One of director Alfred Machin's favorite actresses was Fernande Dépernay of the Théâtre des Galeries. Dépernay was married to Georges Mertens, another of Machin's regular actors. Their son, Fernand Mertens, born in 1904. He made his acting debut in 'Saïda Makes Off with Manneken Pis' and in 1914 played the role of little Kef in 'A Tragedy in the Clouds' alongside his parents. Much later, under the pseudonym Fernand Garvey, he went to become one of France's most renowned actors.