René Mercier

René Mercier (end of the 19th century – 1 January 1973) was a 20th-century French composer and conductor.

Biography

Little is known about the life of René Mercier. Even his birth date is unknown. Composer of second rank, he is best known as a conductor. He never got very big personal success, apart from a few songs: : Elle s'était fait couper les cheveux, in reference to the flappers of the 1920s. His patriotic song Verdun ! On ne passe pas, written during the war (1916) remains one of his great success, due to the circumstances.

His operetta composer's career is uneven. J'te veux stayed 260 days in theaters. His biggest theatrical success is Déshabillez-vous (168 représentations). The following year, Bégonia was also successful, thanks to the presence of Dranem.

He participated as a composer in several films of the 30s.

After World War II, he was conductor in various music halls, including the ABC from 1948 to 1955. At the Théâtre des Capucines, he composed the 1945 review with Raoul Moretti. He directed the presentations of La Quincaillère de Chicago by Louiguy in 1948, and La Route fleurie by Francis Lopez in 1953 (1500 presentations).

Main works

Vocal music

1922 : Les Fifilles de Loth
1923 : Benjamin
1923 : J'te veux
1925 : Le Pêché capiteux
1928 : Déshabillez-vous !
1930 : Bégonia
1934 : Elles font toutes l'amour
1935 : La Reine de la Sierra
1936 : Un p'tit bout d'femme
1937 : Échalote et ses amants

Songs

1916: Verdun ! On ne passe pas, lyrics by Eugène Joullot and Jack Cazol
1925: Elle s'était fait couper les cheveux, lyrics by Vincent Telly, sung by Alexandre Dréan
1931: Adieu vieille Europe, lyrics by Simon Deylon
1932: Totor t'as tort

Filmography

1931: The Man at Midnight by Harry Lachman
1932: Le Sergent X by Vladimir Strizhevsky
1932: Kiss Me by Léon Mathot (with Vincent Scotto)
1934: C'était un musicien by Maurice Gleize and Friedrich Zelnik
1936: La Mariée du régiment by Maurice Cammage

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External links

René Mercier on data.bnf.fr
René Mercier on IMDb
Interprétation de Verdun ! On ne passe pas! by Jules Wolf (1878-1955)
Adieu vieille Europe by the Légion étrangère

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