Louis Jourdan(bornLouis Robert Gendre;19 June 1921 – Beverly Hills, 14 February 2015) was a French film and television actor. He was known for his suave roles in several Hollywood films, includingAlfred Hitchcock'sThe Paradine Case(1947),Letter from an Unknown Woman(1948),Gigi(1958),The Best of Everything(1959),The V.I.P.s(1963) andOctopussy(1983). He playedDraculain the 1977 BBC television productionCount Dracula.
Louis Jourdan | |
|---|---|
 Jourdan in 1959 | |
| Born | Louis Robert Gendre 19 June 1921 Marseille,France |
| Died | 14 February 2015(aged 93) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1939–1992 |
| Spouse |
Berthe Frédérique "Quique" Jourdan
(m.1946; died 2014) |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editJourdan was born Louis Robert Gendre inMarseille,France, in 1921,[1]one of three sons of Yvonne (née Jourdan) and Henry Gendre, a hotel owner.[2]He was educated in France, Turkey, and the UK, and studied acting at the École Dramatique. While there, he began acting on the professional stage, where he was brought to the attention of directorMarc Allégret,who hired him to work as an assistant camera operator onEntrée des Artistes(The Curtain Rises).[3]
Allegret then cast Jourdan in what should have been his first movie,Le Corsairein 1939 oppositeCharles Boyer.Filming was interrupted by the Second World War and was never resumed.[4]
World War II
editDuring the war he was hired byMarcel L'Herbierto appear inLa Comédie du bonheur(1940) in Rome. He was makingUntel Père et Filsin that city when Italy declared war on France. He returned to France, and appeared inPremier rendez-vous(1941) withDanielle Darrieux,shot in Paris. He spent a year on a work gang.[4]Jourdan was ordered to make German propaganda films, which he refused to do, and fled to join his family in unoccupied France.[4]
There he started making movies again, ten films in two years.[4]They included several for Allegret:Parade en sept nuits(1941);L'Arlésienne(1942) withRaimu,The Beautiful Adventure(1942);Les Petites du quai aux fleurs(1944);Twilight(1944). He was inThe Heart of a Nation(1943) with Raimu;La Vie de Bohème(1945).
His father was arrested by theGestapo;months later he escaped, and joined theFrench Resistance,along with his family.[4]"I was given work to do and I did it", said Jourdan later of his time in the resistance. "I worked on illegal leaflets, helping to print and distribute them."[4]After theliberation of Francein 1945, he returned to Paris with his childhood sweetheart, Berthe Frédérique (nicknamed "Quique" ). They married in 1946.
Hollywood career
editDavid O. Selznick
editCited by author James McKay as the "epitome of the suave Continental",[5]Jourdan was spotted in a French film by a talent scout working forDavid O. Selznick,who offered the actor a contract in March 1946.[6]
His first American film wasThe Paradine Case(1947) starringGregory Peck.The movie is a drama directed byAlfred Hitchcock,who did not want Jourdan cast as the valet in the film.[7][8]He appeared in a theatre production ofGhostsin Los Angeles.[9]
Jourdan frequently argued with Selznick, who put him on suspension a number of times for refusing roles.[10]
Selznick announced Jourdan andAlida ValliforRupert of Hentzaubut the film was not made.[11]Neither wasTrilbywhich Selznick said Jourdan would appear in with Valli andRossano Brazzi[12]orIf This Be My Heartwith Valli andRobert Mitchum.[13]
WithJoan Fontaine,Jourdan starred in theMax OphülsfilmLetter from an Unknown Woman(1948).David Thomsonin 2010 observed how his performance as Stefan Brand altered as the character aged over the extended period of the film's narrative: "I notice how his way of talking has changed. The younger Stefan was boyish, eager and open. Ten years later, the man is filled with self-loathing and fake ironies."[14]It was a "signature performance" from Jourdan, Thomson wrote inHave You Seen?,he was "handsome yet a touch empty; romantic yet not entirely there."John Houseman,the film's producer, "felt he lacked sex appeal, but that shortcoming serves very well as his defect of memory," a significant element of the film's plot.[15]In Hollywood, Jourdan became friends with several stars who shared his love of the game of croquet.[16]
Enterprise borrowed him forNo Minor Vices(1948), a box office flop. It was released by MGM, who borrowed Jourdan to appear inMadame Bovary(1949).
