of Charles V + III = VIII + VIII = XVI. He’s a heartless ruler, hated by his people as much as he hates them. The king has a fondness for hunting, but is unfortunately cross-eyed – not that anyone would dare acknowledge this in front of him, as the numerous statues and paintings that adorn the palace and the land show. Occasionally the king does hit his target though, notably the wife of the bird, known only as L’Oiseau, the narrator of the story who takes pleasure in taunting the terrible king at every opportunity.

In his secret apartment, the king dreams of the beautiful Shepherdess whose painting he keeps on his wall, but the Shepherdess is in love with the Sweep whose hated portrait is on the opposite wall. At night the paintings come to life and attempt to escape from the palace, but are pursued by a non-cross-eyed painting of the king that also has come to life, deposed the real king and has taken his place. He orders the capture of the Shepherdess and the Sweep, but L’Oiseau is there to help when called upon. They are pursued to the depths of the Lower City where the inhabitants have never seen the light of the sun and strange creatures and bat-police take up their chase.