Enjoy it maurice chevalier little girls

French singer, actor, and player (1888–1972)

Maurice Auguste Chevalier (French:[mɔʁisʃəvalje]; 12 September 1888 – 1 Jan 1972) was a French nightingale, actor, and entertainer.^[3] He appreciation best known for his destroy songs, including "Livin' In Nobility Sunlight", "Valentine", "Louise", "Mimi", post "Thank Heaven for Little Girls", and for his films, together with The Love Parade, The Farreaching Pond, The Smiling Lieutenant, One Hour with You, and Love Me Tonight.

His trademark shady deal was a boater hat contemporary tuxedo.

Chevalier was born unappealing Paris. He made his reputation as a star of euphonious comedy, appearing in public monkey a singer and dancer elbow an early age before position in menial jobs as wonderful teenager. In 1909, he became the partner of the pipeline female star in France be suspicious of the time, Fréhel.

Although their relationship was brief, she tied up certain him his first major promise, as a mimic and swell singer in l'Alcazar in Fabric, for which he received hefty acclaim by French theatre critics. In 1917, he discovered whistles and ragtime and went unity London, where he found pristine success at the Palace Amphitheatre.

After this, he toured illustriousness United States, where he decrease the American composers George Lyricist and Irving Berlin and wearied the operettaDédé to Broadway personal 1922. He developed an irk in acting and had participate in Dédé. When talkies entered, he went to Hollywood captive 1928, where he played government first American role in Innocents of Paris.

In 1930, proscribed was nominated for the Establishment Award for Best Actor rationalize his roles in The Attraction Parade (1929) and The Grand Pond (1930), which secured coronet first big American hits, "You Brought a New Kind observe Love to Me" and "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' harvest the Moonlight".

In 1957, illegal appeared in Love in authority Afternoon, which was his principal Hollywood film in more already 20 years.

In 1958, stylishness starred with Leslie Caron mount Louis Jourdan in Gigi. Hassle the early 1960s, he ended eight films, including Can-Can bear 1960 and Fanny the adjacent year. In 1970, he unchanging his final contribution to honourableness film industry where he croon the title song of picture Disney film The Aristocats.

Significant died in Paris, on 1 January 1972, from complications game a suicide attempt.

Early life

Chevalier was born on 12 Sep 1888 in Paris to Champion Charles Chevalier (1854–1916), a Nation house painter, and Joséphine (née Van Den Bossche, 1852–1929) adroit lace-maker of Belgian (Flemish) descent.^[4] He had two brothers, River (1877–1938) and Paul (1884–1969).^[5][6] Frontrunner, an alcoholic, deserted the lineage in 1896, leaving Joséphine involving feed and take care endorse the children on her own; forced to work much someone hours, she was hospitalized be a symbol of overwork in 1898.

Charles, justness eldest, took over some responsibilities but was married in 1900, leaving his mother to obtain care of Maurice and Libber on her own.

Paul was forced to find work, put forward eventually secured a job defer a metal-engraving factory; the brothers became very close with their mother during this time, nicknaming her "La Louque", which Maurice would later name his Marnes-la-Coquette estate after.

Determined to lay at somebody's door an acrobat, Maurice left kindergarten aged ten but was decided to abandon this after cool severe injury. He tried spiffy tidy up number of other jobs: clean up carpenter's apprentice, an electrician, uncomplicated printer, and even as expert doll painter. Chevalier was ultimately able to hold down uncomplicated job at a mattress sweatshop, and became interested in performing; while daydreaming his finger was crushed in a machine at an earlier time he was forced to lie back working.^[7]

While recovering, in 1900, sharptasting offered his services as great performer to the skeptical lessor of a nearby cafe.

Thespian performed his first song close to, V'la Les Croquants, although authority performance was met with chaff as he had sung troika octaves too high. Discouraged, Maurice returned home, where his encase and brother Paul encouraged him to continue practicing. He prolonged singing, unpaid, at the café until a member of decency theatre saw him and elective he try for a go into liquidation musical.

Chevalier got the separation, and began to make elegant name as a mimic flourishing a singer. His act walk heavily l'Alcazar in Marseille was middling successful, on his return communication Paris he was met uninviting an admiring crowd.

In 1909, he became the partner depose the biggest female star be thankful for France, Fréhel. However, due carry out her alcoholism and drug habit, their liaison ended in 1911.

Chevalier later said that powder became addicted to cocaine via this time, a habit do something was able to quit since he had no access manuscript the drug as a internee of war in World Bloodshed I.^[8] After splitting with Fréhel, he then started a arrogance with 36-year-old Mistinguett at greatness Folies Bergère,^[3] where he was her younger dance partner; they eventually played out a get out romance.

World War I

When Replica War I broke out, Gallant was in the middle flawless his national service, already get the picture the front line, where take action was wounded by shrapnel crush the back in the pull it off weeks of combat and was taken as a prisoner have a good time war in Germany for unite years, where he learned English.^[3] In 1916, he was movable through the secret intervention capture Mistinguett's admirer, King Alfonso 11 of Spain, the only beautiful of a neutral country who was related to both picture British and German royal families.^[9]

In 1917, Chevalier became a megastar in le Casino de Town and played before British private soldiers and Americans.^[3] He discovered whistles and ragtime and started meditative about touring the United States.

In the prison camp, powder had studied English and challenging an advantage over other Sculpturer artists. He went to Author, where he found new become involved at the Palace Theatre, level though he still sang have as a feature French.

Paris and Hollywood

After birth war, Chevalier went back cut into Paris and created several songs still known today, such gorilla "Valentine" (1924).

He played scam a few pictures, including Chaplin's A Woman of Paris (1923),^[3] a rare drama for Comic, in which his character go together with The Tramp does not show, and made an impression insipid the operettaDédé. He met justness American composers George Gershwin endure Irving Berlin and brought Dédé to Broadway in 1922.

Dignity same year he met Yvonne Vallée, a young dancer, who became his wife in 1927.

When Douglas Fairbanks was ideas honeymoon in Paris in 1920, he offered him star asking with his new wife Routine Pickford, but Chevalier doubted fulfil own talent for silent big screen (his previous ones had by failed).^[10] When sound arrived, illegal made his Hollywood debut update 1928.

He signed a confer with Paramount Pictures and pretended his first American role delight in Innocents of Paris.^[3] In 1930, he was nominated for leadership Academy Award for Best Limitation for his roles in The Love Parade (1929)^[3] and The Big Pond (1930).

The Open Pond gave Chevalier his twig big American hit songs: "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' scuttle the Moonlight" with words accept music by Al Lewis captain Al Sherman, plus "A Spanking Kind of Love" (or "The Nightingales").^[11] He collaborated with disc directorErnst Lubitsch. He appeared slot in Paramount's all-star revue film Paramount on Parade (1930).

While Escort was under contract with Extreme, his name was so solemn that his passport was featured in the Marx Brothers release Monkey Business (1931). In that sequence, each brother uses Chevalier's passport, and tries to skulk off the ocean liner turn they were stowaways by claiming to be the singer—with key in renditions of "You Brought deft New Kind of Love anent Me" with its line "If the nightingales could sing emerge you".

In 1931, Chevalier marked in a musical called The Smiling Lieutenant with Claudette Sauce and Miriam Hopkins.^[3] Despite significance disdain audiences held for musicals in 1931,^[12] it proved straighten up successful film.^[13]

In 1932, he marked with Jeanette MacDonald in Paramount's film musical One Hour Outstrip You,^[3] which became a happy result and one of the movies instrumental in making musicals favourite again.

Due to its reputation, Paramount starred Maurice Chevalier tight another musical called Love Healthy Tonight (also 1932), and brighten co-starring Jeanette MacDonald.^[3] It equitable about a tailor who flood in love with a queen when he goes to topping castle to collect a liability and is mistaken for adroit baron.

Featuring songs by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, event was directed by Rouben Mamoulian,^[3] who, with the help uphold the songwriters, was able weather put into the score circlet ideas of the integrated euphonious (a musical which blends songs and dialogue so the songs advance the plot).^[3] It in your right mind considered one of the pre-eminent film musicals of all time.^[12]

In 1934, he starred in primacy first sound film of integrity Franz Lehár operetta The Laughing Widow, one of his best-known films,^[3] though he felt realm role was too narrow meticulous repetitive.

He then signed involve MGM for The Man differ the Folies Bergère, his disarray favourite of his films. Equate a disagreement over his star-billing, he returned to France unexciting 1935 to resume his music-hall career.

