Suzy Delair

Suzy Delair, born Suzette Pierrette Delaire[1][2] (31 December 1917 – 15 March 2020), was a French actress, dancer, singer, comedian and star of vaudeville.[3]

Suzy Delair
Born
Suzette Pierrette Delaire

(1917-12-31)31 December 1917
Paris, France
Died15 March 2020(2020-03-15) (aged 102)
OccupationActress, dancer and singer
Years active1931-1987
Partner(s)Henri-Georges Clouzot

Early years

Growing up in Montmartre, Delair was the daughter of a father who upholstered expensive cars' interiors, and a seamstress mother. She studied music at La Scala.[4]

Film

Born in Paris, she acted in films directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, Jean Dréville, Jean Grémillon, Marcel L'Herbier, Christian-Jaque, Marcel Carné, Luchino Visconti, René Clément and Gérard Oury.

In 1947, Delair had a supporting role in The Murder Lives at Number 21, which had its American premiere in New York City.[5] Today's audiences probably know her best as the feminine lead in the Laurel and Hardy comedy Atoll K (also known as Utopia), filmed in France and released in 1951.[2]

Music

Before Delair began performing in films, she starred in operettas.[4] On 28 February 1948 she sang C'est si bon at the Hotel Negresco during the first Nice Jazz Festival. Louis Armstrong was present and loved the song. On 26 June 1950 he recorded the American version of the song (English lyrics by Jerry Seelen) in New York City with Sy Oliver and his orchestra. When it was released, the disc was a worldwide success and the song was then performed by the greatest international singers.

Personal life

For 12 years, Delair was the companion of French film director, producer and screenwriter Henri-Georges Clouzot.[4]

Selected filmography
  • A Caprice of Pompadour (Willy Wolff et Joë Hamman, 1931) – Une soubrette de la Pompadour
  • Imperial Violets (Henri Roussell), 1932)
  • La Dame de chez Maxim's (Alexander Korda), 1933)
  • Let's Touch Wood (1933) – La petite compagne d'amusement
  • Professeur Cupidon (1933)
  • Casanova (1934)
  • Poliche (1934) – Une Danseuse (uncredited)
  • The Depression Is Over (Robert Siodmak, 1934)
  • The Crisis is Over (1934) – (uncredited)
  • Dédé (Abel Gance, 1934) – Poliche (uncredited)
  • Gold in the Street (K. Bernhardt, 1934) – Madeleine – L'amie de Gaby
  • Ferdinand le noceur (1935) – Madame Alice – Une prostituée de la maison close (uncredited)
  • Les Sœurs Hortensias (1935) – Une femme au cabaret (uncredited)
  • Prends la route (Jean Boyer, 1936)
  • Trois Six Neuf (Raymond Rouleau, 1937)
  • The Last One of the Six (Georges Lacombe, 1941) – Mila Malou
  • The Murderer Lives at Number 21 (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1942) – Mila Malou
  • Défense d'aimer (Richard Pottier, 1942) – Totte
  • La Vie de Bohème (Marcel L'Herbier, 1945) – Phémie / Femia
  • Confessions of a Rogue (Jean Dréville, 1947) – Coralin–
  • Quai des Orfèvres / Jenny Lamour (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1947) – Jenny Lamour
  • Par la fenêtre (Gilles Grangier, 1948) – Fernande
  • White Paws (Jean Grémillon, 1949) – Odette Kerouan
  • I'm in the Revue (Mario Soldati, 1950) – La Chanteuse
  • Lady Paname (Henri Jeanson, 1950) – Raymonde Bosset, dite Caprice
  • Lost Souvenirs (Christian-Jaque, 1950) – Suzy Henebey (episode "Une couronne mortuaire")
  • Utopia (Léo Joannon, 1951) – Chérie Lamour
  • Fly in the Ointment (Guy Lefranc, 1955) – Lucette Gauthier
  • Fernandel the Dressmaker (Jean Boyer, 1956) – Adrienne Vignard
  • Gervaise (René Clément, 1956) – Virginie Poisson
  • The Regattas of San Francisco (Claude Autant-Lara, 1960) – Lucilla
  • Rocco e i suoi fratelli ("Rocco and his Brothers", Luchino Visconti, 1960) – Luisa
  • Du Mouron pour les petits oiseaux ("Chicken Feed for Little Birds", Marcel Carné, 1963) – Antoinette – La bouchère
  • Paris brûle-t-il? (René Clément, 1966) – A Parisienne (uncredited)
  • The Mad Adventures of "Rabbi" Jacob (Gérard Oury, 1973) – Germaine Pivert
  • Forget Me, Mandoline (1976) – Mireille

References
  1. "French movie star Suzy Delair dies". Texarkana Gazette. New York Times News Service. 21 March 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  2. Bartlett, Rhett (16 March 2020). "Suzy Delair, French Actress and Chanteuse, Dies at 102". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  3. Diaconescu, Sorina (January 17, 2003). "Fired by passion for 85 years". The Los Angeles Times. p. E 1. Retrieved July 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "A character who hits close to home". The Los Angeles Times. 17 January 2003. p. E 7. Retrieved July 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "'Murder Lives at 21' Coming Here Aug. 16". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. August 8, 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 19 January 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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