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- Claude Jade, the daughter of English-teachers, was a student at the "Conservatoire d'Art Dramatique" in Dijon. In 1966, she won a Prize for best actress on stage (Agnès in Molière's "L'école des femmes"). She was also a student on the Academy in Paris (teacher: Jean-Laurent Cochet), appeared in a TV series, and on stage in Paris, and made her first movie, Stolen Kisses (1968) ("Stolen Kisses") directed by François Truffaut. He proposed to marry her in the Spring of 1968, but she later married Bernard Coste (son Pierre was born in 1976), a diplomat with whom she also lived for some years in Russia.
- Orane Demazis was born on 4 September 1894 in Oran, Oran, France [now Algeria]. She was an actress, known for Angele (1934), Marius (1931) and Les Misérables (1934). She died on 25 December 1991 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
The notably gifted, multi-talented actor, chanteur, poet and painter Serge Reggiani was born in Reggio Emilia, a town in northern Italy, in 1922. His father, a highly visible anti-fascist, fled his Mussolini-dictated homeland due to his fervent political activities and emigrated to France in order to protect his family. Serge learned to speak fluent French and developed an interest in athletics, particularly boxing, but went an entirely different route altogether by following in his father's footsteps as a hair stylist.
In 1937, his career path changed yet again when he was accepted into the Conservatoire des Arts Cinematographiques. After graduation, he landed a few minor roles in both films and theatre and enrolled at the prestigious Conservatoire National d'Art Dramatique in 1939 wherein he won numerous acting awards. Though he earned a reputation for himself in the Paris theatre world, Reggiani was more interested in movie-making and would thereafter focus his attention toward the big screen.
During the filming of Le carrefour des enfants perdus (1944) [Children of Chaos], he met and subsequently married actress Janine Darcey, which produced two children: Stephan (1946) and Carine (1951). After obtaining French citizenship in 1948, he went on to secure a name for himself in Gallic cinema with roles in Gates of the Night (1946) [Gates of the Night], Manon (1949), The Lovers of Verona (1949) [The Lovers of Verona], La Ronde (1950) and Casque d'Or (1952). Following his divorce, he married actress Annie Noël and fathered three children: Celia (1958), Simon (1961) and Maria (1963). In 1959 Reggiani introduced a distinctive singing talent on radio and, following film roles in The Informer (1962) and The Leopard (1963) [The Leopard], launched his musical career at age 43.
Reggiani released his award-winning debut album in 1965 and it proved to be such a major hit with both the French public and the critics that singing became a prime career. Surprisingly, the middle-aged, deep-voiced balladeer would strike a chord with the younger politically left generation of the late 60s. A second album produced in 1967, plus a left-wing concert with the legendary Jacques Brel, clenched his popularity with teenagers. He began to extend himself internationally while continuing a healthy album output.
Children Stephan and Carine actively developed their own singing careers and Reggiani performed on the concert stage with them in encouragement but with lackluster results. Son Stephan, completely overshadowed by his father, took this extremely hard and in 1980 (July, 29) committed suicide at the family home in Mougins. He was only 33. Devastated, Reggiani withdrew from the music scene for a while to recover from his grief and would battle bouts of depression and alcoholism for much of his remaining life. Divorced from his second wife in 1973, he met actress Noëlle Adam in the 1980s and they lived in partnership for over 20 years, she becoming a lasting source of strength for him in dealing with his personal tragedies.
Reggiani's later years would be more or less spent in seclusion, finding one last passion in painting. He displayed his works at his first exhibition in 1989. After performing in concert to mark the 25th anniversary of his singing career, Reggiani found the strength to return to the French music scene with a brand new album. At age 70+, he successfully recorded and was welcomed back to the concert stage with great applause. Though his acting career had calmed down a great deal since his singing heyday erupted, he did star in De force avec d'autres (1992) [For the Love of Others], a film written and directed by son Simon Reggiani that also featured Ms. Adam.
