Jacques Brel
Biography: Jacques Romain Georges Brel (8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer, songwriter, actor and director who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, later throughout the world. He is considered a master of the modern chanson. Although he recorded most of his songs in French and occasionally in Dutch, he became an influence on English-speaking songwriters and performers, such as Scott Walker, David Bowie, Alex Harvey, Marc Almond, Neil Hannon, and Rod McKuen. English translations of his songs were recorded by many performers, including Bowie, Walker, Ray Charles, Judy Collins, John Denver, The Kingston Trio, Nina Simone, Shirley Bassey, James Dean Bradfield, Frank Sinatra, and Andy Williams. Brel was a successful actor, appearing in 10 films. He directed two films, one of which, Le Far West, was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973. Having sold over 25 million records worldwide, Brel is the third best-selling Belgian recording artist of all time. Brel married Thérèse "Miche" Michielsen in 1950, and the couple had three children. He also had a romantic relationship with actress and dancer Maddly Bamy from 1972 until his death in 1978. Jacques Romain Georges Brel was born on 8 April 1929 in Schaerbeek, Brussels, to Élisabeth "Lisette" (née Lambertine) and Romain Brel. He came from a family of Flemish descent (who had adopted the French language); part of his family originated in Zandvoorde, near Ypres. His father worked for Cominex, an import–export firm, and later became co-director of a company that manufactured cardboard. Jacques and his older brother Pierre grew up in an austere household, and attended a Catholic primary school, École Saint-Viateur, run by the order of Saint Viator. Remembered as a courteous and manageable pupil, Brel did well in reading and writing, but struggled through arithmetic and Dutch. The boys were also members of the local Boy Scout troop, and enjoyed their time at summer camp and on family outings to the North Sea coast. In Brussels, the family lived at 138 Avenue du Diamant in Schaerbeek, then moved to 26 Boulevard Belgica in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, and finally settled at 7 Rue Jacques-Manne in Anderlecht. Brel was close to his mother, fascinated by her generosity and sense of humour, which he inherited. ... Source: Article "Jacques Brel" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: April 08, 1929
Deathday: October 09, 1978
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Known For
D'un film à l'autre
2011-04-13
D'un film à l'autre
Overview: On April 13, 2011, Les Films 13 production company turned 50. How can one celebrate an anniversary of this sort ? By simply making "another" film that would sum up all the earlier ones. D'un film à l'autre is hence a kind of anthology of the films produced Les Films 13 since the 1960s (short and feature films written and directed for the main part by Claude Lelouch), a best-of of half a century of cinema, going from Le Propre de l'homme to What Love May Bring. A biography in images of a filmmaker as admired as he is criticized. In reality, D'un film à l'autre is more than a series of film excerpts, interviews, and making-of documents (some of which possess an undeniable historical value, like that from A Man and A Woman, or the final performances of Patrick Dewaere).
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 2011-04-13
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My Uncle Benjamin
1969-11-28
My Uncle Benjamin
Overview: Benjamin is in love with Manette, the innkeeper's beautiful daughter, but she has no intention of giving in to the young doctor until she sees the marriage contract, and marriage does not fit in with Benjamin's spirit of independence. For the same reason he resists the efforts of his sister Bettine to marry him off to Arabelle, the daughter of old Dr. Minxit. Benjamin does agree to go and meet the girl. But that evening his sister finds him at the inn together with Manette, who is arrested by her father. So she decides to go with Benjamin herself. But as result of an incident with the fat Marquis puts paid to the expedition. Benjamin is subjected by the Marquis to a humiliating practical joke. Benjamin is determined to got his revenge. He succeeds thanks to the gorgeous Vicomte Hector de Pont-Cassé, who also helps Manette with her problems against her father. But Benjamin is now arrested by the Marquis...
Genres: Comedy History
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1969-11-28
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Law Breakers
1971-05-07
Law Breakers
Overview: A judge investigating police corruption finds that the deeper he digs, the more roadblocks he finds.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1971-05-07
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Risky Business
1967-12-21
Risky Business
Overview: A teenage girl accuses her primary schoolteacher, Jean Doucet (Jacques Brel), of trying to rape her. The police and the mayor investigate, but Doucet denies the charges. Two other students come forward to reveal more of Doucet's misconduct – one confessing to be his mistress. Doucet faces trial and hard labor if convicted.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1967-12-21
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Franz
1972-02-07
Franz
Overview: In a French seaside town, at a boarding house for civil servants recovering from surgery and maladies, the six male residents' lives change dramatically when two women arrive: Catherine, lively, sexually liberated, willing to kiss, dance, and sleep with the men, and Leonie, reserved, formal, conservative. Leonie finds herself attracted to Leon, a Belgian who was a mercenary in Katanga in 1964, wounded and carrying psychological scars as well. The other men continually play practical jokes on Leon, some of them cruel. As Leon courts Leonie, his horrid mother brings him emotional distress as do his memories of war. Can the two of them get past these obstacles?
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1972-02-07
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A Pain in the Ass
1973-09-20
A Pain in the Ass
Overview: Ralf Milan, a hitman, arrives in Montpellier to kill an important witness. He checks in a hotel without knowing that his neighbour has become neurotic after his wife left him.
Genres: Comedy Crime
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1973-09-20
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Money Money Money
1972-05-04
Money Money Money
Overview: When they realize the times are changing, five crooks decide to switch from bank robberies to personality abductions.
