César (1936): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch
César is a 1936 comedy drama directed by Marcel Pagnol, starring Raimu as César Ollivier, Rellys and André Fouché. It runs 2 hours 21 minutes. Stream it on Criterion Channel and Darkroom, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 21m (141 min)
- Director
- Marcel Pagnol
- Original language
-
French - Studio
- Les Films Marcel Pagnol
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is César About?
The premise of César without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Twenty years later the trilogy resumes as Panisse, Fanny’s husband, dies and her son Césariot discovers a long‑kept secret. Determined to locate his biological father, he embarks on a quest for Marius, whose own life has been marked by hardship and poverty, hoping to uncover the truth and find closure.
César Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- france
- marseille france
- group of friends
- young wife
- sailor
- father son relationship
- provence
- sequel
- third in trilogy
- port
- harbor
- waterfront
+38 more Show fewer
- dying husband
- loss of husband
- death bed
- dying man
- catholic priest
- confession
- confessional
- catholic confession
- death bed confession
- death
- garage
- obituary
- funeral procession
- funeral
- bar owner
- bar proprietor
- waterfront bar
- card game
- playing cards
- mother son relationship
- young man
- barkeeper
- toulon france
- parent grown child relationship
- parent child relationship
- boat ride
- motorboat
- car mechanic
- fishing trip
- prank
- meeting birth father
- misunderstanding
- ex lover ex lover relationship
- ex lovers reunited
- marseille trilogy
- last of series
- not afraid to die
- lie
Where to Watch César
Stream it on Criterion Channel and Darkroom, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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César Cast & Characters
Raimu leads the cast as César Ollivier, with Rellys as L'employé de M. Panisse and André Fouché as Cesariot Panisse. Directed by Marcel Pagnol; 19 actors are credited in all.
- Director Marcel Pagnol
- Raimu as César Ollivier
- Rellys as L'employé de M. Panisse
- André Fouché as Cesariot Panisse
- Fernand Charpin as Honoré Panisse
Also Starring in César
· 15 more- Pierre Fresnay Marius Ollivier
- Robert Bassac Pierre Dromard
- Orane Demazis Fanny Cabanis
- Alida Rouffe Honorine Cabanis
- Charblay Henri - le patron du bar de Toulon
- Doumel Fernand, Marius' silent partner
- Édouard Delmont Le docteur Felicien Venelle
- Robert Vattier Mr. Brun
- Marcel Maupi Innocent Mangiapan
- Milly Mathis Tante Claudine Foulon
- Odette Roger La servante de l'hôtel
- Paul Dullac Félix Escartefigue
- Jean Castan L'enfant de chœur
- Thommeray Elzéar Bonnegrâce, le curé de Saint Victor
- Albert Spanna Le facteur
César Plot Summary
What happens in César from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Honoré Panisse [Fernand Charpin] is dying, cheerfully, with friends, his wife, and his son by his side. He confesses to the priest in front of those present and presses for the doctor to speak frankly about his prognosis. Yet he cannot bring himself to tell Césariot Panisse [André Fouché], his twenty-year-old son, that the young man’s biological father is Marius Ollivier [Pierre Fresnay], the absent son of César Ollivier [Raimu], Panisse’s old friend and Césariot’s godfather. After Panisse’s funeral, Fanny Cabanis [Orane Demazis], Panisse’s widow and Césariot’s mother, yields to the priest’s pressure and reveals the truth: she had a relationship with Marius before she married Panisse.
Full summary
The whole story of César, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know César?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the biological father of Césariot Panisse?
Cars in César
12 cars on screen, including the 1935 Citroën 7 B Cabriolet and the 1934 Peugeot 601 C Roadster.
-
1935 Citroën 7 B Cabriolet Important role -
1934 Peugeot 601 C Roadster Important role -
1933 Renault Vivaquatre Minor role -
1934 Citroën 8 Background role
César Also Known As
3 alternative titles, including “La trilogie marseillaise de Marcel Pagnol : César” and “塞萨尔”.
- Also known as
-
- La trilogie marseillaise de Marcel Pagnol : César
- 塞萨尔
- 세자르
Seen César?
Movies Like César
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Marius, Fanny and Marius.
César FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, post-credit scenes and language of César, each answered in a sentence.
How long is César?
César runs 2 hours 21 minutes (141 minutes).
When was César released?
César was released on November 13, 1936.
Who directed César?
César was directed by Marcel Pagnol.
More films by Marcel Pagnol Who is in the cast of César?
César stars Raimu as César Ollivier, Rellys as L'employé de M. Panisse and André Fouché as Cesariot Panisse, among 19 credited actors.
Where can I watch César?
In the US, César is streaming on Criterion Channel and Darkroom and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
Does César have a post-credit scene?
No. César has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is César in?
The original language of César is French.
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