The Story of Adele H, directed by Francois Truffaut, was filmed in Guernsey in 1975, and follows the story of Victor Hugo’s second daughter, who joined her parents in exile in Hauteville.
A film looking back at the making of the original is being made by local filmmaker Lars Janssen to mark the film’s 50th anniversary. The local extras will grace the screen once again at a special screening of the movie early next month.
Kathryn Prince was one of the locals who got a role as a film extra through being involved in Gadoc, alongside her late husband Mick.
‘We were all invited to a reception at the Royal Hotel where we met all of the cast and crew, and director Francois Truffaut and Isabelle Adjani [the lead star]. From there, we went on to do the different scenes,’ she said.
‘I did one at the Little Theatre, and another at Sausmarez Manor, where we were all dressed in these lovely gowns. We were taken out for a meal first, but we were laced in corsets, which was a bit tricky.’
Her husband was also involved at Sausmarez Manor and had to direct Adele to Lt Pinson, the British officer she became obsessed with.
‘I also did the scene where she arrives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from Guernsey, but that was actually filmed at Castle Cornet,’ said Mrs Prince.
During filming, the crew also took their lights and cameras into the former Guernsey Press premises in Smith Street to capture scenes of a 19th-century newspaper composing room.
Mrs Prince has the film on DVD and watched it recently to refresh her memory before filming the look-back. She said she spotted herself on several occasions.
‘It’s unbelievable that it’s been 50 years, but it’s been good to think about it again. At the time we were waiting for something to happen, then we were filming and then afterwards there was nothing, but 50 years later we’re thinking about it,’ she said.
‘I didn’t realise what an impact it had on French people.’
The Story of Adele H went on to be nominated for and win several international awards.
The locally-made retrospective short film will be part of an event in early September.
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