Serge married his longtime partner, Noëlle Adam, in March of 2003; he died of a heart attack at his Paris home a little over a year later at age 82. Although little known here in the U.S., unlike chanson stylists Yves Montand and Jacques Brel, the acclaimed Reggiani has nevertheless reached legendary proportions in France and Europe.- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jacques Deray was born on 19 February 1929 in Lyon, Rhône, France. He was a director and writer, known for He Died with His Eyes Open (1985), A Bigger Splash (2015) and Borsalino (1970). He was married to Agnès Vincent-Deray and Nicole Jones. He died on 9 August 2003 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
William Marshall was born on 12 October 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor and director, known for The Phantom Planet (1961), State Fair (1945) and Calendar Girl (1947). He was married to Corinne Aboyneau, Ginger Rogers, Micheline Presle and Michèle Morgan. He died on 7 June 1994 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Albert Dieudonné was born on 26 November 1889 in Paris, France. He was an actor and writer, known for Son crime (1921), Gloire rouge (1923) and Sous la griffe (1917). He died on 19 March 1976 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michel Deville, a singular talent in French cinema. For, except during a short period where he made two or three standard commercial films (but that was to repay the debts of his own film company, due to the defection of a business partner), Deville made pictures which, without being too elitist, show a distinctive talent and personality. The French director-writer-producer managed, all through a career that spanned four decades and a half (from 1958 to 2005), to play a little music of his own, never resting on his laurels but always trying something new. And even if not all of his works are perfect, Deville's taste for research makes the bulk of them at least interesting or challenging. Born on 13 April 1931 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Michel Deville graduated from high school and started studying literature but soon branched out into movies. From 1951 to 1958, he learned the tricks of his future trade by being assistant-director, mainly to Henri Decoin, with whom he collaborated thirteen times, notably on two important films, The Truth About Bebe Donge (1952) in 1951 and Razzia (1955) in 1952. After a false start in 1958 (A Bullet in the Gun Barrel (1958), a run-of-the-mill crime flick, co-directed by Charles Gérard), Deville succeeded in making a name for himself two years later with his first true film Ce soir ou jamais (1961). Film critics did not miss out on the already gray-haired thirty-year-old director as they immediately identified what made his specificity : telling about love, seduction and feelings with subtle casualness and quizzing cruelty. For the ten years that followed, working in tandem with screenwriter Nina Companeez, Deville made a series of allegedly "light-hearted" comedies, surely full of charm and elegance but whose froth soon evaporates to reveal unexpected gravity. The result can range from slightly superficial (Girl's Apartment (1963), The Bear and the Doll (1970)) to genuinely moving (Adorable Liar (1962)) to profoundly tragic (The Diary of an Innocent Boy (1968), a cruel tale about desire, love and the difficulty to love; Raphaël ou le débauché (1971), one of the most beautiful romantic films ever made). After ceasing his collaboration with Companeez, Deville's films became darker and darker, the director choosing to explore new forms of expression (narrative deconstruction in La femme en bleu (1973)); the use of subjective camera and long sequence shots in Dossier 51 (1978), etc.) as well as new themes such as disillusionment, impossible dreams and imagination as a way of survival. In the nineteen eighties Deville is at the top of his art. A Sweet Journey (1980), Deep Water (1981), Les capricieux (1984) (TV movie) and Death in a French Garden (1985) examine the forms and variations of the loving feeling with consummate mastery while Le paltoquet (1986) and The Reader (1988) are two fascinating forays into the territory of sheer imagination. As of 1990, the director's art somewhat declined. Films like Sweetheart (1992), The Gods Must Be Daring (1997) and The Art of Breaking Up (2005), his final effort in 2005, more or less run on empty. But there are two magnificent exceptions to that rule: Aux petits bonheurs (1994) (1993), the elegant bittersweet chronicle of love being threatened by the coming of old age, and La maladie de Sachs (1999) (1999), a brilliant adaptation of Martin Winckler's novel, consisting of brief loosely related scenes, considered impossible to move onto the screens. An excellent technician and theoretician, Deville also established himself as a great actors director. All noticed how good he was - not unlike George Cukor - at directing women. Indeed Anna Karina, Marina Vlady, Michèle Morgan, Brigitte Bardot, Françoise Fabian, Lea Massari, Anémone, Miou-Miou, Fanny Ardant, Zabou Breitman and several others, did shine before his loving camera. But this does not mean that their male counterparts had anything to complain about when directed by him. Thanks to Michel Deville Claude Rich, Michel Piccoli, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Maurice Ronet, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Christophe Malavoy, Richard Bohringer, Claude Piéplu, Jean Yanne, Daniel Auteuil and many others naturally, also found gratifying and memorable roles. When Michel Deville decided to retire in 2005, he could do it with a clear conscience: he sure left his mark on the seventh art and even if his name is a little forgotten today, film historians will no doubt recognize his true worth some day in the future.- Actress
