He is a recognizable voice, and a monument of French television, and yet no one knew his face, and he never appeared in the credits. This Friday, December 20, after 48 years presenting “Midnight Cinema”, Patrick Brion, emblematic figure of France 3, will present his final show. At 83, the film historian, creator of the program in 1976, is retiring after having presented more than 2,000 films. However, the emblematic show will not disappear: France Télévisions has announced that it will continue in 2025, although the name of Partrick Brion’s successor has not yet been disclosed.
“The important thing was the film, not me”
Every week, on the night of Friday to Saturday, “Midnight Cinema” offers a selection of cinema classics, often accompanied by a presentation by the host who takes care to shed special light on the work. For his last number, Brion chose “César” (1936) by Julien Duvivier, an essential film in the French repertoire. In 1976, it was “The Temptress”, a silent film by Fred Niblo with Greta Garbo, which opened the ball.
“This is the first time I mentioned my name” he explains to “Parisien”, a few days after recording his very last presentation: “It was Patrick Brion who presented you with Midnight Cinema for the last time. The important thing was the film, not me.”. A voice that has “has changed” he concedes, “It’s age, and I had an operation“. And a particular voice which was not initially planned for the program: “I didn’t choose this stamp, and I don’t like it very much. Voice is not my job. It was our announcer who had to read my text. The program director wanted it to be me at the last moment“, he says.
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“Many of us have developed our cinephilia thanks to Patrick Brion and this meeting. And we are indebted to him”underlined Manuel Alduy, director of cinema at France Télévisions, in a press release. He recalled that for almost 50 years, Patrick Brion accompanied viewers through an immense variety of films, from silent classics to productions from the 1970s, all accompanied by the famous music of Francis Lai.
At a time when classic films were difficult to access, “Midnight Cinema” served as a true window into cinema’s past, showing films often restored for the occasion, and sometimes even subtitled especially for the program. “At a time when classic cinema has almost deserted the small screen, Midnight Cinema remains an institution for many moviegoers“, observed Manuel Alduy. This program had a considerable impact on cinephile in France, by allowing the public to discover masterpieces often invisible elsewhere. In addition to new films, rare works were screened, transforming Midnight Cinema into a truly free film library accessible to all.
Although Patrick Brion’s retirement puts an end to a long tradition, the show will continue to open the doors of classic cinema to the general public. “We take up the challenge of continuing to offer the public the finest selection of classical works, free, on television and on demand.“, specified Manuel Alduy. France Télévisions also expressed its gratitude to the host, saluting his exceptional work which contributed to making Midnight Cinema an unmissable moment for film buffs. “His contribution to cinematic culture and the preservation of our heritage is invaluable”she concluded.
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