Roger Blin

Roger Blin (Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, 22 March 1907 – Évecquemont, France, 21 January 1984) was a French actor and director. He staged world premieres of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot in 1953 and Endgame in 1957. Blin was the son of a doctor; however, despite his father's wishes, Blin forged a career in the theatre. As a teenager he was 'fascinated' by the Surrealists and their conception of revolutionary art. He was initially part of the left-wing theatre collectives The Company of Five and The October Group. In 1935 Blin served as Antonin Artaud's assistant director for his production of Les Cenci [The Cenci] at the Folies-Wagrams theatre in 1935. Following his work with Artaud, Blin focused on 'political street-theatre.' During the war, Blin was a liaison between the Resistance and the French Army. His extensive career as both director and actor in both film and theatre has been largely defined by his work and relationship with Artaud, Samuel Beckett and Jean Genet. In addition to being a close friend and confidant of Artaud during the latter's nine years of internment, he directed the first performances of Beckett's Waiting For Godot, Happy Days and Endgame as well as directing the initial performance of Genet's The Blacks and the controversial The Screens. Genet's key correspondences to Blin have been published by Editions Gallimard. The 1986 Faber and Faber publication, "Samuel Beckett: The Complete Dramatic Works" carries only three dedications from ...

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The Adolescent (1979)

Crude

In the summer of 1939, 13-year-old Marie goes with her parents to visit her grandparents in a small town near Avignon. Marie discovers her femininity and falls for a young Jewish doctor, but he prefers Eva, Marie's mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeanne Moreau
CAST:  Simone Signoret  •  Francis Huster  •  Laetitia Chauveau  •  Edith Clever

In the summer of 1939, 13-year-old Marie goes with her parents to visit her grandparents in a small town near Avignon. Marie discovers her femininity and falls for a young Jewish doctor, but he prefers Eva, Marie's mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeanne Moreau
CAST:  Simone Signoret  •  Francis Huster  •  Laetitia Chauveau  •  Edith Clever

That Most Important Thing: Love (1975)

Servais Mont, a freelance photographer who works taking compromising photos, gets fascinated by Nadine Chevalier, a tormented low-budget movie actress married to an eccentric film photo collector.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrzej Żuławski
CAST:  Romy Schneider  •  Fabio Testi  •  Jacques Dutronc  •  Nicoletta Machiavelli

Servais Mont, a freelance photographer who works taking compromising photos, gets fascinated by Nadine Chevalier, a tormented low-budget movie actress married to an eccentric film photo collector.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrzej Żuławski
CAST:  Romy Schneider  •  Fabio Testi  •  Jacques Dutronc  •  Nicoletta Machiavelli

Orpheus (1950)

A poet in love with Death follows his unhappy wife into the underworld.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean Cocteau
CAST:  Jean Marais  •  María Casares  •  François Périer  •  Marie Déa

A poet in love with Death follows his unhappy wife into the underworld.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean Cocteau
CAST:  Jean Marais  •  María Casares  •  François Périer  •  Marie Déa

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1956)

Paris, 1482. Today is the festival of the fools, taking place like each year in the square outside Cathedral Notre Dame. Among jugglers and other entertainers, Esmeralda, a sensuous gypsy, performs a bewitching dance in front of delighted spectators. From up in a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean Delannoy
CAST:  Gina Lollobrigida  •  Anthony Quinn  •  Jean Danet  •  Alain Cuny

Paris, 1482. Today is the festival of the fools, taking place like each year in the square outside Cathedral Notre Dame. Among jugglers and other entertainers, Esmeralda, a sensuous gypsy, performs a bewitching dance in front of delighted spectators. From up in a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean Delannoy
CAST:  Gina Lollobrigida  •  Anthony Quinn  •  Jean Danet  •  Alain Cuny

Le Corbeau (1943)

Remy Germain is a doctor in a French town who becomes the focus of a vicious smear campaign, as letters accusing him of having an affair and performing unlawful abortions are mailed to village leaders. The mysterious writer, who signs each letter as "Le Corbeau" ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henri-Georges Clouzot
CAST:  Pierre Fresnay  •  Ginette Leclerc  •  Micheline Francey  •  Héléna Manson

