Henri Verneuil, the Marseille giant

Henri Verneuil's eldest son remembers.On January 11, 2002, therefore, 20 years ago, Achod Malakian, known as Henri Verneuil, left for paradise.It was the title of his latest film: 588, rue Paradis.His end clap was not one, since his son Patrick took over.Family behind the scenes of 7th art.

Ah, blackcurrant, the vacancy of the Marseillais.Life seems soft, almost slowed down.Even if, near the port, the cassidans play pétanque, their noise does not ricoche on the walls, as in Marseille.Life in Cassis is surprisingly calm.The landscapes are breathtaking and have nothing to envy to the Col de Cahuenga, where Hollywood is located.Alphonse Daudet during his trip to Var wedding stays there with his young wife, Julia Allard, January 29, 1867.

Other artists go there to recharge their batteries and find inspiration.It was, certainly, this source of inspiration that attracted Patrick Malakian.From the top of its 1.85 m, with its pepper-and-salt beard of a few days, its white shirt whose sleeves are carefully folded, but not too much, and, its blue-pétrole jeans, it looks like one ofThese American directors on vacation on the Côte d'Azur.He chose to work there, like his father.The search for a family girl with Henri Verneuil is not easy.But yes, his gaze, his eyes, his smile, the roundness of his face, his chin and his short hair.It's him !

Patrick is full of praise for his father.As if his blood and his heart paid a sempteric tribute, drop after drop, pulsation after pulsation, to the one, who not only gave him biological life, but also, cinematographic life.He starts his tribute on the wheel hats, recalling that "no one could do that today."" That "are the 35 feature films, most successful films, made by Henri Verneuil between 1951 and 1992.

"Today, to make a film, it takes more or less two years.In his time, he made two films per year.So, 35, there will be no others.And, then, he pierced the glass ceiling of the 100 million spectators.He was number 1 in France, any nation combined.He became number 2, behind Steven Splieberg, when he released Ready Player One, in 2018.Sitting at his garden table, under the veranda, his flow is clear and precise.He remembers everything.Like any good director, he loves stories, starting with his own.

A family at the Creuse of Armenia

His father is an Armenian from Turkey.Born October 15, 1920, he did not know the genocide.He sees the light in Rodosto, now Tekird, a city of more than 200,000 inhabitants, which is located west of Istanbul, three and a half hours by car by car.This geographic location allowed his family to be spared, at the beginning, by the genocide of 1915.But, in 1920, the government revived its genocidal process, which would not really stop in 1921.

It is the hunt for Armenians throughout the territory.The grandparents of Patrick, Araxi and Hagop, are forced to flee with their young infant and two aunts, Anna and Gayané.They arrive on the other side of the bosphorus.“My father lived the first 5 years of his life in Greece, then, in December 1924, the whole family arrived in Marseille.»Patrick seems to relive these events.On the boat, he sees his father, aunts and grandparents.He sees them descend from the pontoon with their meager business.Below, in an ephemeral barrack, the customs officer delivers them an official paper, a sort of entry visa for refugees.He is stamped: "stateless".

As if there were a feature film on his family, with his camera, Patrick films his grandparents, who work day and night, in the refineries of soap, sugar, silk of the Marseille city."My grandfather was a boat owner in Turkey.And, he ends up working as a worker at night at the sugar factory.Patrick was very marked by the life of his downgraded grandparents, stripped of everything.He experienced a privileged link with his grandmother, Araxi.As if this stateless stamp had spilled from the grand-maternal heart a torrent of love.As if the deep burial of their roots, allowed them to bring down this duty water from the depths.They who had lost everything, rebuilt their life patiently."My grandmother was constantly smiling ... Her smile was a continuous thank you to life.»»

The birth of a giant

It is in this poverty and with this resilience, that the young Achod grew up.In Marseille to live in a single room is not easy. Cette dureté de vie, Achod en fera une force surprenante, qui déplacera les montagnes de celles et ceux qui disent : « renonce, c’est impossible»».Impossible is neither French nor Armenian.Only son, he will do all his schooling at the Mélizan high school.Then, he joined the Art-and Metiers, in Aix-en-Provence, and, became a journalist at La Marseillaise.We are in 1944.Achod is 24 years old.He signs his articles by the name of Henri Verneuil.