Selznick announced him forThe Frenchman and the Bobbysoxera sequel toThe Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer[17]but it was not made. Selznick sold his interest in Jourdan for one film to Warner Bros.[18]
All Jourdan's Hollywood films had lost money. He decided to buy out his contract with Selznick for $50,000.[19]
Post-Selznick
edit
At 20th Century Fox, Jourdan played the lead in a remake ofBird of Paradise(1951). The studio kept him on to appear inAnne of the Indies(1951), directed byJacques Tourneur.He was announced for the romantic male lead in the Fox remake ofLes Miserables[20]but ended up not appearing in the film.
He was in a comedy,The Happy Time(1952). He was reunited with Joan Fontaine forDecameron Nights(1953) then returned home to France to makeRue de l'Estrapade(1953).
After appearing inThree Coins in the Fountain(1954), Jourdan made hisBroadwaydébut in the lead role in theBilly Rosestage adaptation ofAndré Gide's novel,The Immoralist.
He returned toBroadwayfor a short run in 1955, and also that year he made his American TV début as Inspector Beaumont in the TV seriesParis Precinct.In 1956, he appeared in the filmThe Swanplaying the role of "Dr Nicholas Agi" along withGrace KellyandAlec Guinnessfor MGM. This was Kelly's last film, and lost money at the box office. More popular wasJulie(1956) a thriller where Jourdan tormentedDoris Day.[21]
He returned to France to play the male lead inThe Bride Is Much Too Beautiful(1956) withBrigitte Bardotas the lead actress, andEscapade(1957). In Britain he appeared in a swashbuckler,Dangerous Exile(1957).
Jourdan appeared in his biggest hit playing the romantic lead alongsideLeslie CaronandMaurice Chevalierin the film version of thenovellabyColette,Gigi(1958). This film won nineAcademy Awards,includingBest Picture.He enjoyed another hit withThe Best of Everything(1959), an all star romance in the vein ofThree Coins in the Fountain.He also appeared in a variety show on TV,An Evening with Louis Jourdan.[22]
Jourdan was going to follow it in a remake ofDr Jekyll and Mr Hydein England forTerence Fisher."It's a terrific change of pace for me," he said.[23]However he did not appear in the final film,The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll.
Jourdan co-starred withFrank Sinatra,Chevalier andShirley MacLainein the musicalCan-Can(1960). He travelled to Italy to appear in apeplum film,Amazons of Rome(1961).[24]Then it was back to France to star in a version ofThe Count of Monte Cristo(1961), a massive hit in France.Disorder(1962) was an Italian-French comedy,Mathias Sandorf(1963) was based on a novel by Jules Verne.
For MGM, he madeThe V.I.P.s(1963), another all star melodrama, and a big hit.
Jourdan also sang in the Alan Jay Lerner/Barton Lane stage musical,On a Clear Day You Can See Forever(1965), at least during its out-of-town tryout at the Colonial Theatre in Boston.[25]He was replaced as leading man byJohn Cullumbefore the show reached Broadway.
He supportedAnn-MargretinMade in Paris(1966) for MGM, then returned to Europe:The Sultans(1967),To Commit a Murder(1967),Cervantes(1967).To Die in Paris(1968) was a US TV movie andA Flea in Her Ear(1968) a Hollywood financed farce.
There were more TV movies:Fear No Evil(1969),Run a Crooked Mile(1970),Ritual of Evil(1970),The Great American Beauty Contest(1973). In later years, Jourdan also appeared on television, including 1977'sCount Draculafor theBBCand as a murderous food critic in the 1978Columboepisode "Murder Under Glass".[26]
Later career
editJourdan later playedAnton Arcanein the movieSwamp Thing(1982) and in its sequelThe Return of Swamp Thing(1989).
