Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > May 1998 > 1998.05.07 > 04Prev  Next


Mech Music In the Movies - 'Jour de Fete'
By Julian Dyer

A particularly good appearance of a barrel piano is in Jacques Tati's
'Jour de Fete': there is a whole scene where the hapless piano judders
to a halt as everyone is dancing to it, and Tati kicks it in just the
right place to get it going again after others have failed.  The piano
is right at the centre of the scene, a pretty rare occurrence for any
mechanical musical instrument.

The instrument itself looks to be a turn of the century clockwork
instrument, judging by the general appearance of the case.  The film
was shot in Tati's home village, but whether the interiors are real or
studio I don't know.  It all looks very authentic!  The film consciously
pictured a rural France that must have seemed very out of date even at
the time.  It must give a pretty good idea of the sort of use these
instruments got.

This film has recently been re-released in its original colour version.
When shot in 1948 they used an experimental colour process which they
could never print, so safety black-and-white shots (from a different
camera) were used.  Computer technology has made it possible to align
the colours - so the film in its proper version was finally premiered
last summer in London!  It's well worth seeking out in its new form.

Julian Dyer

 [ What's the name of the colour process, Julian?  It sounds similar
 [ to Technicolor.  -- Robbie


(Message sent Thu 7 May 1998, 17:12:42 GMT, from time zone GMT+0100.)

Key Words in Subject:  de, Fete, Jour, Mech, Movies, Music

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page