Marsh, Patrick (1973) The theatre in Paris during the German occupation, 1940-1944, with special reference to the Comédie-Française. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The thesis is divided into two main parts. The first
part deals with the theatre in general, the second with the
Comedie-Francaise in particular.
The first chapters explain the reasons for the immense
popularity of the theatre in Paris during the years of
occupation, how the theatre was organised and how racial policies
and material difficulties affected productions. Relations
between the theatre and the press are examined in some detail
as are those plays which either supported the ideals of the
''Revolution Nationale" or attacked them; reference is also
made to the important part that the theatre played in prisoner-of-
war camps, the effect that censorship had on certain plays,
and how popular Joan of Arc was with both the Germans and the
French as a theatrical heroine. The second part opens with a brief history of the
Comedie-Francaise during other wars, an explanation of the
role that the public expected of their national theatre
up to the time of invasion, details of changes in the theatre's
repertoire as a result of the declaration of war and an examination
of the attitudes of two administrators, Copeau and
Vaudoyer, to the invaders. The following chapters deal with
the more important productions which were put on at the theatre
during the occupation, and in Particular with plays by
Montherlant, Cocteau and Claudel. The conclusions drawn are that although the theatre
was important to Parisians during the years 1940 - 1944,
there is no real case to be made for a theatre of resistance
or collaboration, and that the Comedie-Francaise was not
significantly affected by the German invasion.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DC France P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN2000 Dramatic representation. The Theater P Language and Literature > PQ Romance literatures
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Theater -- France -- History -- 20th century, World War, 1939-1945 -- Theater and the war, Comédie-Française
Official Date:	July 1973
Dates:	Date Event July 1973 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of French Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Copyright Holders:	eng
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Edwards, Michael, 1938-; Coe, R. N.
Sponsors:	France; Leverhulme Trust; University of Warwick
Extent:	375 p.
Language:	eng, fre

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