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Danielle Darrieux

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Danielle Darrieux
Darrieux in a publicity photo for 5 Fingers (1952)
Born
Danielle Yvonne Marie Antoinette Darrieux

(1917-05-01)1 May 1917
Bordeaux, Gironde, France
Died17 October 2017(2017-10-17) (aged 100)
Bois-le-Roi, Eure, France
Years active1931–2010
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1935; div. 1941)​
​
​
(m. 1942; div. 1947)​
Georges Mitsikidès
​
​
(m. 1948; died 1991)​
Children1 (adopted)

Danielle Yvonne Marie Antoinette Darrieux (French pronunciation: [da.njɛl i.vɔn ma.ʁi ɑ̃.twa.nɛt daʁ.jø]; 1 May 1917 – 17 October 2017) was a French actress of stage, television and film, as well as a singer and dancer.

Beginning in 1931, she appeared in more than 110 films. She was one of France's great movie stars and her eight-decade career was among the longest in film history.

Life and career

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Darrieux was born in Bordeaux, France, during World War I, the daughter of Marie-Louise (Witkowski) and Jean Darrieux, a medical doctor who was serving in the French Army.[1][2] Her mother was born in Algeria.[3] Her father died when she was seven years old.

Raised in Paris, she studied the cello at the Conservatoire de Musique.[4] At 14, she won a part in the musical film Le Bal (1931).[5] Her beauty combined with her singing and dancing ability led to numerous other offers; the film Mayerling (1936) brought her to prominence.[6]

In 1935, Darrieux married director/screenwriter Henri Decoin,[3] who encouraged her to try Hollywood. She signed a seven-year contract with Universal Studios to star in The Rage of Paris (1938)[5] opposite Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Afterwards, she elected to return to Paris.

Danielle Darrieux in 2008

Under the German occupation of France during World War II, Darrieux continued to perform, a decision that was severely criticized by her compatriots. However, it is reported that her brother had been threatened with deportation by Alfred Greven, the German manager of Continental, the only film production company permitted in occupied France. She received a divorce and then fell in love with Porfirio Rubirosa, a Dominican Republic diplomat and notorious womanizer. They married in 1942 in Vichy in a ceremony attended by other diplomats that resided in the city at the time.[7] His anti-Nazi opinions resulted in his forced residence in Germany. In exchange for Rubirosa's freedom, Darrieux agreed to make a promotional trip in Berlin. The couple lived in Switzerland until the end of the war, and divorced in 1947. She married scriptwriter Georges Mitsikidès in 1948, and they lived together until his death in 1991.

Darrieux appeared in the MGM musical Rich, Young and Pretty (1951). Joseph L. Mankiewicz lured her back to Hollywood to star in 5 Fingers (1952) with James Mason. Upon returning to France, she appeared in Max Ophüls' The Earrings of Madame de... (1953) with Charles Boyer, and The Red and the Black (1954) with Gérard Philippe. She starred in Lady Chatterley's Lover (1955), whose theme of uninhibited sexuality led to its being proscribed by Catholic censors in the United States. She played a supporting role in her last American film, United Artists' epic Alexander the Great (1956) starring Richard Burton and Claire Bloom.

At the request of director Lewis Gilbert, Darrieux worked in England to shoot The Greengage Summer (1961) with Kenneth More. In 1963, she starred in the romantic comedy La Robe Mauve de Valentine at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris. The play was adapted from the novel by Françoise Sagan.

In Jacques Demy's film musical The Young Girls of Rochefort (1966) her role was the only one in which a principal actor in any of Demy's film-musicals sang his or her own musical parts. (All other actors had a separate person dub their singing parts.) During the 1960s, she also was a concert singer.

In 1970, Darrieux replaced Katharine Hepburn in the Broadway musical Coco, based on the life of Coco Chanel,[8] but the play, essentially a showcase for Hepburn, soon folded without her. In 1971 and 1972 she also appeared in the short-lived productions of Ambassador. She worked again with Demy for his film Une chambre en ville (1982), an opera-like musical melodrama reminiscent of the director's earlier work The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, 1964). Once again, Darrieux provided her own vocals for her songs.

Honors

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For her long service to the motion picture industry, in 1985 she was given an Honorary César Award. She continued to work, her career spanning eight decades, most recently providing the voice of the protagonist's grandmother in the animated feature Persepolis (2007), which deals with the impact of the Islamic revolution on a girl's life as she grows to adulthood in Iran.

