| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
Born Jean-Alexis Moncorgé in a hospital in Paris, France, he grew up in the family home in the village of Mériel in the Val-d'Oise département about 22 miles (35 kilometers) north of the city of Paris. The son of cabaret entertainers, he worked as a laborer but at age 19 entered show business with a bit part in a Folies Bergères production. He continued performing in a variety of minor roles before going into he military.
After completing his military service, Gabin returned to the entertainment business, working under the stage name of Jean Gabin at whatever was offered in the Parisian music halls and operettas. He was part of a troupe that toured South America and upon returning to France found work at the Moulin Rouge. His performances started getting noticed and better stage roles came along that led to parts in two silent films in 1928. Two years later, he easily made the transition to talkies in a 1930 Pathé Frères production titled Chacun sa Chance. Playing secondary roles, Gabin made more than a dozen films over the next four years, including films directed by MauriceMaurice Tourneur born February 2, 1873 died August 4, 1961, was an important international film director and screenwriter. Born Maurice Thomas in the Belleville district of Paris, France, his father was a jeweler. As a young man, Maurice Thomas first trai and Jacques TourneurJacques Tourneur born November 12, 1904 died December 19, 1977, was a French film director. Born in Paris, France, he was the son of noted director Maurice Tourneur. As a young man, Jacques went to live in New York City and on to Hollywood with his father. However, he only gained real recognition for his performance in Maria Chapdelaine, a 1934 production directed by Julien Duvivier . Cast as a romantic hero in a 1936 war drama titled La Bandera, this second Duvivier directed film established Gabin as a major star. The following year, he teamed up with Duvivier again, this time in the highly successful Pepe Le Moko that became one of the top Grossing Films of 1937See also 1936 in film 1937 1937 films 1938 in film 1930s in film years in film film Events Top grossing films # Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs # Conquest # Damaged Lives # Parnell # La Grande illusion # Annapolis Salute # Pepe le Moko # Green Fields Acad worldwide which brought Gabin international recognition. That same year he starred in the Jean RenoirJean Renoir ( September 15, 1894- February 12, 1979), born in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris, France was a film director. Renoir was the second son of Aline Victorine Charigot and one of the world's most famous painters, Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Life and w masterpiece La Grande Illusion, an anti-war film that was a huge box officeThe term box office can refer to either: A place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to a venue The amount of business a particular production, such as a movie or theatre show, does. This can be measured in terms of the number of people who success and given universal critical acclaim, even running at a New York CitySkyline, with Statue of Liberty New York, New York" redirects here. For alternate meanings, see New York, New York (disambiguation). New York — officially named City of New York and often called New York City to distinguish it from the state of New York, theater for an unprecedented six months. Flooded with offers from Hollywood, for a time Gabin turned them all down until the outbreak of World war II. Following the German occupation of France, he joined Jean Renoir and Julien Duvivier in the United States.
Divorced from his second wife in 1939, during his time in Hollywood, Gabin began a torrid romance with actress Marlene Dietrich. However, his films in America proved less than successful and, a difficult personality with a very large ego, he did serious damage to his Hollywood career while working for RKO Pictures. Scheduled to star in an RKO film, at the last minute he demanded Dietrich be given the co-starring role. The studio refused and after Gabin remained steadfast in his demand, he was fired and the film project was shelved. Undaunted, Jean Gabin joined General de Gaulle's Free French Forces where he earned the Médaille Militaire and a Croix de Guerre for his wartime valor fighting with the Allies in North Africa. Following D-Day, Gabin was part of the military contingent that entered a liberated Paris. Captured on film by the media is a scene where an anxious Marlene Dietrich is waiting in the crowd when she spots Gabin on board a battle tank and rushes to him.
In 1946, Gabin was hired by Marcel Carné to star in his film, Les Portes de la Nuit but his egotistical conduct got him fired again. He then found a French producer and director willing to cast him and Marlene Dietrich together, but their film Martin Roumagnac was not a success and their personal relationship soon ended. Following another box office failure in 1947, Gabin returned to the stage but there too, the production was another financial disaster. Nevertheless, he was cast in the lead role of the 1949 René Clément film Au-Dela Des Grilles that won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Despite this recognition, the film did not do well at the French box office and the next five years brought little more than repeated box office failures and Gabin's career seemed headed for oblivion. However, he made a comeback in the 1954 film, Touchez pas au grisbi. Directed by Jacques Becker , his performance earned him critical acclaim and the film was a very profitable international success. Over the next twenty years, Gabin made close to fifty more films, including many for Gafer Films, his production partnership with fellow actor Fernandel.
Gabin died of a heart attack in the Parisian suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine. His body was cremated and with full military honors, his ashes were disbursed into the sea from a military ship.
Considered one of the great stars of French cinema, he was made a member of the Legion of Honor. The Musée Jean Gabin in his native town of Mériel contains his story and his war and film memorabilia.
Partial filmography: