Alexandre Bisson(9 April 1848 – 27 January 1912) was a Frenchplaywright,vaudevillecreator, and novelist. Born inBriouze,Orne inLower Normandy,he was successful in his native France as well as in the United States. Remembered as a significant creator of Parisian vaudeville, in collaboration withEdmond Gondinet,Bisson's 1881 three-act comedyUn Voyage d'agrémentwas performed at theThéâtre du Vaudevillein Paris.[1]
Alexandre Bisson | |
|---|---|
 Bisson c. 1900 | |
| Born | Alexandre Charles Auguste Bisson 9 April 1848 |
| Died | 27 January 1912(aged 63) |
| Occupation(s) | Playwright, vaudevillist, novelist |
| Spouse | Juliette Bisson |
Of his works, Bisson is best remembered for his playMadame X,which was performed in 1910 both in Paris and onBroadwaywithSarah Bernhardtin the leading role. Over the years, the play would be revived for Broadway three times and nineMadame Xmotion pictures in several languages have been filmed. The firstsilent screenadaptation was in 1916 and the latest was in 2000. Better-known versions include a 1929soundfilm starringRuth Chattertonand directed byLionel Barrymoreplus the 1966 film starringLana Turner.In 2006, a musical based on the original play was produced in Chicago.
Bisson also adapted the 1910 best-sellingFlorence Barclaynovel,The Rosaryas a three-act play for the Paris stage. Widely acclaimed in the United States, Bisson was invited to write about the theatre byThe Saturday Evening Postand his articles "The Dilemmas of the Theater" and "How the World Contributes to the American Stage" were published in 1912.
Bisson died in Paris in 1912 at the age of 63.
Selected works for stage
edit- 1882:115, Rue Pigalle
- 1884:Le Député de Bombignac(Comédie-Française,28 May 1884)[2]
- 1886:Une Mission délicate
- 1886:Un Conseil judiciaire
- 1887:Ma gouvernante
- 1888:Les Surprises du divorce(withAntony Mars)
- 1893:Le Veglione (le Bal masqué)) (withAlbert Carré)
- 1895:Monsieur le Directeur!(withFabrice Carré)
- 1896:Disparu!
- 1897:Jalouse
- 1897:La famille Pont-Biquet
- 1898:Feu Toupinel(adapted byWilliam GilletteasMr. Wilkinson's Widows)
- 1898:Le Contrôleur des wagons-lits
- 1900:Château historique!
- 1901:Le Bon juge
- 1907:Les Plumes du paon
- 1908:Madame X
- 1910:Nick Carter vs.Fantômas(withGuillaume Livet) (translatedISBN978-1-934543-05-4)
Filmography
editMadame Xadaptations
edit- Hvem er hun?,directed byHolger Rasmussen(Denmark, 1910, short film), starringOda Nielsenas Jacqueline Floriot
- Madame X,directed byGeorge F. Marion(1916), starringDorothy Donnellyas Jacqueline Floriot
- A névtelen asszony,directed byJenő Janovics(Austria-Hungary, 1918), starringEmília Márkusas Jacqueline Fleuriot
- Madame X,directed byFrank Lloyd(1920), starringPauline Frederickas Jacqueline Fleuriot
- Madame X,directed byLionel Barrymore(1929), starringRuth Chattertonas Jacqueline Fleuriot
- La mujer X,directed byCarlos F. Borcosque(Spanish-language, 1931), starringMaría Fernanda Ladrón de Guevaraas Jaquelina
- Madame X,directed bySam Wood(1937), starringGladys Georgeas Jacqueline Fleuriot
- The Trial of Madame X,directed by Paul England (UK, 1948), starring Mara Russell-Tavernan as Jacqueline
- Madame X,directed by Artemio B. Tecson (Philippines, 1952), starringAlicia Vergel
- Madame X,directed byOrestis Laskos(Greece, 1954), starringCybeleas Lina Flerianos
- Madame X,directed byJulián Soler(Mexico, 1955), starringLibertad Lamarqueas Adriana
- The Unknown Woman,directed byMahmoud Zulfikar(Egypt, 1959), starringShadia
- Madame X,directed byDavid Lowell Rich(1966), starringLana Turneras Holly Parker
- Madame X,directed byRobert Ellis Miller(1981, TV film), starringTuesday Weldas Holly Richardson
Other Adaptations
edit- Les Surprises du divorce,directed byGeorges Monca(France, 1912, short film, based on the playLes Surprises du divorce)
- Le Contrôleur des wagons-lits,directed byGeorges Monca(France, 1913, short film, based on the playLe Contrôleur des wagons-lits)
- Le Bon Juge,directed byGeorges Monca(France, 1913, short film, based on the playLe Bon Juge)
- Monsieur le directeur,directed byGeorges Monca(France, 1913, short film, based on the playMonsieur le directeur)
- Le Roi Koko,directed byGeorges Monca(France, 1913, short film, based on the playLe Roi Koko)
- Her Beloved Villain,directed bySam Wood(1920, based on the playLe Veglione ou le Bal masqué)
- Un viaggio di piacere,directed byErmanno Geymonat(Italy, 1922, based on the playUn voyage d'agrément)
- Il controllore dei vagoni letto,directed byMario Almirante(Italy, 1922, based on the playLe Contrôleur des wagons-lits)
- Le sorprese del divorzio,directed byGuido Brignone(Italy, 1923, based on the playLes Surprises du divorce)
- Château historique,directed byHenri Desfontaines(France, 1924, based on the playChâteau historique)
- Monsieur le directeur,directed byRobert Saidreau(France, 1925, based on the playMonsieur le directeur)
- Les Surprises du divorce,directed byJean Kemm(France, 1933, based on the playLes Surprises du divorce)
- Feu Toupinel,directed byRoger Capellani(France, 1934, based on the playFeu Toupinel)
- Der Schlafwagenkontrolleur,directed byRichard Eichberg(Germany, 1935, based on the playLe Contrôleur des wagons-lits)
- Le Contrôleur des wagons-lits,directed byRichard Eichberg(France, 1935, based on the playLe Contrôleur des wagons-lits)
- La Famille Pont-Biquet,directed byChristian-Jaque(France, 1935, based on the playLa Famille Pont-Biquet)
- Min svärmor - dansösen,directed byThor L. Brooks(Sweden, 1936, based on the playLes Surprises du divorce)
- Êtes-vous jalouse?,directed byHenri Chomette(France, 1938, based on the playJalouse)
- Le sorprese del divorzio,directed byGuido Brignone(Italy, 1939, based on the playLes Surprises du divorce)
- Mi fortuna por un nieto,directed byLuis Bayón Herrera(Argentina, 1940)
- Las sorpresas del divorcio,directed byRoberto Ratto(Argentina, 1943, based on the playLes Surprises du divorce)
- Les femmes sont folles,directed byGilles Grangier(France, 1950, based on the playChâteau historique)
References
edit- ^Kurt Gänzl (1994).The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre.Schirmer Books. p. 129.ISBN9780028655727.
- ^Title page,Le Député de Bombignac
External links
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