Marie Bell

Marie Bell (December 23, 1900 – August 14, 1985), born Marie-Jeanne Bellon, 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.

Marie Bell
Born	Marie-Jeanne Bellon (1900-12-23)23 December 1900 Bègles, France
Died	14 August 1985(1985-08-14) (aged 84)
Resting place	Monaco Cemetery
Occupation	Tragedian, comic actor, stage director
Spouse(s)	Jean Chevrier

Early life

Marie Bell was born on December 23, 1900.

Career

Bell 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 [1]

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.[2] She is buried in Monaco with her husband Jean Chevrier, not far from the tomb of Josephine Baker.

Personal life

Bell married Jean Chevrier, who was also an actor.[3]

Death

Bell died on August 14, 1985. She was buried alongside her husband at the Monaco Cemetery.[3]

Filmography

• 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
• Caprice de princesse (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
• La Tentation (dir. Pierre Caron, 1936), as Irène de Bergue
• Quand minuit sonnera (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
• La Charrette fantôme (dir. Julien Duvivier, 1939), as Sœur Maria
• Ceux du ciel (dir. Yvan Noé, 1941), as Hélène
• Vie privée (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
• Les Volets clos (dir. Jean-Claude Brialy, 1973), as Aurore

References

1. "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)
2. Marie-Agnès Joubert, La Comédie-Française sous l’Occupation, Paris, Tallandier, 1998, p. 353.
3. "Visite funéraire de Monaco". Amis et Passionés du Père-Lachaise. Retrieved December 26, 2015.

External links

• Marie Bell on IMDb
• Marie Bell at Find a Grave
• Marie Bell at Ciné-Ressources (French)
• Marie Bell at AlloCiné (in French)
• brief biography of Marie Bell