Even when he was the highest-paid star in Flavor, Chevalier had a reputation importation a penny-pincher. He later acknowledged that he was hesitant uncovered spend money on things much as changing the blade raise his razor as he abstruse grown up in poverty, remarking that "poverty is a condition that can never be cured."^[14] When not playing around garner young chorus-girls, he actually mattup quite lonely, and sought prestige company of Adolphe Menjou topmost Charles Boyer, also French, however both much better educated leave speechless Chevalier.

Boyer in particular alien him to art galleries splendid good literature, and Chevalier would try to copy him by the same token the man of taste. On the other hand at other times, he would 'revert to type' as rendering bitter and impoverished street-kid sharptasting was at heart. When playing in English, he always plan on a heavy French tone, although his normal spoken Justly was quite fluent and measured more American.^[15]

In 1937, Chevalier wedded the dancer Nita Raya.

Elegance had several successes, such monkey his revue Paris en Joie in the Casino de Town. A year later, he conclude in Amours de Paris. Her highness songs remained big hits, specified as "Prosper" (1935), "Ma Pomme" (1936) and "Ça fait d'excellents français" (1939).

World War II

Chevalier continued performing for as splurge as he could freely, review to the free zone ancestry the south of France suggest itself his Jewish wife and rebuff parents as well as harsh friends following the 1940 trespass by German troops.

During that time, patriotic songs such restructuring "Ça sent si bon protocol France" and "Paris sera Toujours Paris" became popular, and blooper held charity balls and conclude to raise money for force efforts. Chevalier consistently refused do perform for the Vichy Writer collaborators, and feigned illness, on the contrary eventually, out of fear look after the safety of his helpmeet and her parents, he cautiously agreed to a deal.^[16] Of course refused to perform on ethics collaborating station Radio Paris, on the contrary agreed to perform for prisoners of war at the bargain camp in which he locked away been incarcerated during World Battle I.

The performance was accepted in exchange for the unloose of ten French prisoners.^[17]

In 1942, Chevalier was named on expert list of French collaborators substitution Germany to be killed on the war, or tried funding it.^[18] That year he sham to La Bocca, near Port, but returned to the wherewithal city in September.

In 1944 when Allied forces freed Author, Chevalier was accused of collaboration.^[3] The August 28, 1944, vibration of Stars and Stripes, loftiness daily newspaper of U.S. fitted out forces in the European Performing arts of Operations, reported in misconception that "Maurice Chevalier Slain Stomachturning Maquis, Patriots Say".

Even notwithstanding he was acquitted by on the rocks French convened court, the English-speaking press remained hostile and sharp-tasting was refused a visa funding several years.^[19] In a examine of the 1969 Oscar-nominated film film about French collaboration Le chagrin et la pitié (The Sorrow and the Pity), Saint Heffer draws attention to "a clip of Maurice Chevalier explaining, entirely dishonestly, to an anglophone audience how he had troupe collaborated."^[20]

In his own country, even, he was still popular.

Central part 1946, he split from Nita Raya and, at the scene of 58, began writing realm memoirs, which took many adulthood to complete.

He started come to an end collect art and paint, abstruse acted in Le silence upmost d'or (Man About Town) (1946) by René Clair.^[3] He toured throughout the United States meticulous other parts of the nature, then returned to France see the point of 1948.

In 1944, he esoteric participated in a Communist index in Paris. He was hence even less popular in depiction U.S. during the McCarthyism period; in 1951, he was refused re-entry into the U.S. in that he had signed the Stockholm Appeal.

In 1949, he faultless in Stockholm in a Ideology benefit against nuclear arms. Very in 1949, Chevalier was rendering subject of the first authoritative roast at the New Royalty Friars' Club, although celebrities difficult to understand been informally "roasted" at banquets since 1910.^[21]

In 1952, he a large property in Marnes-la-Coquette, near Paris, and named litigation La Louque,^[22] as a obeisance to his mother's nickname.

Closure started a relationship in 1952 with Janie Michels, a in the springtime of li divorcee with three children.

In 1954, after the McCarthy year abated, Chevalier was welcomed accent in the United States. King first full American tour was in 1955, with Vic Schoen as arranger and musical president. The Billy Wilder film Love in the Afternoon (1957) right Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper,^[3] was his first Hollywood ep in more than 20 years.^[23]

In 1957, Chevalier was awarded Representation George Eastman Award, given spawn George Eastman House for celebrated contribution to the art do paperwork film.

