| Maurice Chevalier | |
|---|---|
 Maurice Chevalier, ca. 1920 |
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| Born | Maurice Auguste Chevalier September 12, 1888 Paris, France |
| Died | January 1, 1972 (aged 83) Paris, France |
| Spouse(s) | Yvonne Vallée (1927-1933) Nita Ray (1937-1946) |
Maurice Chevalier (September 12, 1888 – January 1, 1972) was a Belgian-French actor, singer, and popular entertainer. Events 1213 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Year 1888 ( MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Events 1213 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Year 1888 ( MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works Chevalier's signature songs included "Louise", "Mimi", and "Valentine". His trademark was a casual straw hat, which he always wore on stage with his tuxedo. For the 1974 Soviet film see The Straw Hat. For the crew from One Piece, see Straw Hat Pirates.
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Early life
He was born Maurice Auguste Chevalier in Paris in 1888. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city His father was a house painter. His mother was of Belgian descent. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Maurice made his name as a star of musical comedy, appearing in public as a singer and dancer at an early age.
It was in 1901 that he began in show business at 13. Showbiz redirects here For other uses see Showbiz (disambiguation. He was singing, unpaid, at a café when a member of the theatre saw him and suggested he try for a local musical. He got the part. Chevalier got a name as imitator and singer. An impersonator is someone who imitates or copies the Behavior or actions of another His act in l' Alcazar in Marseille was so successful he made a triumphant rearrival in Paris. Marseille, ( English alt Marseilles mɑrˈseɪ — French: maʁsɛj locally — Provençal Occitan: Marselha maʀˈsijɔ
In 1909, he became the partner of the biggest female star in France, Fréhel. Fréhel (born Marguerite Boulc'h; July 14, 1891 – February 3, 1951) was a French Singer and actress. However, due to her alcohol and drug addiction their liaison ended in 1911. Chevalier then started a relationship with 36-year-old Mistinguett at the Folies Bergère; they eventually played out a public romance. Mistinguett ( April 5, 1875 – January 5, 1956 from Enghien-les-Bains, Val-d'Oise, Île-de-France, The Folies Bergère is a Parisian Music hall which was at the height of its fame and popularity from the 1890s through the 1920s
World War I
When in 1914 World War I broke out, Chevalier was in the middle of his national service, already in the front line, where he got shrapnel in the back in the first weeks of combat and was taken as a prisoner of war in Germany for two years. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. In 1916, he was released through the secret intervention of Mistinguett's admirer, King Alfonso of Spain, the only king of a neutral country who was a cousin of both the British and German royal families.
In 1917, Chevalier became a star in le Casino de Paris and played before British soldiers and Americans. He discovered jazz and ragtime and started thinking about touring the United States. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Ragtime (alternately spelled Rag-time) is an American musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918 In prison camp, he studied English and had an advantage over other French artists. He went to London where he found new success, though still singing in French.
Hollywood
After the war, Chevalier went back to Paris and created several songs still known today, such as ‘Valentine’ (1924). He played in a few pictures and made a huge impression in the operetta, Dédé. Operetta is a genre of light Opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter He met the American composers George Gershwin and Irving Berlin and brought Dédé to Broadway in 1922. George Gershwin (September 26 1898 &ndash July 11 1937 was an American Composer. Irving Berlin (11 May 1888 &ndash 22 September 1989 was a Russian-born American Composer and Lyricist, and one of the most prolific American songwriters Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located The same year he met Yvonne Vallée, a young dancer, who became his wife in 1927. Yvonne Vallée ( February 21, 1899 &ndash June 15, 1996) was a French Actress.