"He begins his life as a young journalist by becoming a film critic.He always wanted to do cinema.At the age of 15, he announced to his parents that he wants to make cinema.At the same age, a few weeks before, he saw Queen Christine at the cinema, who is directed by Rouben Mamoulian.»» Le nom Mamoulian lui fait comprendre que le 7è art n’est pas inaccessible.As a critic, he becomes familiar with sets, filming, directors and directors.He starts to tuty the world of cinema that makes him dream so much.During this time, by dint of work, his parents opened a tailor-made shirt shop.

The young Henri learns quickly, and, like all Gadzart, like any student of ENSAM, he aims for perfection and precision.It is in this journalistic setting that he meets Fernandel."Everyone will tell you, my father was an outstanding technician.This is why the greatest actors in 7th art trusted him.He had completely assimilated the techniques.I think Fernandel had perceived all of this in him.»» Patrick ouvre les archives secrètes de ses confidences, de ses années passées aux côtés du géant-père.He tells how his father worked on the sets, with his large black notebook, which looked like that of an architect.Hard worker, he had already drawn the sketches, technical notes and filming plans, in the smallest detail.Then, the camera in the fist, he left passion and improvisation, the play of actors, take precedence over his technique.It was like a fantastic melody.

In the sun of Marseille, Jean Verneuil was born

Stopover in the sun is his first short film, which lasts less than half an hour."It was his first documentary in Marseille.He had the genius to ask Fernandel to make the voice-over.»» Comment s’offrir, ainsi, la star de l’époque ? Fernandel qui l’avait pris, un peu, sous son aile, a répondu favorablement à la demande du jeune réalisateur.With his emblematic humor and his famous voice stamp, Fernandel had replied: "My little Verneuil, even if you had money, and, even if your parents sold the shop, you cannot afford me. Donc, si je le fais, je le fais GRATUITEMENT !»» Il faut imaginer les deux hommes, face-à-face, avec le roulement fernandélien des r et son rire éclatant qui ponctuait cet échange.And, his facial expressions, who does not remember it?Patrick did not know Fernandel, Fernand

Contandin, who died in Paris, in 1971.But he knew the others, all the others.

With Fernandel, Henri Verneuil's career is launched.He continues to live from his journalistic pen and begins to live from his short films, which resemble the first video clips of the time.Until 1951, he produced twenty.Then, in the sun of Marseille, he embarked on his first feature film: La Table-aux-Crevés.His main actor?Fernandel, again him!

Because he can write, because he knows how to tell the stories, all the youth of Patrick is, done, bathed in the world of cinema, that of his father.In all, Henri Verneuil will make 35 films.

"Besides his technique, my father read a lot," explains Patrick.He was a storyteller born when he gathered everyone at home after his shootings.I remember that when he started to speak, naturally, almost liturgically, everyone was silent to listen to him.»»

Director, more than a profession, a passion-vocation

Impossible to review all his films.As if we were doing a tracking on all of his work.You would have to relive your life, see through your own eyes, write with the ink of your pen, film the camera on your fists, walk with your cozy and clocked step at the same time.With Fernandel, who gave him a chance, he realizes the cow and the prisoner.In 1959, its release was a success.Success will become number 1 in France.1 in 5 French people went to see this film incredible.It would exceed, even, in France, the success of the untouchable film, in constant figures.As for international success, it is impossible to project yourself and know the figures.They would certainly be astronomical.

Other successes will follow.I ... like Icarus."What triggers this film," recalls Patrick, "is not the Kennedy business.Even if this is the subject. Non, ce qui déclencheI ... like Icarus, c’est le bouquin que lit mon père de Stanley Milgram, sur la soumission à l’autorité.»» Le conteur Henri Verneuil était un boulimique de lectures.He found his inspiration there.

As for the actors, he turned on the greatest French and international actors.Let us quote a few, on the blue-white-red side: Fernandel, Jean Gabin, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Bernard Blier, Alain Delon, Robert Hossein, Yves Montand, Omar Sharif and Lino Ventura.And, on the international side, he turns Yul Brynner, Henry Fonda, Anthony Quinn, etc..As for his films, let us remember a few: the president, a monkey in winter, one hundred thousand dollars in the sun, the twenty-fifth hour, the battle of San Sebastian, the clan of the Sicilians, the Casse, the Serpent,Fear on the city, etc.

