Jean Gabin is the star of French cinema in 1950-1970, remembered for many roles, especially Commissioner Maigret in the films of the same name. On account of Jean Gabin more than 120 films, 2 "Silver Bears" for a great game, the Cesar Prize and many other awards. The actor played the roles of both romantic, modest heroes and strong personalities, both aristocrats and farmers, as well as thieves and detectives.
Biography of Jean Gabin
Jean Gabin (Jean Alexi Moncorget) was born on May 17, 1904 in Paris, but grew up in a small village north of the city. His parents, Madeleine Petit and Ferdinand Montcorget, were cabaret artists with the stage name "Gabin", so at the age of 15, Jean had already made his debut in the Moulin Rouge. He was the youngest child of seven children.
At a young age, Jean Gabin entered the Lyceum Janson-de-Sayy, but soon got a job as a laborer, never graduating from school. At the age of 19, Jean decides to connect his life with show business. Jean Gabin played in the theater, was a singer and dancer on stage, until the First World War and Jean was drafted into the army. At the end of the war, Gabin returned to the creative field, trying himself in various dramatic and serious roles. Jean Gabin has appeared in the operettas La Dame en Decolette and Trois Jeunes Filles Nues.
Creativity and the best films of Jean Gabin
In 1928, Jean Gabin appeared in silent films, and two years later - in the first sound films. Initially, Gaben played minor roles, however, in 1934, after the release of the film "Maria Chapdelen" Jean attracted attention as a talented and capable actor.
In 1936, thanks to his role as Pierre Gillette in the film "Battalion of the Foreign Legion" Jean Gabin woke up famous.
Jean Gabin's subsequent work dealt with serious roles, including the crime drama Pepe le Moko (1936), the military masterpiece Great Illusions (1937), the film adaptation of Emile Zola's book and the drama The Beast Man (1938), the feature film Embankment of the Mists (1938).
When World War II broke out and the Germans occupied France, Jean Gabin left the country and flew to the United States, where he began an affair with Marlene Dietrich. He starred in two Hollywood films Full Moon (1942) and The Pretender (1944). However, his controversial and complex nature led to the fact that Jean Gabin was blacklisted in American cinema. The actor returns back to France, joining the army and becoming a participant in the North African campaign, for which Jean Gabin will subsequently receive the Order of the Military Cross for his display of courage.
When the war ended, Jean Gabin returned to filmmaking and starred in a number of films that were unsuccessful with audiences and turned out to be disastrous.
Fame returned to the actor after the release of the gangster film directed by Jacques Becker in 1954, "Don't Touch the Prey". This film became an international hit on Jean Gabin's list of films. The actor solidified his place as a world star after the successful release of the comedy musical "French Cancan" in the same year and "Time of the Assassins" in 1956.
Jean Gabin became choosy in his choice of cast colleagues on the set and refused to work with those who were more famous and popular than himself.
Successful films featuring Jean Gabin:
- historical drama Les Miserables (1958);
- a series of detective films "Maigret" (the first film was released in 1958);
- thriller "President" (1961);
- comedy "Monsieur" (1964);
- melodrama "Heavenly Thunder" (1965);
- Comedy with Louis De Funes "Tattooed" (1968);
- the drama "Cat" (1971);
- Drama with Alain Delon "Two in the City" (1973).
Personal life of Jean Gabin
Throughout his acting career, Jean Gabin dated such actresses as Marlene Dietrich, Mireille Balen, Michelle Morgan and others.
The actor was married three times. The first marriage was to French actress Gaby Bassett (from 1925 to 1931), which ended in divorce. In 1933, Jean marries Jeanne Moson, a chorus girl who also divorces in 1943 and writes her 60 million francs. Six years later, the French model Dominique Fornier becomes the actor's wife. Jean Gabin has four children from marriages.
In 1960, Jean Gabin became an officer in the Order of the Legion of Honor of France.
In 1976, the actor died of a heart attack. He was cremated, and the ashes with all military honors were scattered from the board of the French warship "Détroyat".
