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- Actress
- Soundtrack
In a world weary of war and dispirited by the ravages of the Great Depression, Hollywood at the turn of the 1940s concocted a wildly popular, effective lot of escapist fare (though often cheaply made) to regale the sick at heart worldwide. Universal Pictures, more often than not, led in producing such films. We know about the monster movies: wolf men, invisible men -- and invisible women too, for that matter. We know about Sherlock Holmes chasing not killer hounds in 1890 but chasing killer Nazis a half- century later. Such were among typical Universal "B" productions. Enter Maria de Santo Silas -- Maria Montez. This daughter of a Spanish diplomat traveled extensively after being educated in the Canary Islands and attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to establish herself as a stage actress in Europe. In 1940 she found herself in New York City, a model. Her screen career began in 1941, with Universal casting her in bit parts. On account of her strikingly exotic looks and her exotic accent, the studio soon paired her with other "exotics" (Sabu and Turhan Bey), and usually with a more "home-style" hero (Jon Hall), in a series of low-budget adventures, filmed in Technicolor and situated in fantasy lands, with Montez herself often situated in revealing dress. With Montez threatened by all manner of nastiness -- from evil caliphs to man-eating sharks to her own cobra-worshipping twin sister (!) -- her pictures soon became immensely popular, even though she could not really act, could not dance and could not sing. Audiences flocked to see her films, just to witness the trials and endurance of an alluring beauty in distress (as well, perhaps, as to glimpse some scantily clad, beauteous flesh). The Depression having long since passed, the end of World War II meant also the end of flying carpets and sand dunes and deadly reptiles as potential subjects for attracting moviegoers. That bit of history, plus a bit of girth added to Montez's frame, led her and her husband, the actor Jean-Pierre Aumont, to abandon Hollywood for Europe, where she would appear in a handful of French and Italian adventure films. On 7 September 1951 Maria Montez was discovered drowned in her bath, possibly having first suffered a heart attack.- Actress
- Additional Crew
Claude Gensac was born on 1 March 1927 in Acy-en-Multien, Oise, France. She was an actress, known for 22 Bullets (2010), Hibernatus (1969) and The Wing or The Thigh? (1976). She was married to Henri Chemin and Pierre Mondy. She died on 27 December 2016 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Jean Poiret was born on 17 August 1926 in Paris, France. He was an actor and writer, known for The Birdcage (1996), Cop Au Vin (1985) and La Cage aux Folles (1978). He was married to Caroline Cellier and Françoise Dorin. He died on 14 March 1992 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Actor
- Director
Pierre Blanchar was born on 30 June 1892 in Philippeville, Constantine, France [now Skikda, Algeria]. He was an actor and director, known for Crime and Punishment (1935), The Man from Nowhere (1937) and Life Dances On (1937). He was married to Marthe Vinot. He died on 21 November 1963 in Suresnes, France.- Prince Aly Khan was born on 13 June 1911 in Turin, Italy. He was married to Rita Hayworth and Joan Yarde-Buller. He died on 12 May 1960 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Simon de La Brosse was born on 9 October 1965 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He was an actor, known for Les arcandiers (1991), Pauline at the Beach (1983) and Betty Blue (1986). He died on 17 April 1998 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Cinematographer
- Director
- Camera and Electrical Department
Although Henri Decaë gained fame as a cinematographer, he actually entered the film industry as an editor and soundman. Serving as a cameraman in the French army during WW II, upon his release he began making documentaries and directing and photographing industrial and commercial films, then in 1947 made his first feature. His documentary background showed in the look of the films he photographed, and he worked often with directors Louis Malle and Claude Chabrol. From those early, gritty films, Decae evolved into one of the premier cinematographers of plush, big-budget extravaganzas.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Betty Mars was born on 30 July 1944 in Paris, France. She was an actress, known for Emilienne & Nicole (1975), Bons baisers... à lundi (1974) and Second Chance (1976). She died on 20 February 1989 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gilles Grangier was born on 5 May 1911 in Paris, France. He was a director and writer, known for Archimède, le clochard (1959), Train d'enfer (1965) and The Night Affair (1958). He was married to Lucie Bourdillon. He died on 27 April 1996 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France.- Lise Delamare was born on 9 April 1913 in Colombes, Seine [now Seine-Saint-Denis, Île-de-France], France. She was an actress, known for Lola Montès (1955), Captain Blood (1960) and La Marseillaise (1938). She was married to Tony Taffin. She died on 25 July 2006 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Alain Flick was born on 26 January 1949 in Paris, France. He was an actor, known for The Confessions of Felix Krull (1982), Les vacances de l'amour (1996) and Les brigades du Tigre (1974). He died on 3 April 2024 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France.
