Jaque Catelain
Biography: Jaque Catelain was a French actor who came to prominence in silent films of the 1920s, and who continued acting in films and on stage until the 1950s. He also wrote and directed two silent films himself and was a capable artist and musician. He had a close association with the director Marcel L'Herbier. He was born as Jacques Guérin-Castelain in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. His father was then the mayor and also moved in literary and theatrical circles, which allowed the young Jacques to encounter many famous names in his childhood. He showed early enthusiasm for the arts and music, and at the age of 16 he entered the Académie Julian in Paris to study fine arts. With the outbreak of war in the following year, he changed direction and chose to study acting at the Conservatoire, enrolling in the class of Paul Mounet, before being mobilised into the artillery. In 1914 Catelain met Marcel L'Herbier, then a writer and critic, who became a major influence on his life and career, and with whom he formed a lifelong friendship. When L'Herbier began directing films in 1917, Catelain became his leading man of choice and starred in twelve of his silent films, starting with Le Torrent, and they made Catelain into a leading star who was in demand to appear in foreign films as well as in productions of other French directors. In 1925 he was offered a seven-year contract by MGM to work in America, but he turned this down. Jaque Catelain's activities in this period extended beyond acting. When Marcel L'Herbier set up his own production company Cinégraphic in 1922, its first project became Le Marchand de plaisirs which Catelain directed as well as acting a double role in it. In the following year he wrote and directed La Galerie des monstres (1923/24). Both films were successful enough to cover their costs. He devised controversial make-up for some of the actors in L'Inhumaine, and his artistic skills were put to further use in two set designs for L'Argent. As a pianist he would sometimes step in to provide improvised accompaniment for previews of L'Herbier's films. Catelain successfully made the transition from silent to sound films, starring in L'Herbier's L'Enfant de l'amour (1929), but during the 1930s he took fewer leading film roles and started to act in the theatre. In February 1933 he married Suzanne Vial, a friend since childhood who had become a production assistant to L'Herbier in the 1920s and continued working with him until 1944. Soon afterwards in 1933/1934 he was employed by the daily newspaper Le Journal to go to Hollywood to carry out a series of interviews with leading personalities such as Chaplin, Stroheim and Sternberg. In May 1940, Catelain left France for a four-month theatrical tour of South America, but within a month France was occupied by the Germans and his absence lasted for six years. In Buenos Aires he became so ill with pneumonia that he was given the last rites, but he recovered and went to Canada for the next three years for work in the theatre and propaganda broadcasts. In 1943 he was invited to Hollywood and remained there for a further three years. He returned to Paris in 1946, and resumed an occasional career in films, appearing in minor roles in three of Jean Renoir's films in the 1950s. In 1950, he published a biography and appreciation of the work of Marcel L'Herbier. Catelain died in Paris in 1965.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: February 09, 1897
Deathday: March 05, 1965
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Known For
Monsieur de Pourceaugnac
1932-10-16
Monsieur de Pourceaugnac
Overview: Two young lovers. An arranged marriage. An older groom. The lovers develop a plan to convince the groom that she is unworthy and also to discredit him. A surprise ending convinces the father that he should bless the lovers' marriage.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1932-10-16
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La vocation
1929-06-28
La vocation
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1929-06-28
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The Tomboy
1936-02-21
The Tomboy
Overview: The eponymous garçonne or flapper is Monique Lerbier, an emancipated French woman who leaves home to escape a marriage of convenience to a man she does not love which her parents have forced on her. She then falls into all sorts of carnal temptations and artificial pleasures previously unknown to her. These include her being seduced into a lesbian love affair by a chanteuse.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1936-02-21
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The Woman Thief
1938-03-30
The Woman Thief
Overview: The woman thief evades a young lady who is onto his game, but then tries his wiles elsewhere on a married woman by attempting to compromise and ruin the husband she is happy with.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1938-03-30
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L'Inhumaine
1924-12-12
L'Inhumaine
Overview: A famous singer Claire Lescot, who lives on the outskirts of Paris, is courted by many men, including a maharajah, Djorah de Nopur, and a young Swedish scientist, Einar Norsen. At her lavish parties she enjoys their amorous attentions but she remains emotionally aloof and heartlessly taunts them. When she is told that Norsen has killed himself because of her, she shows no feelings. At her next concert she is booed by an audience outraged at her coldness. She visits the vault in which Norsen's body lies, and as she admits her feelings for him she discovers that he is alive; his death was feigned. Djorah is jealous of their new relationship and causes Claire to be bitten by a poisonous snake. Her body is brought to Norsen's laboratory, where he, by means of his scientific inventions, restores Claire to life.
