The King and the Mockingbird (Le roi et l'oiseau)

This film won the LOUIS DELLUC PRIZE 1979

THE KING AND THE MOCKINGBIRD

based on The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep

by Hans Christian Anderson.

Certain passages including four songs

written by Jacques Prévert and composed by Joseph Kosma

are taken from The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep,

A film directed by Paul Grimault

and produced by Les Gémeaux with André Sarrut.

Dedicated to Jacques Prévert

Ladies and gentlemen...

Oh, forgive me.

It is an honour and a privilege to tell you a story which, for once,

is absolutely true.

I know, because I was there when it happened.

And I wasn't the only one.

I had happily built my nest

on the roof of the great palace

of the vast kingdom of Tachycardia.

In those days Tachycardia was still ruled by Charles V

plus III making VIII plus VIII making XVI.

He wasn't a very good king.

He hated everyone.

And everyone in the kingdom hated him right back.

He was a lonely king

and his favourite pastime was hunting

so, as you can imagine, we weren't the best of friends.

HERE LIES MY BELOVED WIFE.

VICTIM OF AN UNFORTUNATE HUNTING ACCIDENT!

Congratulations!

His Majesty is a good shot. What marksmanship!

Long live His Majesty!

Murderer!

I've said it once and I'll say it again: murderer!

And I have something to add: you are an awful thug!

An awful thug, that's what you are!

There's no other way to describe you.

Think you can shoot at poor creatures

and still be called "Majesty"?

How dare you, you pathetic bird brain!

Honestly, I ask you!

You're the bird brain, not me.

First floor: Pending Cases, Litigation, Treasury,

Goldsmithery, Inland Revenue, Liquidation

Premium Bonds, Royal Family,

State Prison, Summer Prison, Winter Prison.

Hard Labour for Young and Old, Armaments, War Ministry,

Undersecretary's Office in Peacetime, Armoury, Fireworks,

Furs, Hosiery, Hats, Helmets, Trumpets, Drums,

Police, Lavatories, Armed Forces,

Royal Printing Office, Registered Post, Taxes

Solitary Confinement, Dungeons and Catacombs,

Umbrellas, Casino, Shooting Gallery, War Museum,

Zoo, Gallery of Ancestors, King's Studio,

King's Hostel, Gallows, Royal Barber,

Royal Podiatrist,

Royal Steam Bath and Spa,

King's Chamber Music, and Trumpeters...

The new royal painter.

by appointment to His Majesty.

296th floor,

His Majesty's secret apartments.

"Secret" being the operative word.

I don't like the King.

What do you expect?

You can't love everyone.

Especially if you don't know them.

What about you? Who do you love?

Me? I only love you.

- And you? - I feel the same way.

I only love you.

You're the nicest chimney sweep I know.

And you're the prettiest shepherdess I've ever seen.

Have you seen many?

No. Not even in my dreams.

Believe me. I know from experience.

I've told you a hundred times already.

You two aren't meant for each other.

To start with,

you're not even the same colour.

A shepherdess and a chimney sweep!

It's out of the question!

It's out of the question.

I have fallen in love with you, little shepherdess.

And I am the King.

You must not waste your time with that sooty cinder-boy.

I love you.

We must marry.

It's obvious. What are we waiting for?

- Right? - There's no doubt about it.

Besides, that's what it says in the storybooks.

The shepherdess

always marries the King.

There are no two ways about it.

Therefore I decree:

The ceremony will take place this very evening in the palace

when the clock strikes midnight.

I have spoken.

Believe me, I know from experience.

They won't go far. Everything is under lock and key.

And besides, there are no doors.

It's merely a little escapade of no importance.

They'll soon be back, you'll see,

before you know it.

Where are they?

If I were to speak from experience.

I'd say they had gone.

I never thought that the sky could be so beautiful.

Don't worry, the world is so wide,

they won't get far.

And they're so young!

They'll be afraid.

They'll be back.

In any case, you may as well get used to it.

You can't get out of here, either.

We'll see about that!

Oh, there you are!

Congratulations! Good job!

A fat lot of use I can be to you with a broken leg!

Imagine breaking the leg of a man of my age

and my worth!

It's bound to bring you bad luck.

I don't know why I don't give you a good kick up the backside!

Police! Police!

Police! Police!

Long live His Majesty!

At your service, Your Majesty.

What do you desire?

A charming shepherdess whom I have fallen in love with

has been abducted by a wretched good-for-nothing chimney sweep.

I want... I command...

I demand...

that you find them as quickly as possible!

Oh, look! Little birds!

Thank you, chimney sweep.

How kind of you to rescue my little boy.

He's such a foolish boy.

He walked right into the trap. and not for the first time.

By the way, my friends,

you'd better watch your step around here.

In fact the traps densely populate this vast kingdom of Tachycardia.

There are child-traps and bird-traps and...

You're not listening. You're looking at the world.

It's well worth a look.

Take it from me. I've travelled a lot.

I've been around the world.

Niagara falls.

The "Bells of Corneville".

The Tower of London. Place d'Italie in Paris.

The Panama Canal and The Neuilly fair.

"The Wonders of the World", lesson four.

Come on, kids.

Why is it round?

It's spinning!

Why is it spinning?

Because it's round.

Spinning? Where?

Around the sun!

Ah. That's strange!

It usually takes at least 24 hours to go round once.

It's because you're new here. It did that to make you happy.

- It's a very nice world. - Sure!

Attention, please!

A big reward...

Attention... Attention...

A charming shepherdess

and a good-for-nothing chimney sweep,

good for nothing at all,

are wanted by the police of His Majesty,

Charles V plus III making VIII

plus VIII making XVI, King of Tachycardia...

Don't be afraid.

We've seen worse.

No need to panic.