Marcel Pagnol wrote the part of Aurélie Castanier for Joan Crawford. The American actress declined because she didn't speak French. The part, which has a minimal amount of lines for a title role, went to Ginette Leclerc.
Marcel Pagnol's initial choice for the role of the baker was Marcel Maupi, whose frail constitution was more in keeping with Giono's physical description of the character in "Jean le Bleu."
Shot in the spring of 1938.
Subject of a French stamp in 1986.
The film is mentioned in the novel 'Catcher In The Rye' by J.D. Salinger.