Genres: Drama Science Fiction
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1924-12-12
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Escadrille of Chance
1938-06-29
Escadrille of Chance
Overview: Edwige, a rich American divorcee, goes to Morocco to look up an amazing pilot she once knew. The young woman's secretary, also an aviator, won't fly a plane because he was in a terrible accident. As he is in love with Edwige, the secretary does everything in his power to thwart her romance with the other pilot. He finally supplants his rival and wins the heart of his boss.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1938-06-29
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Comedy of Happiness
1940-12-23
Comedy of Happiness
Overview: Monsieur Jourdain is a dangerous madman : he wants to share his fortune! His relatives do what any sensible fellow on earth would do: they have him committed to a mental hospital. But Jourdain manages to escape and decides to make everybody happy except... his heirs!
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1940-12-23
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Cordial Agreement
1939-04-20
Cordial Agreement
Overview: The film depicts events between the Fashoda crisis in 1898 and the 1904 signing of the Entente Cordiale creating an alliance between Britain and France and ending their historic rivalry. It was based on the book King Edward VII and His Times by André Maurois. It was made with an eye to its propaganda value, following the Munich Agreement of September 1938 and in anticipation of the outbreak of a Second World War which would test the bonds between Britain and France in a conflict with Nazi Germany.
Genres: History Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1939-04-20
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El Dorado
1921-10-28
El Dorado
Overview: In Granada in Spain, Sibilla works as a dancer in a squalid cabaret called El Dorado, struggling to earn enough to care for her sick child. The boy's father Estiria, a prominent citizen, refuses them both help and recognition, fearful of jeopardising the engagement of his adult daughter Iliana to a wealthy nobleman. Iliana however slips away from her engagement party to meet her real lover Hedwick, a Swedish painter. Sibilla, in desperation after a further rejection by Estiria, sees an opportunity to blackmail him by locking the lovers overnight in their meeting-place in the Alhambra.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1921-10-28
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Love and Companionship
1950-01-27
Love and Companionship
Overview: The accountant of an insurance company, rather eccentric and quick to push the song, is responsible for monitoring the actions of an alluring South American whose suicide would mean the collapse of the company. Finally, the accountant discovers an attempted insurance scam and marries the surly and charming interpreter who was the liaison between the South American and himself.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1950-01-27
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Prometheus, Banker
1921-05-11
Prometheus, Banker
Overview: A vamp seduces a banker and breaks with him when she's obtained all that she wanted.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1921-05-11
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The Gallery of Monsters
1924-09-23
The Gallery of Monsters
Overview: The whimsical Riquet's has kidnapped and married a well-born young girl, Ralda. They travel around Spain performing their act in a circus but Ralda's beauty arouses the director's lust. Furious at being rejected, he opens a lion's cage during Ralda's act, leaving her seriously injured. With Ralda's family on their trail, the young people set off to find a better life elsewhere.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1924-09-23
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Little Devil May Care
1928-03-03
Little Devil May Care
Overview: Ludivine, a lttle tomboy, takes on the too polite Delphin. Being caught, and punished, she wants him and his father to be dead. When the latter dies, she feels guilty and takes Delphin under her wing.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1928-03-03
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The Blindness of Youth
1917-11-30
The Blindness of Youth
Overview: "A charming story of a young society girl and the pathetic love of a youth..." Considered a lost film.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1917-11-30
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The Knight of the Rose
1925-12-09
The Knight of the Rose
Overview: The story: While her husband is becoming famous in the war, the marshal of Werdenberg's wife consoles herself in the arms of the youngster Octavian and tries to arrange the love affairs of her cousin, the baron Ochs, by presenting him to young Sophie. This baron is taken with her and the Marschallin proposes Octavian to be his "Rosenkavalier" in order to present the traditional silver rose to his fiancée. But youngsters are youngsters and sex hormones hold sway over the whole world so for that reason immediately Octavian and Sophie fall in love with each other…
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: de
Release Date: 1925-12-09
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Le Bonheur
1934-09-15
Le Bonheur
Overview: Philippe Lutcher, an anarchist, fires a shot at Clara Stuart, a famous stage and screen actress, but only wounds her. The star, through affectation and curiosity to know his motives, pleads in his favour at his trial, but he rebuffs her pity. After he has served 18 months in prison, they meet and fall in love.