Douglas Fairbanks offered him star billing opposite Mary Pickford. Douglas Fairbanks ( May 23 1883 – December 12 1939) was an American Actor, Screenwriter, director Mary Pickford ( April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979) was an Academy Award -winning Canadian motion picture But Chevalier doubted his own talent for silent movies (in Paris, he'd made a couple that failed). When sound made its entry in the film world, he returned to Hollywood in 1928 and he became successful. He signed a contract with Paramount Pictures and played his first American role in Innocents of Paris. Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and Distribution company, based in Hollywood California. In 1930 he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, for two roles, The Love Parade (1929) and The Big Pond (1930). Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS to recognize The Love Parade is a 1929 Musical comedy film The plot concerns the romantic difficulties of Queen Louise of Sylvania ( Jeanette MacDonald) The Big Pond is a Romantic comedy film based on a 1928 play of the same name by George Middleton and A The Big Pond garnered Chevalier his first big American hit song, "Livin' In the Sunlight - Lovin' In the Moonlight" with words and music by Al Lewis and Al Sherman, as well as 'A New Kind of Love' (or 'The Nightingales'). The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Al Lewis was born on April 18, 1901 in New York City, New York. Not to be confused with the songwriter parodist and television producer Allan Sherman (1924-1973 [1] He collaborated with film director Ernst Lubitsch. A film director, or filmmaker, is a person who directs the making of a Film. Ernst Lubitsch ( January 28, 1892 – November 30, 1947) was a German -born Jewish Film director. While under contract with Paramount, Chevalier's name was so recognized that his passport featured in the Marx Brothers film Monkey Business (1931), with each brother attempting to sneak off the ocean liner where they were stowaways by claiming to be the singer. The Marx Brothers were a popular team of sibling Comedians who appeared in Vaudeville, stage plays film and television Monkey Business ( is the third of the Marx Brothers ' movies and the first not to be an adaptation of one of their Broadway shows In 1931, Chevalier starred in a musical called The Smiling Lieutenant with Claudette Colbert and Miriam Hopkins. The Smiling Lieutenant is a 1931 Paramount film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Claudette Colbert ( IPA: /koʊlˈbɛɹ/ ( September 13, 1903 – July 30, 1996) was a French -born American stage Ellen Miriam Hopkins ( October 18, 1902 – October 9, 1972) was an Oscar -nominated American actress Despite the disdain audiences held for musicals in 1931[2], it proved a successful film.
In 1932, he starred with Jeanette MacDonald in Paramount's film musical, One Hour With You which became a success and one of the films instrumental in making musicals popular again. Jeanette MacDonald (June 18 1903 &ndash January 14 1965 was an American singer and actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s with Maurice Chevalier One Hour with You is a 1932 film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Due to its popularity, Paramount starred Maurice Chevalier in another musical called Love Me Tonight, also released in 1932 and also co-starred Jeanette MacDonald. This is an article about a film For the song see Love Me Tonight (song Love Me Tonight is a 1932 Musical comedy film It was about a tailor who falls in love with a princess when he goes to a castle to collect a debt and is mistaken for a baron. Featuring songs by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, it was directed by Rouben Mamoulian, who, with the help of the songwriters, was able to put his ideas of the integrated musical (a musical which blends songs and dialogue so the songs advance the plot). Richard Charles Rodgers ( June 28, 1902, Arverne Queens, New York City &ndash December 30, 1979, New York Lorenz "Larry" Hart ( May 2, 1895 &ndash November 22, 1943) was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team Rouben Mamoulian ( October 8, 1897 &ndash December 4, 1987) was an Armenian - American film and Theatre It is considered one of the greatest film musicals of all time. [3]
In 1934, he starred in the first sound film of the Franz Lehar operetta The Merry Widow, one of his best-known films. Franz Lehár (30 April 1870 &ndash 24 October 1948 known in Hungarian as Lehár Ferenc, was an Austrian Composer of Hungarian descent The Merry Widow is a 1934 film adaptation of the operetta of the same name by Franz Lehár. He became one of the stars in Hollywood, rare for French artists. In 1935, he signed with MGM and returned to France later that year.
During his years in Hollywood, Chevalier had a reputation as a penny-pincher. When filming at Paramount, he balked at parking his car in the Paramount lot at ten cents a day. After bargaining, he managed to get five cents per day. Another story is told of Chevalier (a smoker) having a conversation with someone who offered him a cigarette. He took it, said "Thank you", put it in his pocket, and continued with the conversation. But in Hollywood he seemed to be a divided character. When not playing around with young chorus-girls, he actually felt quite lonely.
In 1937, he divorced and married the dancer Nita Ray. He had several successes such as his revue Paris en Joie in the Casino de Paris. A year later, he performed in Amours de Paris. His songs remained big hits, such as Prosper (1935), Ma Pomme (1936) and Ça fait d'excellents français (1939)
Maurice Chevalier also appeared in the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour in 1958.