During the 1970s, Jourdan recorded a series ofspoken wordalbums of theBabar the Elephantbooks that were released byCaedmon Records.[citation needed]
In 1983, Jourdan played the villainous Kamal Khan in theJames BondmovieOctopussy.He said at the time he earned most of his money over the past ten years doing commercials:
I take them so seriously that I participate in the original concept and the actual writing. After all, whatever an actor is doing, he's a salesman, so why not commercials? I must confess I love the theater best, though. I've never done a play I didn't like, but one often does movies just to keep functioning. They're less important to me than plays.[27]
In 1985, he appeared in a stage revival ofGigi.[28]
He played the role ofFrencheducator, historian andBaron,Pierre de Coubertin(1863–1937), inThe First Olympics: Athens 1896,a May 1984NBCTV (2-part) mini-series about the1896 Summer Olympicsand theAmericanteam member/discusthrower fromBaltimore,Robert Garrett(1875–1961). His last film role was eight years later inYear of the Comet(1992).
Personal life
editOn11 March 1946,[citation needed]Jourdan married his childhood sweetheart, Berthe Frédérique. The marriage produced one child, Louis Henry Jourdan, born on 6 October 1951, and lasted until her death in 2014.[29]Louis Henry Jourdan died of a narcotics overdose at the age of 29 on 12 May 1981;[30]his body was buried atWestwood Village Memorial Park Cemeteryin Los Angeles.[30]
After his retirement from acting in 1992 Jourdan lived in Los Angeles. In July 2010 he was made aChevalier de la Légion d'honneur,an honor that he received accompanied by friends, includingSidney PoitierandKirk Douglas.[31]
Jourdan has two stars on theHollywood Walk of Fameat 6153 and 6445 Hollywood Boulevard.[29]
Death
editJourdan died at his home inBeverly Hillson 14 February 2015 at the age of 93.[29]His body was buried atWestwood Village Memorial Park Cemeteryin Los Angeles.[citation needed]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Le Corsaire(The Pirate) | Film never completed | |
| 1940 | La Comédie du bonheur | Fédor | (Italy:Ecco la felicità) (EnglandComedy of Happiness) |
| 1941 | Her First Affair | Pierre Rougemont | (France:Premier rendez-vous) |
| Parade en sept nuits | Freddy Richard, le clown | ||
| 1942 | L'Arlésienne | Frédéri | |
| The Beautiful Adventure | André d'Éguzon | ||
| 1943 | The Heart of a Nation | Christian | Uncredited |
| 1944 | Les Petites du quai aux fleurs | Francis | |
| Félicie Nanteuil(US:Twilight) | Robert de Ligny | ||
| 1945 | La Vie de Boheme | Rodolphe / Rodolfo | |
| 1947 | The Paradine Case | André Latour, Paradine's Valet | |
| 1948 | Letter from an Unknown Woman | Stefan Brand | |
| No Minor Vices | Octavio Quaglini | ||
| 1949 | Madame Bovary | Rodolphe Boulanger | |
| 1951 | Bird of Paradise | André Laurence | |
| Anne of the Indies | Captain Pierre François La Rochelle | ||
| 1952 | The Happy Time | Uncle Desmond Bonnard | |
| 1953 | Paris Precinct | Insp. Beaumont | TV (15 episodes, 1953–1955) |
| Decameron Nights | Giovanni Boccaccio / Paganino / Giulio / Don Bertando | ||
| Rue de l'Estrapade | Henri Laurent | ||
| 1954 | Three Coins in the Fountain | Prince Dino di Cessi | |
| 1956 | The Swan | Dr. Nicholas Agi | |
| Julie | Lyle Benton | ||
| The Bride Is Much Too Beautiful | Michel | ||
| 1957 | Love in the Afternoon | Narrator | Uncredited |
| Escapade | Frank Raphaël | ||
| Dangerous Exile | Duke Philippe de Beauvais | ||
| 1958 | Gigi | Gaston Lachaille | Nominated –Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy 2nd Place –Golden Laurel Award for Top Male Musical Performance |