Genres: Comedy Drama Romance
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1934-09-15
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The Secret Spring
1923-01-01
The Secret Spring
Overview: To fulfill her Father's wish, Grand Duchess Aurora (Huguette Duflos) is forced into an unhappy marriage with Grand Duke Rudolph (Henry Houry). He prepares to leave for the Congo but is murdered by his own brother (Georges Vaultier). Aurora goes to Paris with her father and, there, is told on the phone of her husband's death. After returning to the Kingdom, she meets a tutor (Jaque Catelain) who falls in love with her..
Genres: Mystery History Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1923-01-01
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Rose-France
1919-06-27
Rose-France
Overview: A poem to love & patriotism soon after the end of WWI. A highly original and poetic film using many experimental camera techniques, which proved too fanciful for many but which established his reputation as a talented innovator. This is the director's debut film and it is considered the second impressionist film, the first being Abel Gance's, 1918, La Dixième symphonie (The Tenth Symphony).
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1919-06-27
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The West
1928-09-26
The West
Overview: "L'Occident" presents a story of the reaction of East and West in contact. It is based on a novel of Henry Kistemaeckers, produced for the screen by M. Henri Fescourt. The story is of the love of Hassina, daughter of a Moroccan chief, and Lieutenant Cadière, who lands from his ship to get information for the fleet about the position of an army of rebel tribesmen.
Genres: War Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1928-09-26
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Le Bercail
1919-11-28
Le Bercail
Overview: Evelyne attempts to reconnect with her family after a traumatizing experience with a young writer.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1919-11-28
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Princely Nights
1929-10-07
Princely Nights
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1929-10-07
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Illegitimate Child
1930-02-03
Illegitimate Child
Overview: The illegitimate son of a music-hall star and an ambitious politician has grown up to become a journalist. He decides to get back at his father by using blackmail.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1930-02-03
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La Mode rêvée
1940-01-28
La Mode rêvée
Overview: An American star, visiting Paris, falls asleep in the Louvre while a guide comments on Watteau's "Voyage à Cythère". She dreams that the painting's characters, beautiful ladies, escape, scattering across Paris after a tour of the fashion houses.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1940-01-28
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The Imperial Road
1935-02-15
The Imperial Road
Overview: An indigenous uprising in British controlled Iraq threatens the route to India, as a lobe triangle develops among the expatriates.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1935-02-15
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French Cancan
1954-12-27
French Cancan
Overview: Nineteenth-century Paris comes vibrantly alive in Jean Renoir’s exhilarating tale of the opening of the world-renowned Moulin Rouge. Jean Gabin plays the wily impresario Danglard, who makes the cancan all the rage while juggling the love of two beautiful women—an Egyptian belly-dancer and a naive working girl turned cancan star.
Genres: Comedy Drama Romance Music
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1954-12-27
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Experiment in Evil
1960-07-04
Experiment in Evil
Overview: Dr. Cordelier, living in a suburb of Paris, withdraws from society to pursue research into the functioning of the human brain. His lifelong friend, Maître Joly, becomes concerned when Cordelier draws up a will that bequeaths his entire estate to a stranger, Monsieur Opale; he cannot understand why Cordelier defends him, considering Opale attacks women and children. After a colleague is killed, Joly confronts Cordelier and discovers the truth behind his friend's behavior.