V ... as a family life

« Il n’est de richesse que d’hommes, de familles et de films»» pourrait-on risquer à résumer par cette phrase la vie d’Henri Verneuil.His life, he does not pass it only on the sets.On the family side, Henri married in 1960 with Françoise Bonnot.They knew each other during the shooting of the film a monkey in winter.With her mother, Françoise makes the editing of the film.From this union were born Patrick, in 1963, and, Sophie, in 1966.In 1968, the couple divorce.But, it remains in very good term.In 1970, Françoise received the Oscar in Hollywood best editing for the film Z of Costa-Gavras.This consecration Patrick is very proud of it, especially since his mother died in 2018.He keeps his Oscar in his place preciously.In 1996, his father received the César of Honor for his entire career.

In the 80s, Henri Verneuil met his new wife, Véronique.Of their union was born in 1985 Sevan, and, in 1989 gayané.For Patrick, his family life was very happy, despite this divorce."I spent the week with my father, and the weekend with my mother.My father protected us.Our parents take care of us.We lived avenue Bosquet, in Paris.Then, later, we grew up in Neuilly.In our apartment, I remember having dinner with Lino Ventura, Bernard Blier, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Alain Delon, Yul Bruner.In fact, our family was written with a capital F.We widen the circle.And, all had great respect for each other.»»

Who's next ?A Patrick

From a very young age, Patrick lives with his father on the shooting sets."My real thing," he admits, "it was to become an actor.But, at the same time, I didn't want to be directed.I didn't want to decide my future.»» Patrick a en ligne de mire les casting-directors, qui ont un pouvoir de décision importante sur la carrière des acteurs.Suddenly, he became assistant-director.Around the age of 18, he said to his father: "I want to do cinema.»» Son père lui répond : « Fais autre chose d’abord.»» Patrick part, donc, aux Etats-Unis et poursuit ses études supérieures en Marketing et en Relations Publiques, à l’Université Hartford, dans le Connecticut.He graduated in June 1985, after having lived 5 years in the USA.When his diploma is handed over his father is there.Patrick advances to him and puts him in hand his title by saying to him: "Now, I will do cinema.»» Son père lui répond malicieusement : « Je ne t’aiderai pas.»»

Patrick, freed from any family obligation, leaves, then, in Los Angeles.He starts as a projectionist at Showscan, in the shadow of Douglas Trumbull, the specialist in special effects.It is recalled in France to serve under the tricolor flag, in 86 and 87.He is fortunate to integrate ECPA, the cinema of the armies. De retour dans le civil, Patrick devient stagiaire, puis, assistant et 1^er assistant de réalisateurs, comme Edouard Molinaro, Gérard Oury.His career is ahead of him.

Mayrig and 588, rue Paradis

Patrick retrouve son père, « mon meilleur ami»», sur ses deux derniers films.The loop seems to curl, since these two films, from 1991, are family biopics.Armenia is the subject, the subject of this terrible genocide, who kills millions of people, and throws survivors on the roads of the world.They had to flee the land of their ancestors.They abandoned everything, and some arrived in Marseille.This is the life of Achod Malakian, told on film.And, Patrick is the first-assistant of the father-director.In the process, Patrick directed his first short film, which will obtain 14 public prizes, the last temptation of Chris.We are still in 1991.Three years later, he released his first feature film, why Mom is in my bed?Then, in the 2000s, he produced around twenty TV movies, including several episodes of Joséphine, guardian angel.He also wrote and produces the Toqués.What a family adventure!

The sun becomes more pink on blackcurrant, as if it were smiling.The Mediterranean opens its fine mouth, ready to engulf it.Before this long conversation ends, Patrick gets up and goes to seek the awards that have marked the life of his father and mother.He poses for a few photos, with this sky and this sea that meet in the background, as if they kissed.

In Marseille, a tribute in 2022?

As January 11, 2022 approach, 20 years of his father's departure to paradise, Patrick confides a little more."My father said he was unwilling, but he was deeply good.He was a Christian, in the sense that religion is part of our identity.He knew the entire Armenian apostolic liturgy.And, just before his mother, Araxi, died, he went to the Catholicos, to Etchmiadzin, who gave him a dedicated Ostia.My grandmother died with this ostie in hand.»»

This Christian confidence is unprecedented.C ... like the sky that opens and which reaches out ... Henri Verneuil must be happy to have such a son.

In 2022 Patrick's agenda was filled with cinematographic projects.His dearest wish is to keep his father's memory lasting.He hopes that Marseille will, after Paris and erevan, pay tribute to his father before the end of the year.He imagines a concert that would put the music of his films in light. « La boucle serait, ainsi, bouclée !»», conclut Patrick en souriant.End clap!

Report made by Antoine Bordier