Death

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Danielle Darrieux died on 17 October 2017, due to complications from a fall, five months after turning 100 that May.[9][10]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Director Notes
1931 Le Bal Antoinette Wilhelm Thiele
Coquecigrole Coquecigrole André Berthomieu
1932 The Lacquered Box Henriette Stenay Jean Kemm
Panurge Régine Michel Bernheim
1933 Honeymoon Trip Minor Role Germain Fried and Erich Schmidt
Dream Castle Béatrix Géza von Bolváry
1934 Volga in Flames Macha Victor Tourjansky
The Crisis is Over Nicole Nadin Robert Siodmak
Mauvaise Graine Jeannette Billy Wilder and Alexander Esway
One Night's Secret Minor Role Félix Gandéra Uncredited
My Heart Is Calling You Nicole Nadin Carmine Gallone and Serge Véber
L'auberge du Petit-Dragon Jean de Limur
Dédé Denise René Guissart
Gold in the Street Gaby Curtis Bernhardt
1935 Le contrôleur des wagons-lits Annie Bourguet Richard Eichberg
Mad Girl Lucie Léo Joannon
J'aime toutes les femmes Danielle Karel Lamač and Henri Decoin
The Green Domino Hélène / Marianne de Richmond Herbert Selpin and Henri Decoin
1936 Mademoiselle Mozart Denise Yvan Noé
Mayerling Maria Vetsera Anatole Litvak
Taras Bulba Marina Alexis Granowsky
Women's Club Claire Derouve Jacques Deval
Counsel for Romance Jacqueline Serval Jean Boyer and Raoul Ploquin
Port Arthur Youki Nicolas Farkas
1937 My Mother Is a Miss Jacqueline Letournel Henri Decoin
Abused Confidence Lydia Henri Decoin
1938 The Rage of Paris Nicole de Cortillion Henry Koster
Katia Katia Dolgoronsky Maurice Tourneur
Return at Dawn Anita Ammer Henri Decoin
1940 Beating Heart Arlette Henri Decoin
1941 Her First Affair Micheline Chevasse Henri Decoin
1942 Caprices Lise Léo Joannon
Twisted Mistress Lilian Rander André Cayatte
1947 Bethsabée Arabella Dalvert Léonide Moguy
1948 Ruy Blas Queen of Spain Pierre Billon
1949 Jean de la Lune Marceline - une jeune femme charmante mais volage Marcel Achard
Keep an Eye on Amelia Amélie d'Avranches Claude Autant-Lara
1950 La Ronde Emma Breitkopf Max Ophüls
Romanzo d'amore Archduchess Louise of Austria Duilio Coletti
1951 Rich, Young and Pretty Marie Devaronne Norman Taurog
La maison Bonnadieu Gabrielle Bonnadieu Carlo Rim
1952 The Truth About Bebe Donge Elisabeth "Bébé" Donge Henri Decoin
House of Pleasure Madame Rosa Max Ophüls (segment "La Maison Tellier")
5 Fingers Countess Anna Staviska Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Adorable Creatures Christine Christian-Jaque
1953 Good Lord Without Confession Janine Fréjoul Claude Autant-Lara
The Earrings of Madame de... Countess Louise Max Ophüls
1954 El torero Geneviève Dupré René Wheeler
Service Entrance Béatrice Berthier Carlo Rim
Le Rouge et le Noir Madame de Rénal Claude Autant-Lara
One Step to Eternity Constance Andrieux dite Poussy Henri Decoin
1955 Napoléon Eléonore Denuelle de La Plaigne Sacha Guitry
The Affair of the Poisons Madame de Montespan Henri Decoin
Lady Chatterley's Lover Constance Chatterley Marc Allégret
1956 If Paris Were Told to Us Agnès Sorel Sacha Guitry
Alexander the Great Olympias Robert Rossen
The Wages of Sin Isabelle Lindstrom Denys de La Patellière
1957 Typhoon Over Nagasaki Françoise Fabre Yves Ciampi
Lovers of Paris Caroline Hédouin Julien Duvivier
1958 Le septième ciel Brigitte de Lédouville Raymond Bernard
Le désordre et la nuit Thérèse Marken Gilles Grangier
Life Together Monique Lebeaut Clément Duhour
Sunday Encounter Catherine Brévent Marc Allégret
1959 Marie-Octobre Marie-Hélène Dumoulin (aka "Marie-Octobre") Julien Duvivier
Eyes of Love Jeanne Moncatel Denys de La Patellière
1960 Murder at 45 R.P.M. Eve Faugeres Étienne Périer
L'Homme à femmes [fr] Gabrielle / Françoise Jacques-Gérard Cornu
1961 The Greengage Summer Madame Zisi Lewis Gilbert
Long Live Henry IV... Long Live Love Henriette d'Entragues Claude Autant-Lara
The Lions Are Loose Marie-Laure Robert-Guichard Henri Verneuil
Les bras de la nuit Danielle Garnier Jacques Guymont
Les petits drames Paul Vecchiali Cameo appearance
1962 Le Crime ne paie pas Lucienne Marsais Gérard Oury (segment "L'homme de l'avenue")
The Devil and the Ten Commandments Clarisse Ardan Julien Duvivier (segment "Tes père et mère honoreras")
Pourquoi Paris? La prostituée Denys de La Patellière
1963 Bluebeard Berthe Héon Claude Chabrol
Be Careful Ladies Hedwige André Hunebelle
1964 Du grabuge chez les veuves Judith Jacques Poitrenaud
Patate Edith Rollo Robert Thomas
1965 Le coup de grâce Yolande Jean Cayrol and Claude Durand
L'or du duc Marie-Gabrielle de M. Jacques Baratier
1967 Le dimanche de la vie Julia Ségovie Jean Vautrin
The Young Girls of Rochefort Yvonne Garnier Jacques Demy
1968 L'Homme à la Buick Mme Dalayrac Gilles Grangier
24 Hours in the Life of a Woman Lady Alice Copland Dominique Delouche
Birds in Peru Madame Fernande Romain Gary
1969 La maison de campagne Lorette Boiselier Jean Girault
The Lonely Woman Teresa / Jaci's mother Francisco Rovira Beleta
1975 Divine Marion Renoir Dominique Delouche
1976 L'Année sainte Christina Jean Girault
1979 Le cavaleur Suzanne Taylor Philippe de Broca
Miss
a. k. a. Ein Fall für Madame 		Miss Roger Pigaut 6 episodes, (French-German TV miniseries,
aired in 1979)
1982 Une chambre en ville Margot Langlois Jacques Demy
1983 At the Top of the Stairs Françoise Canavaggia Paul Vecchiali
1986 Scene of the Crime grandmother André Téchiné
Corps et biens Madame Krantz Benoît Jacquot
1988 A Few Days with Me Madame Pasquier (Martial's mother) Claude Sautet
1989 Bille en tête l'Arquebuse Carlo Cotti
1991 Le jour des rois Armande Marie-Claude Treilhou
1992 Les mamies Lolotte Annick Lanoë
1994 Jalna Adeline Whiteoak Gérard Marx Canadian-French TV series in 8 episodes
2000 Tomorrow's Another Day Eva Jeanne Labrune
2001 8 Women Mamy François Ozon
2003 Les Liaisons dangereuses Madame de Rosemonde Josée Dayan 2 episodes
2004 Une vie à t'attendre Emilie Thierry Klifa
2006 Oh La La! Odette Saint-Gilles Anne Fontaine
2007 Persepolis grandmother Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi Voice
L'Heure Zéro Camille Tressilian Pascal Thomas
2010 Pièce montée Madeleine Denys Granier-Deferre
C'est toi, c'est tout Camille Jacques Santamaria TV movie