Remy Germain is a doctor in a French town who becomes the focus of a vicious smear campaign, as letters accusing him of having an affair and performing unlawful abortions are mailed to village leaders. The mysterious writer, who signs each letter as "Le Corbeau" ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henri-Georges Clouzot
CAST:  Pierre Fresnay  •  Ginette Leclerc  •  Micheline Francey  •  Héléna Manson

The Devil's Envoys (1942)

At the end of the 15th century, two traveling minstrels Gilles and Dominique come to the castle of Baron Hugues. Gilles charms Anne, Hugues' daughter, while Dominique charms both Hugues and Anne's fiance. Gilles and Dominique are not really in love: they were sent ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marcel Carné
CAST:  Arletty  •  Marie Déa  •  Fernand Ledoux  •  Alain Cuny

At the end of the 15th century, two traveling minstrels Gilles and Dominique come to the castle of Baron Hugues. Gilles charms Anne, Hugues' daughter, while Dominique charms both Hugues and Anne's fiance. Gilles and Dominique are not really in love: they were sent ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marcel Carné
CAST:  Arletty  •  Marie Déa  •  Fernand Ledoux  •  Alain Cuny

The Curtain Rises (1938)

François, Cécilia and Isabelle are students of the drama class of the Conservatoire led by Professor Lambertin. François is in love with Isabelle who also loves him, but he is pursued by Cecilia, his former mistress. Cécilia commits suicide staging the suicide like ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Allégret
CAST:  Claude Dauphin  •  Janine Darcey  •  Louis Jouvet  •  Odette Joyeux

François, Cécilia and Isabelle are students of the drama class of the Conservatoire led by Professor Lambertin. François is in love with Isabelle who also loves him, but he is pursued by Cecilia, his former mistress. Cécilia commits suicide staging the suicide like ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Allégret
CAST:  Claude Dauphin  •  Janine Darcey  •  Louis Jouvet  •  Odette Joyeux

Les Étoiles de Midi (1960)

Les Etoiles de Midi is an engaging docudrama about some of the more spectacular exploits of French mountain climbers over the last several decades. In one re-enacted story, there is a wartime escape through the mountains, and in another, a daring rescue of a pair ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jacques Ertaud  •  Marcel Ichac
CAST:  Lionel Terray  •  Roger Blin  •  Michel Vaucher  •  René Desmaison

Les Etoiles de Midi is an engaging docudrama about some of the more spectacular exploits of French mountain climbers over the last several decades. In one re-enacted story, there is a wartime escape through the mountains, and in another, a daring rescue of a pair ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jacques Ertaud  •  Marcel Ichac
CAST:  Lionel Terray  •  Roger Blin  •  Michel Vaucher  •  René Desmaison

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DIRECTION:  Paul Paviot
CAST:  Roger Blin  •  Michel Piccoli  •  Pierre Brasseur

Adventures of Captain Fabian (1951)

It all begins with the discreet romance between the Creole maid Lea Mariotte and her young boss, George Brissac, an amoral bourgeois who plans to inherit his uncle's fortune and marry a young woman from a good family. After an incident where she kills a man, she is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Marshall  •  Robert Florey
CAST:  Errol Flynn  •  Micheline Presle  •  Vincent Price  •  Agnes Moorehead

It all begins with the discreet romance between the Creole maid Lea Mariotte and her young boss, George Brissac, an amoral bourgeois who plans to inherit his uncle's fortune and marry a young woman from a good family. After an incident where she kills a man, she is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Marshall  •  Robert Florey
CAST:  Errol Flynn  •  Micheline Presle  •  Vincent Price  •  Agnes Moorehead

Passionnelle (1947)

Thérèse kills her lover during the very night of her wedding to the count of Vétheul. To gain a night with her, a modest local worker agrees to bury the body.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edmond T. Gréville
CAST:  Odette Joyeux  •  Sylvie  •  Roger Blin  •  André Alerme

