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Marie Bell (23 December 1900 – 14 August 1985), born Marie-Jeanne Bellon-Downey,[1] was a French tragedian, comic actor and stage director. She was the director of the Théâtre du Gymnase in Paris from 1962 onwards, and this theatre now bears her name.[2]
Marie Bell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Marie-Jeanne Bellon-Downey 23 December 1900 Bègles, France |
| Died | 14 August 1985 (aged 84) Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France |
| Resting place | Monaco Cemetery |
| Occupation(s) | Tragedian, comic actor, stage director |
| Spouse | Jean Chevrier |
Early life
editMarie Bell was born on 23 December 1900 in Bègles near Bordeaux (France).[citation needed] With her Irish father, she spent her childhood between Bordeaux and England.[citation needed]
Career
editBell was a classical actress. She also appeared in avant-garde theatre, Jean Genet in particular.
Her interpretation of the role of Phèdre is highly noted : "Voir Marie Bell dans Phèdre est une chance unique pour quiconque veut savoir ce qu'est le génie français." André Malraux[3]
During the German Occupation of France (1940–1944), she participated in the French resistance as one of nine directors of the Front national du théâtre.[4] She was awarded the decoration of the Légion d'honneur by President Charles de Gaulle.[5]
Personal life
editBell married Jean Chevrier, who was also an actor.[6]
Death
editBell died on 14 August 1985 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She was buried alongside her husband Jean Chevrier at the Monaco Cemetery[6] not far from Josephine Baker.
Filmography
edit- Paris (dir. René Hervil, 1924), as Marthe de Lignières
- Madame Récamier (dir. Tony Lekain and Gaston Ravel, 1928), as Juliette Récamier
- The Farewell Waltz (dir. Henry Roussel, 1928), as Maria Wodzińska
- Figaro (dir. Tony Lekain and Gaston Ravel, 1929), as Suzanne
- La nuit est à nous (The Night Is Ours) (dir. Carl Froelich and Henry Roussel, 1930), as Bettine de Barsac
- Le Joker (dir. Erich Waschneck, 1930), as Harriet Williams
- L'Homme qui assassina (dir. Curtis Bernhardt and Jean Tarride, 1931), as Lady Falkland
- La Folle Aventure (dir. Carl Froelich and André-Paul Antoine, 1931), as Nelly Irwin
- Luck (dir. René Guissart, 1931), as Tania Balieff
- The Man with the Hispano (dir. Jean Epstein, 1933), as Stéphane Oswill
- The Princess's Whim (dir. Karl Hartl and Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1934), as Isabelle
- Fedora (dir. Louis J. Gasnier, 1934), as Fedora
- Le Grand Jeu (dir. Jacques Feyder, 1934), as Florence / Irma
- Poliche (dir. Abel Gance, 1934), as Rosine
- Fiordalisi d'oro (dir. Giovacchino Forzano, 1935), as Anne-Marie de Beaulieu
- Sous la terreur (dir. Giovacchino Forzano and Marcel Cravenne, 1936), as Anne-Marie de Beaulieu
- Story of a Poor Young Man (dir. Abel Gance, 1936), as Marguerite
- La Garçonne (dir. Jean de Limur, 1936), as Monique Lerbier – la garçonne
- Temptation (dir. Pierre Caron, 1936), as Irène de Bergue
- When Midnight Strikes (dir. Léo Joannon, 1936), as Mattia
- Les Demi-vierges (dir. Pierre Caron, 1936), as Maud de Rouvre
- Blanchette (dir. Pierre Caron, 1937), as Blanchette Rousset
- Pantins d'amour (dir. Walter Kapps, 1937), as Renée Morhange
- Un carnet de bal (Life Dances On) (dir. Julien Duvivier, 1937), as Christine Surgère
- Légions d'honneur (dir. Maurice Gleize, 1938), de Simone
- La Glu (dir. Jean Choux, 1938), as Fernande "La Glu"
- Noix de coco (Cocoanut) (dir. Jean Boyer, 1939), as Caroline
- The Phantom Carriage (dir. Julien Duvivier, 1939), as Sœur Maria
- Those of the Sky (dir. Yvan Noé, 1941), as Hélène
- Private Life (dir. Walter Kapps, 1942), as Florence
- Le colonel Chabert (dir. René Le Hénaff, 1943), as Comtesse Rosine Ferraud
- Il gattopardo (The Leopard) (dir. Luchino Visconti, 1963), uncredited
- La Bonne Soupe (dir. Robert Thomas, 1964), as Marie-Paule
- Vaghe stelle dell'Orsa (Sandra) (dir. Luchino Visconti, 1965), as Sandra's mother
- Hotel Paradiso (dir. Peter Glenville, 1966), as La Grande Antoinette
- Phèdre (dir. Pierre Jourdan, 1968), as Phèdre
- Closed Shutters (dir. Jean-Claude Brialy, 1973), as Aurore
References
edit- ^ Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins (Fifth ed.). Jefferson and London: McFarland and Company. 2010. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-7864-4373-4.
- ^ "Marie Bell".
- ^ "Seeing Marie Bell in Phèdre is a unique opportunity for anyone who wants to know what is the French genius." Cited in L'Avant-Scène n°342 (October 1965)
- ^ Marie-Agnès Joubert, La Comédie-Française sous l’Occupation, Paris, Tallandier, 1998, p. 353.
- ^ "Marie Bell".
- ^ a b "Visite funéraire de Monaco". Amis et Passionés du Père-Lachaise. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
External links
edit
- Marie Bell at IMDb
- Marie Bell at Find a Grave
- Marie Bell at Ciné-Ressources (French)
- Marie Bell at AlloCiné (in French)
- brief biography of Marie Bell