- Jacques Préboist was born on 21 May 1923 in Marseille, France. He was an actor. He died on 5 February 1999 in Suresnes, France.
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Antonio Passalia was born on 13 June 1926 in Messina, Sicily, Italy. He was an actor and producer, known for Caligula et Messaline (1981), The Cry of the Owl (1987) and The Bridesmaid (2004). He died on 6 July 2016 in Suresnes, Hauts-De-Seine, France.- Charles Blavette was born on 24 June 1902 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France. He was an actor, known for Toni (1935), Cécile est morte! (1944) and Manon des sources (1952). He died on 21 November 1967 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Marcel Gassouk was born on 2 May 1921 in Paris, France. He was an actor, known for Aux frontières du possible (1971). He died on 4 February 2003 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Jacques Rispal was born on 1 August 1923 in Belvès, Dordogne, France. He was an actor and writer, known for The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972), Stolen Kisses (1968) and Lacombe, Lucien (1974). He died on 9 February 1986 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Sound Department
Pierre Bachelet, a popular singer (his song "Les Corons" became a tremendous hit in France), always had a special connection with the world of cinema. Wasn't he a graduate of the Rue de Vaugirard Film School? His becoming a film music composer soon appeared as the ideal link between his two passions. That is how Pierre Bachelet lent his talent to successful (either commercial or artistic) films such as Emmanuelle (1974), Jean-Jacques Annaud's Black and White in Color (1976) and Hothead (1979), Patrice Leconte's French Fried Vacation 2 (1979) or Jean Becker's The Children of the Marshland (1999). He also wrote the score of a few commercials and TV Films. Pierre Bachelet died prematurely at the age of 60.- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Jean Lenoir was born on 26 February 1891 in Paris, France. He was a composer, known for Midnight in Paris (2011), Suite Française (2014) and Sweet and Lowdown (1999). He was married to Alice Papazian and Octavie Richau. He died on 19 January 1976 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Philippe Mareuil was born on 19 October 1927 in Dreux, France. He was an actor, known for Le chevalier d'Harmental (1966), Aux frontières du possible (1971) and La caméra explore le temps (1957). He died on 8 January 2016 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Johnny Stark was born on 29 August 1922 in Huningue, Haut-Rhin, France. He was married to Nicole Bertho and Nanou Taddéi . He died on 24 April 1989 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Michel Renault was born on 15 December 1927 in Paris, France. He was an actor, known for Clémentine Tango (1982), The Ambassador's Daughter (1956) and Dieu a choisi Paris (1969). He died on 29 January 1993 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France.- Actress
- Talent Agent
France Degand was born on 4 July 1927 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. She was an actress and talent agent, known for Canzone appassionata (1953), Six petites filles en blanc (1942) and Cet âge est sans pitié (1952). She died on 18 January 2021 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Maurice Yvain was born on 12 February 1891 in Paris, France. He was a composer, known for Chocolat (2000), A Good Year (2006) and The Quiet American (2002). He was married to Hélène Achour, Marina Hotine, Gabrielle Ristori, Ana Ruiz y Miyares and Jeanne Colombéron. He died on 28 July 1965 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Romeo Bosetti was born on 18 January 1879 in Chiari, Lombardy, Italy. He was a director and actor, known for Le cambriolé récalcitrant (1911), Fidèle jusqu'à la mort (1911) and Il ne faut pas courir deux