| 1959 | The Best of Everything | David Savage | |
| 1960 | Can-Can | Philipe Forrestier | |
| 1961 | Le Vergini di Roma | Drusco | |
| The Count of Monte Cristo | Edmond Dantes | ||
| 1962 | Disorder | Tom | |
| Leviathan | Paul | ||
| 1963 | Mathias Sandorf | Le comte Mathias Sandorf | |
| Irma la Douce | Narrator | Uncredited | |
| The V.I.P.s | Marc Champselle | ||
| 1966 | Made in Paris | Marc Fontaine | |
| Les Sultans | Laurent | ||
| 1967 | To Commit a Murder | Charles Beaulieu | akaPeau d'espion |
| Cervantes | Cardinal Acquaviva | ||
| 1968 | To Die in Paris | Colonel Bertine Westrex | TV |
| A Flea in Her Ear | Henri Tournel | ||
| 1969 | Fear No Evil | David Sorell | TV |
| Run a Crooked Mile | Richard Stuart | TV | |
| 1970 | Ritual of Evil | David Sorell | TV |
| 1973 | The Great American Beauty Contest | Ralph Dupree | TV |
| 1975 | Piange Il Telefono | Alberto Landi | |
| 1975 | The Count of Monte Cristo | De Villefort | TV |
| 1976 | L'hippopotamours | Le camionneur | |
| 1977 | The Man in the Iron Mask | D'Artagnan | TV |
| Silver Bears | Prince di Siracusa | ||
| The More It Goes, the Less It Goes | Paul Tango | ||
| Count Dracula | Count Dracula | TV | |
| 1978 | Columbo | Paul Gerard | TV episode "Murder Under Glass" |
| 1979 | The French Atlantic Affair | Captain Charles Girodt | TV |
| 1980 | Charlie's Angels | Dr. Redmond | TV episode "Nips and Tucks" |
| 1980 | Vega$ | Nicholas Rambeau | TV episode "The Lido Girls" |
| 1981 | Vega$ | Nicholas Rambeau | TV episode "French Twist" |
| 1982 | Romance Theatre:Gamble on Love | Host | TV |
| Romance Theatre:Bayou Romance | Host | TV; uncredited | |
| Swamp Thing | Dr. Anton Arcane | ||
| 1983 | Octopussy | Kamal Khan | |
| Double Deal | Peter Sterling | ||
| 1984 | Cover Up | George LeMare | TV |
| 1984 | The First Olympics: Athens, 1896 | Pierre de Coubertin | TV |
| 1986 | Beverly Hills Madam | Douglas Corbin | TV |
| Romance Theatre:Escape to Love | Host | TV | |
| 1987 | Grand Larceny | Charles Grand | |
| 1988 | Counterforce | Kassar | |
| 1989 | The Return of Swamp Thing | Dr. Anton Arcane | |
| 1992 | Year of the Comet | Philippe |
Selected theatre credits
edit- Serena BlandishbyS.N. Behrman–La Jolla Playhouse,La Jolla, California (8–15 August 1948; withJennifer Jones,Constance Collier,Mildred Natwick)
- The Immoralist– Royale Theatre, New York (8 February 1954 – 1 May 1954; withJames DeanandGeraldine Page)
- Tonight in Samarkand– Morosco Theater, New York (16 February 1955 – 12 March 1955; withPernell RobertsandTheodore Bikel)
- Capriceadapted byJean Pierre Aumont– pre Broadway tryouts (spring 1959; withClaude Dauphin)
- On a Clear Day You Can See Forever– Colonial Theater, Boston (October 1965)
- The Marriage-Go-RoundbyLeslie Stevens– national tour (1970; withVivian Blaine)
- Private LivesbyNoël Coward– national tour (1973; withBarbara Rush)
- The Pleasure of His Company– Arlington Park Theater, Chicago (1975; withLana Turner)
- 13 Rue de l'Amour– Arlington Park Theater, Chicago (withLeslie Caron); Phoenix Theatre London (1976; withGlynis Johns), Circle in the Square Theater,New York City(16 March 1978 – 21 May 1978; withPatricia Elliott) andWestport Country Playhouse(1978; withTaina Elg)
- Present Laughter– John Drew Theater, East Hampton, New York (July 1979)
- 12 Rue de l'Amour– Melbourne and Sydney Australia (July–August 1980; withLeslie Caron)
- Gigi– road tour (1984–85)
References
edit- ^Hutchings, David (14 January 1985)."Louis Jourdan Takes on the Chevalier Role in Gigi and Proves He Remembers It Well".People.23(2).Retrieved18 April2014.