- Writer
Edwige Feuillère was born on 29 October 1907 in Vesoul, Haute-Saône, Franche-Comté, France. She was an actress and writer, known for Olivia (1951), Lucrezia Borgia (1935) and Wicked Duchess (1942). She was married to Pierre Feuillère. She died on 13 November 1998 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Director
- Writer
- Production Designer
Christian-Jaque was born on 4 September 1904 in Paris, France. He was a director and writer, known for Fanfan la Tulipe (1952), If All the Guys in the World... (1956) and The Pearls of the Crown (1937). He was married to Denise Morlot, Laurence Christol, Martine Carol, Renée Faure, Simone Renant and Germaine Spy. He died on 8 July 1994 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Wallis Warfield Spencer Simpson Windsor was born in 1896 to a distinguished family. In 1916 she married Lt. Earl Winfield ("Win") Spencer, a pilot for the U.S. Navy. After World War I, Win began to drink heavily and became abusive. Wallis left Win and eventually divorced him in December 1927. Just six months later, Wallis married Ernest Simpson, who worked in the shipping business. The couple settled in London and attended social parties. At Lady Furness's house in 1931, she met Prince Edward and became a part of his circle of friends. In August 1934, Wallis and the Prince began an affair. On January 20, 1936, King George V, Edward's father, passed away, and Prince Edward became King Edward VIII. Edward's grief over his father's death was magnified by his acquisition of the throne, along with the responsibilities and eminence he deplored. He was often late or canceled appointments and events at the last minute. His infatuation with Wallis grew extreme, and he was severely distracted from his State duties. The relationship came to an impasse when the king was warned that the press would not remain silent much longer, and that the government might resign en masse if the liaison continued. Declaring it impossible to carry out his duties "without the help and support of the woman I love," Edward became the only monarch in British history to voluntarily abdicate the throne on December 10, 1936. His brother Albert became King George VI, and bestowed upon Edward the family name of Windsor. Wallis divorced Ernest Simpson, and she and Edward married in a small ceremony on June 3, 1937, becoming known as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The romance plunged Britain into a constitutional crisis and made Wallis "the most-talked-about, written-about, headlined and interest-compelling person in the world," according to TIME, which named her its first Woman of the Year for 1936. Wallis Simpson remains an emotional figure in history, and many descriptions of her are extremely negative. But the couple remained loyal to each other despite being shunned by the royal family. They lived the remainder of their lives in France and the Bahamas. After Edward passed away in 1972, Wallis' remaining years were spent in bed, secluded from the world. She passed away on April 24, 1986, two months shy of her 90th birthday.
- Prince Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David was born on June 23, 1894. He was the son of the future King George V and Queen Mary. He was in the army and was an uncrowned King for a little under a year after the death of his father in 1936. In the early 30s he met an American divorcee, Wallis Warfield Simpson, who was married to her second husband. She and the Prince fell in love and she got divorced in 1936. The Establishment reacted against the idea of a twice married American divorcée as Queen, and Edward decided to abdicate in favour of his younger brother Albert who became King George VI. He and Wallis married in 1937, and became Duke and Duchess of Windsor, though she was not made a Royal Highness. He met Hitler before the war started and Hitler said that Wallis would have made a good Queen. During the war Edward was named Governor of the Bahamas. After the war he lived mainly in Paris where he died in May of 1972.
- Actor
- Composer
- Music Department
Born in Toulon on 24 October 1927, Gilbert Bécaud was introduced to music at a very early age and started playing the piano well before attending the Nice conservatoire at age nine. Accepted by the Sacem at the age of 20, Gilbert Bécaud composed film scores on several occasions before only gradually taking an interest in songs (the French lyricist Pierre Delanoé wrote his first song "Mes mains"). He also composed music for Edith Piaf, such as "Je t'ai dans la peau". A meeting in 1952 with the poet Louis Amade gave birth to the song "Les Croix". Bécaud's singing career took off with his first super-45 featuring three tracks, "Mes mains","Viens","Quand tu danses". These songs were recorded under the His Master Voice label (now EMI), a record company that has supported Bécaud since the beginning.- Writer
- Actress
- Production Designer
Judith Siboni was born on 4 January 1975 in Paris, France. She was a writer and actress, known for Vous les femmes (2007), Number One Fan (2014) and Le chignon d'Olga (2002). She died on 30 March 2021 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Maurice Biraud was born on 3 March 1922 in Paris, France. He was an actor, known for Les aventures de Salavin (1964), Les douze légionnaires (1976) and Le complot (1973). He was married to Françoise Soulié. He died on 24 December 1982 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Actress
- Sound Department
- Additional Crew