lièvres à la fois (1914). He died on 27 October 1948 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Raymond Bernard (not to be confused with the famous director of the same name) was a conductor, arranger and composer. After debuting in Ray Ventura's band, he became a member of the orchestra accompanying the circus shows in the early days of French television ("La piste aux étoiles" (1945)_). He also accompanied Gilbert Bécaud and Serge Reggiani during their song recitals. In parallel Raymond Bernard wrote a few scores for the cinema (A Bullet in the Gun Barrel (1958), Le Sicilien (1958), L'ennemi dans l'ombre (1960)) and or for television (Les enquêtes du commissaire Maigret (1967)).- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alain Dhénaut was born on 7 February 1942 in Nanteuil-lès-Meaux, Seine-et-Marne, France. He was a director and writer, known for Cinéma 16 (1975), Le type au ras du cou blanc (1963) and Histoires d'amour (1990). He was married to Geneviève Cluny. He died on 29 September 2010 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Pierre Pincemaille was born on 8 December 1956 in Paris, France. He was married to Anne-France Gaudillat. He died on 12 January 2018 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Félix Oudart was born on 8 June 1881 in Lille, Nord, France. He was an actor, known for Scandals of Clochemerle (1948), The Three Musketeers (1953) and Tire au flanc (1928). He died on 10 August 1956 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Jacques Muller was born on 22 January 1922 in Paris, France. He was an actor, known for La nuit des rois (1957), Ce soir les jupons volent... (1956) and La bella Otero (1954). He died on 23 August 1986 in Suresnes, France.
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Pierre Bellemare was born on 21 October 1929 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He was an actor and writer, known for La caméra invisible (1964), Cent francs par seconde (1952) and Match contre la mort (1959). He was married to Roselyne Bacchi and Micheline Grillon. He died on 26 May 2018 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France.- Writer
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Today, Albert Valentin (1908-1968) is remembered as a screenwriter. However, three of his movies are on a par with the best of the French cinema of the era. "L'Entraineuse" (1938) compared favorably with "Waterloo bridge" as a model of melodrama.During the occupation days,he outdid himself and his two towering achievements should be considered classics today, in a league with these of Clouzot. "Marie-Martine " (1942) was constructed "in reverse", predating such works as "memento" by more than half a century. "La Vie De Plaisir'(1943) told a story from two points of view, seven years before "Rashomon" and this Bunuelian scene of a bishop blessing a pack of dogs remained memorable. Sadly, like Clouzot's "Le Corbeau", 'la vie De Plaisir", "deemed infamous, was banned at the liberation. His career as a director was virtually over after WW2, although his "Le Secret De Monte Cristo" (1948) was another unsung excellent effort he told the true story on which Alexandre Dumas based his famous novel. Valentin was the lost great director of the French forties indeed. As a screenwriter his work includes such classics as "Boudu Sauvé Des Eaux"(1932), "L'Etrange Monsieur Victor " (1941) and "Le Ciel Est A Vous" (1943).- Grégory Lemarchal was born in Chambéry, Savoie, France on May 13, 1983. At 20 months old, his parents learned that he had a disease called mucovisidosis, a respiratory disease.
On December 22, 2004 he was the big winner of "Star Academy" (4th edition), sort of "American Idol" TV show in France on TF1, with 80% of the votes against Lucie Bernardoni.
His first single "Ecris l'Histoire" was a huge success and his first recorded album "Je Deviens Moi" became a platinum disc.
