Starlets, parties and tuxedos: all part of Cannes folklore
In more than 70 years, a wealth of traditions, a unique cocktail of strict protocol, Provencal folklore and wild parties at the Cannes Film Festival.
Mounting the red carpet: a tuxedo, a must
Twenty-four legendary steps, covered with 60 metres of red carpet…on which every evening hundreds of photographers and television cameras are pointed. The only ones allowed to climb the legendary steps are those who have an invitation card.
But this precious door opener is not enough. Since 1946 a strict dress code has been in place. An evening dress for women, black suit, tuxedo and bow tie for men. Photographers and cameramen, however burdened by their equipment, are allowed in under the same rule. Some exceptions are made for stars.
The crew of the evening’s film mount last to the music of its choice.
Behind closed doors
On the last day of the festival the jury goes behind closed doors to decide on the prize winners. The venue, which is kept secret, is under police protection and the jurors’ telephones are confiscated.
The nine jury members have to award seven prizes: the Palme d'or, the Grand Prix, the best director’s prize, best screenplay, Jury Prize, and best actress and best actor. Only one prize can be shared, and this provision does not apply to the Palme d’or.
For every prize the secret ballot is held by absolute majority: at least 5 out of 9 jury members. By tradition a champagne bucket is used as a ballot box: members of the jury put in a small piece of paper folded in four.
Bowls and pissaladiere
Every year the jury and accredited journalists are invited by the mayor of Cannes to an outdoor Provencal lunch in the heart of the historic neighbourhood of Suquet. On the menu: tapenade, pissaladière (flatbread), lemon tart sweetened, and pie sweetened with chard, to the sound of fifes and tambourines.
In the 1950s, the stars rushed to the Battle of Flowers on the Croisette and the picnic on the Lerins islands, with fish soup and a game of bowls.
Starlets upstaged
From 1947, young girls dreaming of a career on the big screen started trying to attract attention by walking in swimwear on the Cannes beaches. In 1953, bathers could admire Brigitte Bardot, at that time unknown, having her hair plaited by Kirk Douglas.
It was there that a year later a starlet stirred Cannes’ first scandal. Starlet Simone Silva took off her bra during a picture shoot with Robert Mitchum. The photo shocked puritan America and the young actress was forced to leave the festival.
In 1977 nymphets in monokini came under competition from Mister Universe. Arnold Schwarzenegger, seeking to get into cinema, arrived to show off his pectoral muscles on the Croisette.
The starlets little by little became obsolete, upstaged by top-models invited by the festival sponsors and tele reality stars.
Parties and publicity stunts
In Cannes anything goes to get a film talked about. In 1963, Claudia Cardinale strolled with a leopard for Luchino Visconti’s “Leopard”. A vulture, camels, were also paraded on the Croisette. In 2014, Harisson Ford’s assault tank arrived at the festival palace.
Some parties, traditionally organised by film crews in competition, have also gone down in Cannes history.
In 1960, 500 bottles of ouzo and 5,000 glasses ready for breaking were handed out to guests at the Greek evening organised for “Never on Sunday” by Jules Dassin.
In 1997 the party for Luc Besson’s "Fifth element", screened at the opening was held in a spaceship surrounded by blue, specially built for the occasion.
When Emir Kusturica got the Palme d'or for “Underground” (1995), a party was hastily organised under a tent on the beach. It started out well. Johnny Depp, Carole Bouquet, Jim Jarmush danced to a tzigane orchestra when a fight broke out. The party ended in a widespread brawl and the director was not the last to throw thumps.