- ^Louis Jourdan profile,FilmReference; accessed June 5, 2014.
- ^Louis Jourdan – 20s and 30s,Louisjourdan.net, accessed January 26, 2014.
- ^abcdef"Louis Jourdan's War Service".Lewiston Evening Journal.5 March 1960. Archived fromthe originalon 20 October 2014.Retrieved21 January2014.
- ^McKay 2010,p. 101.
- ^FRENCH FILM STAR SIGNED BY SELZNICK New York Times March 5, 1946: 21.
- ^Thomson 2002,p. 448.
- ^Hare, William (2007).Hitchcock and the Methods of Suspense.Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 140.ISBN9780786425600.
- ^DRAMA AND FILM: Wilde Gets Gay Role; Stage Upturn Historic Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times June 23, 1947: A2.
- ^Garner, Rex (1960)."Jourdan the Glamorous Gaul".Coronet.Retrieved21 January2014.
- ^SELZNICK PLANS 'RUPERT' REMAKE By THOMAS F. BRADY New York Times February 18, 1947: 30.
- ^BRYAN FOY RESIGNS POST AT EAGLE LION By THOMAS F. BRAD New York Times April 7, 1948: 29.
- ^SELZNICK IS NAMED IN $2,175,000 SUIT By THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times July 22, 1948: 26.
- ^Thomson, David (28 January 2010)."Why you should see Max Ophüls's reissued 1948 classic".The Guardian.
- ^Thomson 2008,p. 466.
- ^Barrett, Catherine Tankoos."My game with Louis Jourdan".Croquet World Online.Archived fromthe originalon 15 May 2021.Retrieved8 June2022.
- ^HEDDA HOPPER: Louis Jourdan Cools Heels, Awaits Boss Los Angeles Times October 11, 1949: A6.
- ^SELZNICK STARS TO DO MOVIES FOR WARNERS Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. Feb 21, 1949: 18.
- ^Here Comes Mr. Jourdan—Looks Like He'll Stay! Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times May 27, 1951: D1.
- ^Drama: Debra Paget, Jourdan Play Hugo Romancers Los Angeles Times November 9, 1951: B8
- ^Drama: 'Designing Woman' Sure for Kelly, Says Schary; Jourdan Star With Day Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times February 7, 1956: B7.
- ^LOUIS JOURDAN The Washington Post and Times-Herald November 8, 1959: AW9.
- ^Entertainment Films Stage Music: Louis Jourdan Will Star in 'Mr. Jekyll' Los Angeles Times October 15, 1959: C12.
- ^Vagg, Stephen (22 February 2023)."The Surprisingly Saucy Cinema of Sylvia Syms".Filmink.Retrieved23 February2023.
- ^JOURDAN LIVING DOWN CHARMER IMAGE Glover, William. Los Angeles Times September 12, 1965: N34.
- ^Louis Jourdan to Guest on Colombo Los Angeles Times October 19, 1977: f24.
- ^LOUIS JOURDAN MEETS 007 Richard Freedman Field News Service. Boston Globe 11 Jan 1983: 1.
- ^Louis jourdan to star in local 'Gigi' staging Los Angeles Times April 21, 1985: s5
- ^abcDagan, Carmel (15 February 2015)."Louis Jourdan Dead; French actor starred in Octopussy, Gigi – Variety".Variety.Retrieved15 February2015.
- ^ab"Louis Jourdan Jr. Is Found Dead".The New York Times.14 May 1981.Retrieved18 April2014.
- ^A day with the French AmbassadoronYouTube;retrieved September 5, 2010.
Sources
edit- McKay, James (26 April 2010).Dana Andrews: The Face of Noir.Jefferson, N.C: McFarland. p. 101.ISBN978-0-7864-5676-5.
- Thomson, David(2008).Have You Seen? A Personal Introduction to 1,000 Films.London: Alolen Lane. p. 466.ISBN978-0307264619.
- Thomson, David (2002).The New Biographical Dictionary of Film.New York & London: Knopf & Little, Brown. p. 448.ISBN0307271749.
- Minne, Olivier (2017).Louis Jourdan: Le dernier french lover d'hollywood.Paris: Séguier Editions.ISBN978-2840497257.
External links
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