Genres: Adventure Comedy
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1972-05-04
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Bonnot's Gang
1968-11-01
Bonnot's Gang
Overview: The story of a notorious French criminal gang of the 1910s.
Genres: Crime Drama History
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1968-11-01
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Mont-Dragon
1970-12-16
Mont-Dragon
Overview: Because he has seduced Germaine de Boismenil, Georges Dormont is thrown out of the army by the colonel and husband of the beautiful. After the death of the Count of Boismenil, Dormont arrived at the castle of the widow with the firm intention of taking revenge. From the outset, he seduces Pierrette, the servant, revives the heart of Germaine, having gotten an appointment with the widow, he makes her naked, humiliates and leaves her. Witness of the scene, Martha, the proud orphan, throws herself into the arms of Gaston, faithful order of the colonel, to avenge her mother. George soon flouted their feelings. He then forces Germaine to reveal his attachment to Pierrette and causes a beautiful scandal.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1970-12-16
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The Bar at the Crossing
1972-08-23
The Bar at the Crossing
Overview: In 1916, Vincent van Horst leaves Europe to return to his Canadian homeland. There, he seeks his former love, Maria... but the lady's pride is hurt and she refuses to see him. Vincent then falls for a younger woman, Annie.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1972-08-23
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Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
1975-01-27
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Overview: Three attendees at a puppet theater don various roles in order to sing a variety of songs by Jacques Brel, all while hippies and other eccentrics cavort about them.
Genres: Drama Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1975-01-27
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J’aime les Belges !
2008-09-15
J’aime les Belges !
Overview:
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 2008-09-15
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Brel, Brassens, Ferré, trois hommes sur la photo
1969-01-06
Brel, Brassens, Ferré, trois hommes sur la photo
Overview:
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1969-01-06
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Brel, un cri
1985-01-01
Brel, un cri
Overview: A TV documentary about the singing career of Jacques Brel, beginning with his childhood in Belgium.
Genres: Music Documentary
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1985-01-01
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Jacques Brel, une vie à mille temps
2015-08-01
Jacques Brel, une vie à mille temps
Overview:
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 2015-08-01
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Far West
1973-05-31
Far West
Overview: This Belgian/French tale chronicles the efforts of Jacques (Jacques Brel) to find the Old West in modern America. Dressed as cowboy, he travels throughout western American cities and towns and finds others similarly dressed. These idealists gather together and build an old-western-style town in the middle of an abandoned factory, battling local bureaucracies in the process.
Genres: Western Comedy
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1973-05-31
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Jacques Brel - Comme quand on était beau
2004-11-04
Jacques Brel - Comme quand on était beau
Overview: A 3 volume DVD set issued by Barclay Records to mark the 25th anniversary of Jacques Brel's death. This amazing collection contains performances filmed in European television plateaux, rarities, interviews and reports, carefully restored from original sources to allow the viewer rediscover the amazing work of this extraordinary performer in its original splendor. It also includes five previously unpublished songs that Brel wrote in 1977: La Cathédrale, L'Amour est mort, Mai 40, Avec Élégance, and Sans Exigences .
Genres: Music
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 2004-11-04
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Jacques Brel, fou de vivre
2017-02-03
Jacques Brel, fou de vivre
Overview: Presents archival material as well as interviews with those who were close to Jacques Brel, who died way too young, at age 49. Jacques Brel sings "Madeleine" over the opening credits of this film and immediately the audience is drawn into the intense theatricality of his performance. Left without a choice, they follow his lead, join the chanson and are left sweaty and breathless, just like Brel. Philippe Kohly, a documentary filmmaker who is renowned for profiling artists, created a fascinating portrait of the legendary singer of Flemish descent who became a master of French chanson.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 2017-02-03
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Brel
1982-04-17
Brel
Overview: In this documentary, director Frédéric Rossif has mixed footage of the popular, late singer Jacques Brel in concert and stage performances, with his own interpretive shots and news clips to present a synopsis of Brel's career -- from its beginnings in the early 1960s to his death from cancer in 1978. Biographical and personal data have been excluded, which may disappoint some viewers who want to know more about the man himself.
Genres: Music Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1982-04-17
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Brel à Knokke
2008-09-15
Brel à Knokke
Overview:
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: it
Release Date: 2008-09-15
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Petit Jour
1962-01-01
Petit Jour
Overview:
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1962-01-01
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Jacques Brel - Les Adieux à l'Olympia
1966-06-23
Jacques Brel - Les Adieux à l'Olympia
Overview: This last recital will remain forever marked in the history of the famous hall. It is one of the only testimonies of Jacques Brel on stage where his talent was best expressed. This concert also retains a very strong emotional dimension because it is his last tour.
Genres: Music
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1966-06-23
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Lino Ventura, la part intime
2018-02-04
Lino Ventura, la part intime
Overview:
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 2018-02-04
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La Folle Histoire de François Pignon - De La chèvre au Dîner de cons
2015-01-24
La Folle Histoire de François Pignon - De La chèvre au Dîner de cons
Overview:
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 2015-01-24
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Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
2007-04-27
Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
Overview: A documentary on the influential musician Scott Walker.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2007-04-27
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Jacques Brel à Knokke-le-Zoute, 1963
1963-07-23
Jacques Brel à Knokke-le-Zoute, 1963
Overview:
Genres: Music
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1963-07-23
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