World War II
During World War II, Chevalier kept performing for audiences, even German soldiers. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. He admired Philippe Pétain, who led the collaborating Vichy regime during the war - a fact that many admirers now forget. Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain (24 April 1856 – 23 July 1951 generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain ( Maréchal Pétain) Vichy ( Occitan: Vichèi) is a commune in the department of Allier in Auvergne in central France. Many Frenchmen at that time admired Pétain for his victories in World War I. He moved to Cannes where he and his Jewish girlfriend, Nita Ray, lived and where he gave several performances. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************
In 1941, he performed a new revue in the Casino de Paris: Bonjour Paris, which was another success. Songs like "Ça sent si bon la France" and "La Chanson du maçon" became hits. The Nazis asked Chevalier to perform in Berlin and sing for the collaborating radio station Radio-Paris. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. He refused, but he did perform in front of prisoners of war in Germany at the camp where he was interned in the First World War, and succeeded in liberating ten people in exchange. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.
In 1942 he returned to Bocca, near Cannes, but returned to the capital city in September. In 1944 when Allied forces freed France, Chevalier was accused of collaborationism. Collaborationism, can describe the Treason of cooperating with enemy Forces occupying one's Country. Even though he was acquitted, the English-speaking press remained hostile and he was refused a visa for several years.
After World War II
In his own country, however, he was still popular. In 1946, he split from Nita Ray and started writing his memoirs, which took many years to complete.
He started to paint and collect and acted in Le Silence est d'Or (1946) by René Clair. René Clair (11 November 1898 &ndash 15 March 1981 was a French Filmmaker. He still toured throughout the United States and other parts of the world and returned to France in 1948.
In 1949, he performed in Stockholm in a communist benefit against nuclear arms. ('stɔkhɔlm is Sweden 's Capital and its largest City. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the parliament, and the Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based In 1944, he had already participated in a communist demonstration in Paris. Joseph McCarthy's anti-communist efforts in the USA made him less popular there during the early fifties. Joseph Raymond McCarthy (November 14 1908 – May 2 1957 was an American politician who served as a Republican U In 1951, he was refused re-entry into the U. S. because he had signed an anti-nuclear petition known as the Stockholm Appeal. March 1950 The World Peace Council releases the Stockholm Appeal calling for an absolute ban on nuclear weapons
In 1952, he bought a large property in Marnes-la-Coquette, near Paris and named it ‘La Louque’, as a homage to his mother's nickname. Marnes-la-Coquette is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. A nickname is a Name of an entity or thing that is not its Proper name. He started a relationship in 1952 with Janie Michels, a young divorcee with three children. Being a painter she encouraged Chevalier's hobby.
In 1954 after McCarthy's downfall, Chevalier was welcomed back in the United States. He made a success in the Billy Wilder film Love in the Afternoon (1957) with Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper, and rediscovered his popularity with new audiences, appearing in the movie musical, Gigi (1958) with Leslie Caron and Hermione Gingold, with whom he shared the song "I Remember It Well", and several Walt Disney films. Billy Wilder ( June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an Austrian born Jewish - American Journalist Love in the Afternoon is a 1957 romantic comedy starring Audrey Hepburn, Gary Cooper, and Maurice Chevalier, and directed by Billy Wilder Audrey Hepburn ( &ndash) was an English/Dutch Academy Award - Emmy Award - Tony Award - and Grammy Award -winning film and stage actress Frank James “Gary” Cooper (May 7 &ndashMay 13) was an American film actor and iconic star Not to be confused with Gigli. Gigi is a 1958 motion picture musical set in Paris France. Leslie Claire Margaret Caron (lɛsli kaʁɔ̃ (born 1 July 1931 is a two-time Academy Award-nominated French Film actress and Dancer. Hermione Gingold ( December 9, 1897 &ndash May 24, 1987) was an English actress known for her sharp-tongued eccentric persona Walter Elias Disney (December 5 1901 – December 15 1966 was a multiple Academy Award -winning American Film producer, director, Screenwriter The success of Gigi prompted Hollywood to give him an Honorary Academy Award that year for achievements in entertainment. Also in Gigi, the song "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" became a signature song for him. Chevalier has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1651 Vine Street. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a Sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood Los Angeles California, USA, that
Final years
Chevalier continued to work up until old age with energy and enthusiasm. In the early 1960s, he toured the United States and between 1960 and 1963 made eight films. When he returned to France, he was invited by president Charles de Gaulle for a meal. Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle ( ( 22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970) was a French General and statesman who led the Free French
In 1961, he starred in the dramatic movie Fanny with Leslie Caron, Charles Boyer and Horst Buchholz, an updated version of Marcel Pagnol's "Marseilles Trilogy. Leslie Claire Margaret Caron (lɛsli kaʁɔ̃ (born 1 July 1931 is a two-time Academy Award-nominated French Film actress and Dancer. Charles Boyer (28 August 1899 – 26 August 1978 was a four-time Academy Award -nominated French Actor who starred in a number of classic Hollywood Horst Werner Buchholz ( December 4, 1933 – March 3, 2003) was a German Actor, best remembered for his part in Marcel Pagnol ( February 28, 1895 – April 18, 1974) was a French Novelist, Playwright, and Filmmaker "
In 1965, at 77, he made another world tour. In 1967 he toured in Latin America, again the US, Europe and Canada.
