Vadim's widow, ex-wives bid him adieu

Roger Vadim's four former wives and his widow joined a 300-strong congregation of friends, children and lovers in a cemetery …

Roger Vadim's four former wives and his widow joined a 300-strong congregation of friends, children and lovers in a cemetery overlooking the Mediterranean at the French film director's funeral yesterday.

Vadim's widow, Ms Marie-Christine Barrault, was met at a church service in St Tropez by his former wives, Brigitte Bardot, Jane Fonda, Catherine Schneider and Annette Stroyberg.

Two of Vadim's children, Vania, his son with Ms Schneider, and Ms Fonda's daughter, Vanessa, were also at the service.

Catherine Deneuve, who never married Vadim, but bore him a son, was not at the ceremony. She attended a memorial service in Paris on Monday.

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After the service, which was delayed for two hours, the 200-metre cortege proceeded on foot to a small local maritime cemetery, which lies opposite Ms Bardot's house, La Mandrague.

Ms Bardot, his first wife, wore a black trouser suit and headscarf and, along with the other wives, carried a bouquet of mimosa.

Ms Fonda wore black leather trousers and a black scarf.

Preceded by dozens of photographers, the procession followed a lane trapped between the sea and the walls of the old town, on which more journalists and onlookers were perched.

"Vadim was the cinema when I was in my 20s, a cinema that was changing. I didn't come out of curiosity.

"He did a lot for St Tropez and he leaves part of his heart here," said a woman in the crowd, hundreds strong, which came to the cemetery.

Vadim died of cancer a week ago in Paris.

He was made famous by the film And God Created Woman, which he made in 1956 in St Tropez, offering Ms Bardot her first starring role.