Blog | HPRG Cinema in the countryside exhibition at the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation until 13th July 2022 – Hotels Paris Rive Gauche Blog

Cinema in the countryside exhibition at the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation until 13th July 2022

During the roaring twenties, the period that inspired the interior design of Hotel Baume, French film company Pathé invented the Pathé-Baby, a compact film projector that for the first time allowed films to be shown in villages and small towns without a proper cinema.

This new era for movie-goers in France was dubbed Pathé-Rural, and the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation close to our hotels has a new exhibition to tell you all about it.

Cinema in the countryside exhibition at the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation until 13th July 2022
All rights reserved

Between 1928 and the end of the 1940s, ‘Pathé-Rural’ allowed films to be seen outside of large towns for the first time. The film format was 17.5mm, half the size of standard 35mm film, and this made transporting it easier, as well as doubling the possible projection time.

Initially with silent movies, followed by talkies (from 1930 onwards), Pathé offered a catalogue of films, often in shortened versions, initially released one or two years earlier in the big cities. Each showing was accompanied by funnies, news and a documentary.

Up until the end of the 1940s, in over 5,500 small town and villages, hundreds of films were shown thanks to Pathé-Rural.

Cinema in the countryside exhibition at the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation until 13th July 2022
All rights reserved

The exhibition at the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation follows the birth and development of this new form of distribution, showing the actuals projectors used, and the film posters that enticed the rural populations to discover Charlie Chaplin, Rintintin and others for the first time.

Special emphasis is given to the posters, as these were key in attracting people with little knowledge of cinema releases. Many of the places visited were not even completely electrified at the time, so going to see a film was an evening of discovery for many!

Also on show are the catalogues used for venues to choose their film, trailers and excerpts from films.

For kids, a workshop is available based on creating a film poster (In French. 2 heures, 8€, for 6 year-olds and up).

Cinema in the countryside exhibition at the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation until 13th July 2022
All rights reserved

We visited the Foundation a few years back for the blog and it’s a wild and wonderful place that you really should check out. Perhaps this new exhibition is the excuse you needed!

Cinema in the countryside exhibition at the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation until 13th July 2022
photo: JasonW
Cinema in the countryside exhibition at the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation until 13th July 2022
photo: JasonW
Cinema in the countryside exhibition at the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation until 13th July 2022
photo: JasonW

The exhibition Cinéma en campagne is at the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation (here) until 13th July 2022

Open Tuesdays from 1-8pm, Wednesday-Friday from 1-7pm, and Saturdays from 11.30am-7pm

Admission (including one film showing): 7€ / 5.50€

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

What3Words ///jazzy.pots.ambient