Genres: TV Movie Science Fiction Horror
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1960-07-04
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The Man of the Sea
1920-12-03
The Man of the Sea
Overview: Nolff, a tough Breton fisherman is happy: his wife has just given birth to a son, Michel. His only wish is to make him a fisherman like him. But when he becomes a man, Michel becomes a good-for-nothing who spends his time in taverns.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1920-12-03
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The Dream
1931-07-22
The Dream
Overview: In the snow as bells toll, a hooded figure makes its way through the streets to a church.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1931-07-22
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The Last Days of Pompeii
1950-03-02
The Last Days of Pompeii
Overview: In Pompeii in the year 79, Lycias and Helen fall in love. Helen's guardian, the high priest of Isis, wants to separate them. To do so, he tries to make Lycias drink a love potion, but a young slave threatens to reveal everything. The high priest, unable to silence her, kills her and arranges to have Lycias accused...
Genres: History Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1950-03-02
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Le Carnaval des vérités
1920-06-04
Le Carnaval des vérités
Overview: Comtesse Della Gentia and her lover Paul attempt to seduce and blackmail a rich neighbour Juan, who is in love with a naïve young friend of theirs, Clarisse. Their plot fails; the Comtesse kills herself at a ball, and her lover re-covers her face with its mask.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1920-06-04
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Stolen Affections
1948-11-05
Stolen Affections
Overview: The ordeal of Françoise who, deceived by her husband, sees her dying child. After a few events in the backdrop of a festival, the husband returns, she pushes him away, driving him to suicide. Another man she thinks she loves is already married.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1948-11-05
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Le Vertige
1926-07-05
Le Vertige
Overview: The film opens with the overthrow of the Czar during the 1917 Russian revolution. The family of General Count Svirsky (Roger Karl) cower in their home, certain that the mobs of angry peasants will tear them apart. But even in this moment of crisis, Svirsky can find time to murder the young officer who has been having an affair with Countess Svirska (Emmy Lynn). The Countess knows what has happened, but she loyally remains with her husband as they escape to the safety of the French Riviera. It is here that the Countess meets Henri de Cassel (Jaque Catelain), the “living image” of her dead lover.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1926-07-05
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Don Juan et Faust
1922-10-07
Don Juan et Faust
Overview: Crazy scientist Faust tries to take Don Juan's lover away.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1922-10-07
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Love's Springtime
1927-11-24
Love's Springtime
Overview: Clothilde, taken out of her convent to marry the Marquis, refuses to recognize her new husband.
Genres: Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1927-11-24
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Adrienne Lecouvreur
1938-10-28
Adrienne Lecouvreur
Overview: Adrienne Lecouvreur is an acclaimed actress who falls in love with Polish prince Maurice de Saxe, only to be poisoned by a jealous rival while Maurice is away at war. The film was a co-production between the two countries, and was made at UFA's Berlin Studios. It was based on the 1849 play Adrienne Lecouvreur by Eugène Scribe and Ernest Legouvé about the life of the eighteenth century actress Adrienne Lecouvreur.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1938-10-28
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Apaches of Paris
1927-12-17
Apaches of Paris
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: de
Release Date: 1927-12-17
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Le marchand de plaisirs
1923-04-27
Le marchand de plaisirs
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1923-04-27
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La Marseillaise
1938-02-10
La Marseillaise
Overview: A film about the early part of the French Revolution, shown from the eyes of the citizens of Marseille, counts in German exile and, of course, the king Louis XVI, each showing their own small problems.
Genres: History Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1938-02-10
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Dream Castle
1933-12-08
Dream Castle
Overview: A film actress falls for an extra on her set, he turns out to be a prince.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1933-12-08
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Le Prince charmant
1925-03-27
Le Prince charmant
Overview: Unkwown to the vast majority, Count Patrice is the crown prince of Simenia. One day he sails for the East on his yacht "Bengal" in the company of Christiane, a beautiful princess, in love with him. Chance has it that Patrice sets Anar, an Oriental beauty, free from the harem where she is held captive. Love is born between the two young people, which infuriates Christiane. Mad with jealousy, the vexed woman sets about preventing Patrice and Anar from marrying... by all means fair or foul!
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1925-03-27
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