For nearly sixty years, he walked around his bonhomie and good mood in the corridors and the trays of the French television, from the early newspapers of the years 50 until to the issuance Children’s tv, hosted by Arthur. Still with the diction, the elegance in the about and the costume gave him the assurance of a banker is always ready to quietly turn a institution of which he knew all the mysteries and all the nooks and crannies.
As much at a certain time, Pierre Tchernia is entered in the business a bit by chance and a lot by curiosity. He dreamed of the stage, theatre, the world of the spectacle fascinated him. He did logically the beautiful days of the small window, this mini-film called suddenly in the capita after the Second world War, the tv grand-dad, ” a piece of furniture to miracles that brought the life “, as summarized so well by the artist.
A time epic
Person at the time no one would have bet a franc on this tool the luxury scrutinized only by 3 000 privileged. The tv cost a fortune, the techniques were in their infancy… In 1949, the young Tchernia, came from the radio, is embarked on an adventure with a merry band of intrepid and creative : Pierre Dumayet, Jacques Sallebert, Georges de Caunes – the father of the facilitator Antoine… Under the leadership of Pierre Sabbagh, they created the first newscast without means, but with great boldness and spirit. A period epic where they work for a long time with cameras 16 mm silent enthusiasts, a jeep out of breath that we deign to grant them to cross Paris off the cuff comments, running more after money than the scoop, in order to close the ends of the month always tough, even going so far as to use the leads sink to develop film… ” We didn’t think about the importance that the television could take later recognized Pierre Tchernia. It was too happy and have fun, even if we were working in conditions that are foolish ! “
His best role, that of ” Mr. Cinema “
From then on, his career went into overdrive as quickly as the craze to the small screen in homes. He hosted a number of shows, including The Key of the fields, The salt Box, and his spirit of satire becomes the buddy of kids through The Friend number one public, where we publish excerpts from the films of Walt Disney. Then he presents the Eurovision contest, before taking a stand in his best role, that of Mr. Cinema. For years, Pierre Tchernia will decrypt the movie news with a style that is very british, receiving the prestigious guests while focusing nicely on the grill of the candidates through questions about famous films… A white decor, a round table, two microphones, and the turn is played ! Magic Tchernia is his show and interviews, between two extracts, the greatest stars of the cinema – we do not yet speak of stars : Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jeanne Moreau, Jean Carmet, Jacques Dutronc, Jean-Louis Trintignant… almost all have a parade to talk about their careers and pass on their memories on film.
Nothing surprising when one knows how the facilitator had a cult at the cinema, his true passion. This son of immigrant Polish – Tcherniakowski, shortcut very quickly, Tchernia – discovered the large screen thanks to his mother bringing him very often at the Magic Cinema, the dark room of Levallois, a city where he spent his childhood. Cartoons, Tarzan, comedies, he loves it so much his heroes as he decided to specialise in photography and film, before joining the Idhec, the Institute for advanced cinematographic studies, where it crosses including the actor Yves Robert.
Writer, director and actor
Even if it passes the most often to his life in front of the cameras, we forget that he also mastered as a director. One owes him in particular The Life, with Michel Serrault and Galabru, a film that won a big popular success. He wears many hats : screenwriter on The Little Bather, with Louis de Funès in the title role, actor in War of The buttons, Signed Pissed, The Childhood of art… Always in small roles, but sufficient to his happiness. “My best memory, he said when had come the time to write his memoirs, it is to have had the opportunity to make films. Nothing is more upsetting than the moment when one is on a tray… “
In the 90s, the tv recalls : he donned once again his suit respectable patriarch of the small screen to integrate the fine team of Children’s tv, to the side of the hellion Arthur. A second youth, where he says “find his 30 years” with the feel of playing ” extra time “, he always had the dread of dropping out. At the same time when he shines one last time on the sets, he embodies the last of the Mohicans, the pioneers of a bygone era, one where we employed the subjunctive imperfect with games where there was not much to win, if not the honour to be a part of. Before taking its final bow in 2006, Pierre Tchernia had had the last word on television : “What I want simply, it is only by multiplying the number of channels does abêtissent not too much… “
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