Jacquou le Croquant (miniseries)
Jacquou le Croquant is a 1969 French miniseries in 6 episodes: five 90-minute episodes and one 120-minute episode. The series was directed by Stellio Lorenzi and aired from October 4, 1969 to November 8, 1969 on Office de radiodiffusion télévision française channel 1. It was based on Eugène Le Roy's 1899 novel of the same name which was based on 19th-century peasant revolts in Southwest France. Plot 1819: Jacquou Féral is an 8-year-old boy in the Périgord region of France. His father, Martin Féral, also called Martissou, is a tenant farmer for the Count of Nansac, who lives in Château de l'Herm and exploits peasants under contract to him. Nansac's steward, Laborie, doubles the Féral family's dues on a whim, and when his wife, Marie, successfully negotiates back to the original dues, Laborie then accuses Martin of illegally owning a hunting dog. Laborie kills the dog, his bullet ricocheting and injuring Marie, at which Martin, furious, kills Laborie. Aware of the potential consequences, Martin escapes into the nearby forest, leaving his family at the farm. Nansac eventually has Martin Féral sent to prison, where he dies. Meanwhile, he evicts Marie and Jacquou, and seizes their sheep and remaining wheat, effectively condemning them to poverty and itinerancy. In time, Marie dies of hunger and sorrow. Jacquou, now an orphan, is taken in by the parish priest Bonnal, who gives the young man an education. As an adult, Jacquou continues fighting the injustice brought on his family, and dreams of avenging them. As increasing numbers of peasants are no longer able to survive the harsh rule of landowners, Jacquou leads a peasant rebellion against Nansac. His desire for revenge is transformed into a fight for justice, in which he proves that a simple "croquant", which means "yokel", is the equal of lords and ladies. Cast Eric Damain: Jacquou Féral, child Daniel Le Roy: Jacquou, adult Claude Cerval: Count of Nansac Simone Rieutor: Marie Féral Fred Ulysse: Martin Féral Elisabeth Wiener: Galiote de Nansac Paloma Matta: Lina Isabelle Ferrand: Bertille Francis Claude: Galibert Henri Nassiet: Bonnal parish priest Noël Roquevert: La Ramée François Vibert: Cassius Héléna Bossis: La Mathive Robert Bazil: Jean Lucien Barjon: Geral Luce Fabiole: Fantille Denis Manuel: Lawyer Fontgrave Yvon Sarray: Don Engelbert Fred Personne: Villar parish priest Étienne Several: Guilhem Charles Moulin: Laborie Jacques Danoville: Mascret Edmond Ardisson: Antoine Lucien Hubert: President Charles Blavette: Jansou Douchka: Jeannette Mion Maurice Bourbon: Pierre Mion Jeanne Hardeyn: La Mion Roger Desmares: Marc Gilles Léger: Joseph Maria Verdi: Madeleine Pascal Tersou: Le Garde Séverine : Hermine Pierre Nunzi: son of Nansac Vanina Wanitzki: Lina, child Hervé Sand: Brigadier Raymond Pélissier: Prosecutor Léonce Corne: Bars parish priest Marcel Dedieu: Secretary Martin Trévières: Gendarme Gérard Dournel: Clerk Jacques Robiolles: Jesuit A.M. Julien: Judge Gilbert Beugniot: Court clerk Pierre Duncan: Executioner Paul Leroyer: Bailiff Guy Vassal: Young man Production Title: Jacquou le Croquant Director: Stellio Lorenzi Written by: Stellio Lorenzi et Michèle O'Glor, based on Eugène Le Roy's novel Music composed by: Georges Delerue Photography: Roger