Jacqueline Porel was born on 14 October 1918 in Divonne-les-Bains, Ain, France. She was an actress, known for The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972), Ce soir les jupons volent... (1956) and Captain Blood (1960). She was married to Jacques Brunet, Gérard Landry and François Périer. She died on 29 April 2012 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Robert Lamoureux was born on 4 January 1920 in Paris, France. He was an actor and writer, known for Mais où est donc passée la 7ème compagnie (1973), The Adventures of Arsène Lupin (1957) and Chacun son tour (1951). He was married to Magali Vendeuil and Simone Chailneau. He died on 29 October 2011 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Suzy Prim was born on 11 October 1896 in Paris, Ile-de-France, France. She was an actress and producer, known for Le cabaret du grand large (1946), Les anges noirs (1937) and Mayerling (1936). She died on 7 July 1991 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Etienne Decroux was born on 19 July 1898 in Paris, France. He was an actor, known for Children of Paradise (1945), Scandals of Clochemerle (1948) and Les compagnons de Baal (1968). He died on 12 March 1991 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Peters early life : His mother Iris Dyer married Horace William Dolphin both of Worcestershire. They divorced 1948. Peter lived with his mother and grandmother in Alvechurch until they both died and he was orphaned, Peter was sent to Brighton he lived there until his teens, whereupon he joined the Merchant Navy aged 16. At 21 he became the youngest head waiter in the British Mercantile Marines. Headwaiter on Ocean Liners. Peter ended up stranded in Austrailia, testing police cars and studying at the Brisbane School of Broadcasting, doing radio work., after graduating he managed to get free passage to England with just £5 in his pocket. Peter had studied at King Edwards Grammer School Camp Hill, Birmingham, and bit parts in Reportary Theatre so upon deciding to become an actor back in England he found an agency and a part in "Knife in the Family" They needed an Austrailian - Fortunate Peter had a good ear for accents. After this he appeared in Tv programs in 1960s such as "Oh Boy" & "Six Five Special". Also the Male lead in Barts "Fings ain't wot they used t'be" In a Sunday Mercury interview 1964 Peter had clocked up 40 Tv appearances, Such as "That was the week that was", and 27 TV plays, and 4 films. Peter used to DJ at the Tempo Club in Acton Town Hall, Radio City and Radio Luxemburg Peter was also in one of the first Milk Tray adverts - shown mainly on the Continent which made him a "pinup boy" - the UK versions used another actor. He also appeared in a St Bruno advert. Peter did many C&A shows, alongside Marks & Spencer modeling cat walk shows 1970;s as one of the UK .s top male models. Peter moved to Boulogne France in his mid fifties running Bar Dolphin at Equin. All information regarding Peters work life taken from press cuttings found on the web. E.&.O.E.
- Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
François Villiers was born on 2 March 1920 in Paris, France. He was a director and writer, known for The Aeronauts (1967), L'eau vive (1958) and Le puits aux trois vérités (1961). He was married to Jeannine Rikh. He died on 29 January 2009 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Jean Piat was born on 23 September 1924 in Lannoy, Nord, France. He was an actor and writer, known for Rouletabille joue et gagne (1947), Would-Be Gentleman (1958) and Marriage of Figaro (1959). He was married to Françoise Engel. He died on 18 September 2018 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- An excellent actress, Claude Nollier remains too little known. Maybe because she made few films, but isn't quality better than quantity ? Whatever the truth, none of her appearances, whether an important movie like John Huston's Moulin Rouge (1952) or an artistic flop such as Les trafiquants de la mer (1947), leaves a normal viewer indifferent. Hieratically beautiful and terribly cold, Claude Nollier is most often chilling, invariably attracting resentment from the other characters in the movie in return. Fitting this type of role to perfection she is memorable as the murderess whose distant airs play against her in André Cayatte's court drama Justice Is Done (1950); as Olga, the communist party envoy who must decide the life or death of the hero in Dirty Hands (1951); as Fernandel's malevolent sister-in-law in Le printemps, l'automne et l'amour (1955); and, among others, as the governess driven by her latent lesbianism in Lewis Gilbert's cruel and sensitive Loss of Innocence (1961). Of course, as every rule has its exception, she had no difficulty in portraying Toulouse-Lautrec's adored (and adorable ?) mother in the already mentioned Moulin Rouge (1952). More active on the boards than on the big and the small screen, Claude Nollier's movie career should nevertheless not be overlooked as it is now. She is a great performer to rediscover.
- André Brunot was born on 3 October 1879 in Prémery, Nièvre, France. He was an actor, known for L'affaire Blaireau (1923), The Red and the Black (1954) and The Lame Devil (1948). He died on 4 August 1973 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Louise Carletti was born on 27 February 1922 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France. She was an actress, known for Une fille à croquer (1951), L'ennemi sans visage (1946) and La renégate (1948). She was married to Raoul André. She died on 10 March 2002 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- François Valorbe was born on 20 October 1914 in Bordeaux, Gironde, France. He was an actor, known for School for Love (1955), Let Joy Reign Supreme (1975) and The Widow Couderc (1971). He died on 23 June 1977 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France.