On January 21, 2006 Grégory won the Award "French revelation of the year" at the NRJ Music Awards. - Frédéric de Jongh was born on 13 December 1897 in Brussels, Brussels-Capital, Belgium. He was married to Alice Decarpentrie. He died on 28 March 1944 in Mont-Valérien, Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France.
- Music Department
Michel Ganot was born on 27 October 1931 in Le Mans, Sarthe, France. He is known for Trafics dans l'ombre (1964), Masks (1987) and Cop Au Vin (1985). He died on 24 December 1994 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pierre Beuchot was born on 30 June 1938 in Les Pavillons-sous-Bois, Seine [now Seine-Saint-Denis], France. He was a director and writer, known for Aventure de Catherine C. (1990), Requiem (1972) and Un siècle d'écrivains (1995). He died on 27 November 2020 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Composer
- Actor
- Music Department
Henri Crolla was born on 26 February 1920 in Naples, Campania, Italy. He was a composer and actor, known for La Vie En Rose (2007), Os Bandeirantes (1960) and Naughty Girl (1956). He was married to Colette Ravier. He died on 17 October 1960 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Writer
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Louis Pauwels was born on 2 August 1920 in Paris, France. He was a writer and cinematographer. He was married to Elina Labourdette and Suzanne. He died on 28 January 1997 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Wal-Berg was born on 13 October 1910 in Istanbul, Turkey. He was a composer, known for La Vie En Rose (2007), Adieu... Chérie (1946) and La route enchantée (1938). He died on 12 July 1994 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Dominique de Roux was born on 17 September 1935 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He was married to Jacqueline Brusset. He died on 29 March 1977 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Charles Brabant was born on 6 July 1920 in Paris, France. He was a director and writer, known for The Respectful Whore (1952), Zoé (1954) and Les naufrageurs (1959). He died on 30 November 2006 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Jacques Decour was born on 21 February 1910 in Paris, France. He was married to Jacqueline Bailly. He died on 30 May 1942 in Mont-Valérien, Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan was born on 19 June 1916 in London, England, UK. He died on 17 June 2004 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Victor Koning was born on 4 April 1842 in Belleville, Paris, France. Victor was a writer, known for Airs de France (1955), La fille de Madame Angot (1935) and Jacquot of Nantes (1991). Victor was married to Raphaële Sisos and Jane Hading. Victor died on 1 October 1894 in Suresnes, France.- Charles Pasqua was born on 18 April 1927 in Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. He was married to Jeanne Joly. He died on 29 June 2015 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Producer
- Writer
Christian Blachas was born on 16 June 1946 in Paris, France. He was a producer and writer, known for Culture Pub (1987), Lunettes noires pour nuits blanches (1988) and Pas vu, pas pris (1998). He died on 5 February 2012 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Serge Lancen was born on 5 November 1922 in Paris, France. He was a composer, known for Le crime de David Levinstein (1967), Jour de classe (1972) and Sunday in the Park (1956). He died on 10 July 2005 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Daniel Guérin was born on 19 May 1904 in Paris, France. He was married to Maria Fortwängler . He died on 14 April 1988 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Robert Moor was born on 17 July 1889 in Rouen, Seine-Inférieure [now Seine-Maritime], France. He was an actor, known for Knock, ou le triomphe de la médecine (1933), Café de Paris (1938) and Fantômas contre Fantômas (1949). He died on 23 December 1972 in Suresnes, Hauts de Seine, Île-de-France, France.
- Jacqueline Duc was born on 12 April 1922 in Paris, France. She was an actress, known for The Party (1980), Patrie (1946) and Bel-Ami Der Frauenheld von Paris (1955). She died on 30 November 2002 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.
- Actor
- Writer
Eugène Saccomano was born on 23 September 1936 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France. He was an actor and writer, known for Borsalino (1970), Tout pour l'oseille (2004) and La Coupe De La Gloire: The Official Film of the 1998 FIFA World Cup (1998). He was married to Françoise. He died on 7 October 2019 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France.