Awards

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Year Awards Category Film Result
1987 César Award Best Supporting Actress Scene of the Crime Nominated
2002 Berlin International Film Festival Silver Bear – Outstanding Artistic Achievement 8 Women Won
2002 César Award Best Supporting Actress 8 Women Nominated
2002 European Film Awards Best Actress (all the cast) 8 Women Won
2002 Online Film Critics Society Best Cast 8 Women Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Gates, Anita (19 October 2017). "Danielle Darrieux, French Film Star Over 8 Decades, Is Dead at 100". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Latil, Lucas; Guyard, Bertrand (19 October 2017). "Le charme de Danielle Darrieux agissait également dans ses chansons". Le Figaro.
  3. ^ a b "Danielle Darrieux". Life. 4 July 1938. pp. 39–41.
  4. ^ "Danielle Darrieux, 100". Classic Images (510): 51–52. December 2017.
  5. ^ a b Marshall, Bill (2005). France and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History : a Multidisciplinary Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 349–350. ISBN 9781851094110.
  6. ^ "Danielle Darrieux". The St. Louis Star and Times. Missouri, St. Louis. 16 November 1937. p. 8. Retrieved 19 October 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Mataix, David (2006). L'Europe des révolutions nationales, 1940-1942 (in French). L'Harmattan. p. 363. ISBN 9782296019881. All the testimonies show the boredom that affected all the characters in the capital. Journalists, foreigners, certain politicians often met in the evening in the salon of the Hotel des Ambassadeurs, but it must be clear that nothing was happening there. Austerity in Vichy was in order, out of solidarity with the prisoners and those who suffered throughout the country, but also as a consequence of the restrictions and supplies that appeared in the winter of 1941, an exceptionally cold winter. From 1941, Pétain even had to organize two ceremonies to present his vows. In addition, the clergy had regained power in this capital and participated in the control of good morals. Christmas 1940, which the journalists celebrated loudly and with a lot of alcohol, caused a scandal. All the people occupied themselves as they could by participating in charities, galas, the funeral of the Japanese ambassador, the Orthodox mass on February 6, 1942 in honor of the seventeenth birthday of King Peter II of Yugoslavia or at the wedding of Danièle Darrieux with an attaché at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic.
  8. ^ Lebrun, Dominique (11 September 1987). Paris-Hollywood: Les français dans le cinéma américain. Hazan. ISBN 2-85025-136-4.
  9. ^ "L'actrice Danielle Darrieux est morte à l'âge de 100 ans". 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Danielle Darrieux, French Film Star Over 8 Decades, Is Dead at 100". The New York Times. 19 October 2017.

Bibliography

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  • Darrieux, Danielle; Ferrière, Jean-Pierre (1995). Danielle Darrieux – Filmographie commentée par elle-même. Paris: Ramsay Cinéma. ISBN 2-84114-113-6.
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