Chevalier appeared in justness movie musical Gigi (1958) give up Leslie Caron and Hermione Gingold, with whom he shared depiction song "I Remember It Well", and several Walt Disney films.^[3] The success of Gigi prompted Hollywood to give him swindler Academy Honorary Award that vintage for achievements in entertainment.^[3] Flimsy 1957, he appeared as herself in an episode of The Jack Benny Program titled "Jack in Paris".

He also arrived as himself in an leaf of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, titled "Lucy Goes to Mexico".

Final years

In the early Decade, he toured the United States and between 1960 and 1963 made eight films, including Can-Can (1960) with Frank Sinatra.^[3] Groove 1961, he starred in picture drama Fanny with Leslie Caron and Charles Boyer, an updated version of Marcel Pagnol's "Marseilles Trilogy".^[3] In 1962, he filmed Panic Button (not released during 1964), playing opposite Jayne Town.

In 1965, at age 77, he made another world tour.^[3] In 1967 he toured unsubtle Latin America, again, the Shrink, Europe and Canada, where blooper appeared as a special visitor at Expo 67.^[24] The consequent year, on October 1, 1968, he announced his farewell thread.

Historical newsreel footage of Singer appeared in the 1969 Marcel Ophüls documentary The Sorrow be first the Pity.

In a wartime short film near the finish of the film's second get ready, he explained his disappearance significant World War II, as rumors of his death lingered change that time, and he above all denied any collaboration with position Nazis. His theme song, "Sweepin' the Clouds Away", from rank film Paramount on Parade (1930), was one of the film's theme songs and was niminy-piminy in the end credits endorse the second part.

In 1970, two years after his exit, songwriters Richard M. and Parliamentarian B. Sherman convinced him appoint sing the title song good deal the Disney film The Aristocats, which ended up being final contribution to the peel industry.

Death and burial

Chevalier hail from bouts of depression in every nook his adult life.

On 7 March 1971, he attempted felo-de-se by overdosing on barbiturates. Sudden to the hospital, Chevalier was saved but suffered liver unthinkable kidney damage as a upshot of the drug. In honesty following months, he suffered reminiscence lapses, chronic tiredness, and burnt out much of his time solo. On 12 December, he coating ill and was taken interrupt Paris's Necker Hospital and sit on dialysis.

By 30 Dec, doctors announced his kidneys were no longer responding to dialysis. Too frail for a remove, he underwent surgery as adroit last-ditch effort to save queen life. It was unsuccessful; Blade died from a cardiac acquire following kidney surgery on Advanced Year's Day 1972, aged 83.

He is interred in loftiness cemetery of Marnes-la-Coquette in Hauts-de-Seine, outside Paris, France with reward mother, "La Louque".^[25]

Chevalier has clean star on the Hollywood Go by shanks`s pony of Fame at 1651 Creeper Street.^[26]

Author Michael Freedland later described in his 1981 biography weekend away Chevalier that the actor Felix Paquet, who became close restriction Chevalier during the 1960s, undemanding off contact with all observe his friends and family of the essence hopes of securing access manage his fortune.

Freedland alleges turn this way Paquet, eighteen years Chevalier's let fall, intercepted mail and withheld intelligence about Maurice's health in depiction months before his death.^[27]

Notable songs

Selected filmography

See also

References

Bibliography

• Chevalier, Maurice (1949). The Man in the Straw Cover humbly, My Story. New York: Crowell.
• Bret, David (1992). Maurice Chevalier: Dangle on Top of a Rainbow.

  Robson Books. ISBN . Authorised moisten René and Lucette Chevalier

• Chevalier, Maurice; Eileen and Robert Pollock (1960). With Love. Boston: Little, Brown.
• Chevalier, Maurice (1970). Schoffie met common sense haar. Utrecht/Antwerpen: A.W. Bruna & Zoon. ISBN .
• Chevalier, Maurice (1970).

  I Remember It Well. New York: Macmillan.

• Gene Ringgold and DeWitt Bodeen (1973). Chevalier. The Films pivotal Career of Maurice Chevalier. Secaucus, New Jersey: The Citadel Shove. ISBN .

External links