The Bellman

Story

Synopsis

The bell ringer at a way station in the French Alps, murders a passing horse trader with a thrown rock and relieves him of his bankroll, in order to bribe the daughter of his only friend, a head injury victim considered the village simpleton, into marrying him, despite her love for a lowly woodsman who is, in turn, being cajoled into marriage by the daughter of the wealthy innkeeper.

Director

Christian-Jaque

Writers

Claude Boncompain, Jacques Prévert

Language

French

Country

France

Release date

4 December 1945

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  Lucien Coëdel

  The Bellman, Jean-Baptiste

• 

  Fernand Ledoux

  Fabret, his friend

• 

  Renée Faure

  Catherine Fabret

• 

  Roger Pigaut

  Pierre

• 

  Madeleine Robinson

  Marthe

• 

  Pierre Labry

  The Innkeeper (Marthe's father)

• 

  Georges Tourreil

  The Brigadier of the Gendarmerie

• 

  Sinoël

  Marie-Thérèse, the old woman

• 

  Léonce Corne

  Inn Patron "Not From These Parts"

• 

  Marcel Pérès

  Inn Patron with Dark Black Hair and Mustache

• Les Danseurs du Massif Central

  The Festival Dance Villagers

• Le Cheval Caïd de la Cavalerie Carré

  The Black Horse