Christian Fechner began as a ventriloquist and conjuror, which hardly foretold one of the most powerful producers in French cinema. In Marseille he spotted a young singer named Antoine, guitar in hand, whose success made his first fortune. Then came Les Bidasses en folie, which launched the Charlots, L'Aile ou la Cuisse, La Soupe aux choux, Papy fait de la résistance, often the biggest hits of their decade. He died in 2008.
The story
Christian Fechner began as a ventriloquist and conjuror — an unexpected start for one of the most powerful producers in French cinema. Then he spotted, guitar in hand in the streets of Marseille, a young singer named Antoine. That singer's success made him his first fortune.
Born at Agen on 26 July 1944, the son of an Austrian aristocrat who had fled the Anschluss, he moved into production and launched the Charlots with Les Bidasses en folie in 1971, before stringing together popular hits: L'Aile ou la Cuisse in 1976, La Soupe aux choux in 1981, Papy fait de la résistance in 1983 — dozens of titles, often the biggest of their decade.
He died on 25 November 2008. The inscription in Division 61 is a family one and gives the dates to the day: “FAMILLE FECHNER. Christian FECHNER 26.07.1944 – 25.11.2008.” Not one film appears on it.
The grave
A family inscription of great sobriety, which gives the dates to the day: “FAMILLE FECHNER. Christian FECHNER 26.07.1944 – 25.11.2008.” Neither the producer's trade, nor any of the films — Les Bidasses en folie, L'Aile ou la Cuisse, La Soupe aux choux, Papy fait de la résistance —, nor the singer Antoine whom he had launched and who made his fortune.
On site, do not miss
A family inscription and two dates to the day: “FAMILLE FECHNER. Christian FECHNER 26.07.1944 – 25.11.2008.”
Visitors' questions
Where is Christian Fechner's grave?
In Division 61, avenue du Boulevard, first row — the same Division as the film-maker Yves Boisset. The inscription is a family one: “FAMILLE FECHNER”, then his two dates given to the day, with no trade named.
Yves BoissetWhich films did he produce?
Les Bidasses en folie (1971), which launched the Charlots, L'Aile ou la Cuisse (1976), La Soupe aux choux (1981), Papy fait de la résistance (1983) — dozens of titles, often among the biggest popular hits of French cinema in their decade. He had started out as a conjuror.
Daniel Toscan du PlantierHow did he start out?
As a ventriloquist and conjuror — an unlikely beginning for a future film magnate. It was by spotting the singer Antoine in the streets of Marseille, guitar in hand, that he made his first fortune.
Georges MélièsWhere did his family come from?
From Austria: his father was an Austrian aristocrat who had fled the Anschluss, the Nazi annexation of the country in 1938. Christian Fechner was born at Agen six years later, in July 1944, and was a ventriloquist first.
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