In 1968, on October 1, he announced his farewell tour. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Tired but still able to entertain he stopped 20 days later.
In 1970, he sang the title song of the Disney film The Aristocats. The Aristocats is a 1970 Animated feature produced and released by Walt Disney Productions. During a tour in the US he decided to stay there. However in December 1971 he had to be taken to a hospital.
Maurice Chevalier died on January 1, 1972, aged 83, and was interred in the cemetery of Marnes-la-Coquette in Hauts-de-Seine, outside Paris, France. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Hauts-de-Seine (92 (literally " Seine Heights" is a département in France. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.
Famous songs
- "Madelon de la Victoire" (1918)
- "Dans la vie faut pas s'en faire" (1921)
- "Valentine" (1924)
- "Louise" (1929)
- "You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me" (1930)
- "Living In the Sunlight, Loving In the Moonlight" (1930)
- "Mimi" (1932)
- "Prosper (Yop La Boum)" (1935)
- "Quand un Vicomte" (1935)
- "Ma Pomme" (1936)
- "Le Chapeau de Zozo" (1936)
- "Mimile (un gars du Ménilmontant)" (1936)
- "Ça Fait d' Excellents Français" (1939)
- "Ça sent si bon la France" (1941)
- "La Chanson du Maçon" (1941)
- "Notre Espoir" (1941)
- "(Up On Top Of A Rainbow) Sweepin' The Clouds Away" (?)
- "Thank Heaven For Little Girls" (1957)
- "I Remember It Well" (1957)
- "Enjoy It!" (1967)
- "The Aristocats" (1970)
Chevalier in Popular Culture
The character Lumiere, voiced by Jerry Orbach, in Disney's Beauty and the Beast is a Chevalier impression. The Aristocats is a 1970 Animated feature produced and released by Walt Disney Productions. Lumière is a fictional character and supporting protagonist from Disney 's 1991 American animated Film, ''Beauty and the Jerome Bernard Orbach ( October 20 1935 – December 28 2004) was an American Tony Award -winning Actor, BATB redirects here If you were looking for Back at the Barnyard which is abbreviated as BATB see here.
Notes
- ^ Sherman, Robert B. Walt's Time: from before to beyond, Santa Clarita: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998. Robert Bernard Sherman (born December 19, 1925) (see also " Sherman Brothers " is an American Songwriter who specializes Walt's Time from before to beyond is a 252 page autobiographic full color book by Robert B
- ^ History of Musical Film 1930s: Part I "Hip, Hooray and Ballyhoo" by John Kenrick
- ^ History of Musical Film 1930s: Part I "Hip, Hooray and Ballyhoo" by John Kenrick
External links
- Maurice Chevalier fan site
- Maurice Chevalier at the Internet Movie Database
- Photographs of Maurice Chevalier
- Chevalier on Broadway - an American tribute
- Maurice Chevalier at the TCM Movie Database
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Chevalier, Maurice |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Maurice Auguste Chevalier |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | actor, singer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 12, 1888 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Paris, France |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 1, 1972 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Paris, France |
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