Director: Hugues Burin des Roziers
Starring: Gilles Budin, Michel Gibet, Pierre Marciahl, Daniel Véry
Production Company: Chloë Productions, Shoot
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay

Blue Jeans (1977) is a French film following a group of schoolboys on a study trip to England. Julien Morin finds himself experiencing the pains of first love when he meets another exchange student, the charming older Jean-Pierre.

Directed by Hugues Burin des Roziers, the film stars Gilles Budin as Julien Morin, Michel Gibet as Jean-Pierre, Pierre Marichal as Maurice and Daniel Véry as Talimard. This was the director’s first and only film, and many of the young cast – most of whom had no previous acting credits – also did not appear in any other films.

The children go on a school trip to Herne Bay. Locations featured include the beach, the old Pier (which collapsed into the sea not long after the film was released), Herne Bay Memorial Park, Herne Bay Bowling Club, Central Bandstand, Cain’s Amusements and the old Classic Cinema on Avenue Road (demolished in 1988 and now a block of flats). Various roads also feature including Central Parade, Western Esplanade, Beacon Hill, Victoria Drive which is the home of Julien’s love interest Janet, and Sea View Square which is the home of Julien’s teacher Mr Lavigier (Gérard Croce).

Herne Bay is a coastal resort which is home to the world’s first freestanding purpose built clock tower. Other productions to have filmed there include Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (1973), The Medusa Touch (1978) and Only Fools and Horses: The Jolly Boys Outing (1989).

Blue Jeans (1977) was released in France on Friday 11^th February 1977 and is available to purchase on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.