Thérèse kills her lover during the very night of her wedding to the count of Vétheul. To gain a night with her, a modest local worker agrees to bury the body.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edmond T. Gréville
CAST:  Odette Joyeux  •  Sylvie  •  Roger Blin  •  André Alerme

Jenny (1936)

When her fiancé breaks off their engagement, Danielle leaves London and returns to her mother, Jenny, in Paris. With her business partner Benoît, Jenny runs what appears to be a respectable nightclub – it is in fact a place where wealthy men can buy the favours of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marcel Carné
CAST:  Françoise Rosay  •  Albert Préjean  •  Lisette Lanvin  •  Charles Vanel

When her fiancé breaks off their engagement, Danielle leaves London and returns to her mother, Jenny, in Paris. With her business partner Benoît, Jenny runs what appears to be a respectable nightclub – it is in fact a place where wealthy men can buy the favours of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marcel Carné
CAST:  Françoise Rosay  •  Albert Préjean  •  Lisette Lanvin  •  Charles Vanel

Law of Survival (1967)

In 1960, Stan, the protagonist, after having made a fortune in Asia, returns to Corsica, to visit a friend's tomb. In Ajaccio, he meets Helene, who she rescues from her kidnappers, who take advantage of her "charms" in a house of ill reputation. They hide then ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  José Giovanni
CAST:  Michel Constantin  •  Alexandra Stewart  •  Roger Blin  •  Edwine Moatti

In 1960, Stan, the protagonist, after having made a fortune in Asia, returns to Corsica, to visit a friend's tomb. In Ajaccio, he meets Helene, who she rescues from her kidnappers, who take advantage of her "charms" in a house of ill reputation. They hide then ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  José Giovanni
CAST:  Michel Constantin  •  Alexandra Stewart  •  Roger Blin  •  Edwine Moatti

Alibi (1937)

Paris, 1937. Winckler kills his enemy Gordon, a Chicago mobster, from the stage of a Parisian music hall, where he performs telepathy. He pays another artist, Helene, so that she tells the police they've spent the night together, which doesn't fool Callas, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pierre Chenal
CAST:  Erich von Stroheim  •  Louis Jouvet  •  Jany Holt  •  Albert Préjean

Paris, 1937. Winckler kills his enemy Gordon, a Chicago mobster, from the stage of a Parisian music hall, where he performs telepathy. He pays another artist, Helene, so that she tells the police they've spent the night together, which doesn't fool Callas, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pierre Chenal
CAST:  Erich von Stroheim  •  Louis Jouvet  •  Jany Holt  •  Albert Préjean

The Bohemian Life (1945)

Four young friends share the carefree, cheerfulness, laughter and dances of Bohemian life. Rodolphe the painter, Alexandre Chaunard the composer, Colline the philosopher, as well as Marcel and his friend Musette. Mimi, a romantic young girl, falls in love with Rodolphe.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marcel L'Herbier
CAST:  Maria Denis  •  Louis Jourdan  •  Gisèle Pascal  •  Alfred Adam

Four young friends share the carefree, cheerfulness, laughter and dances of Bohemian life. Rodolphe the painter, Alexandre Chaunard the composer, Colline the philosopher, as well as Marcel and his friend Musette. Mimi, a romantic young girl, falls in love with Rodolphe.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marcel L'Herbier
CAST:  Maria Denis  •  Louis Jourdan  •  Gisèle Pascal  •  Alfred Adam

Little Claus and Big Claus (1964)

Once upon a time there lived in the same village two men bearing the very same name. One of them chanced to possess four horses, the other had only one horse, so, by way of distinguishing them from each other, the proprietor of four horses was called "Great Claus," ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pierre Prévert
CAST:  Elisabeth Wiener  •  Madeleine Damien  •  Maurice Baquet  •  Hubert Deschamps

Once upon a time there lived in the same village two men bearing the very same name. One of them chanced to possess four horses, the other had only one horse, so, by way of distinguishing them from each other, the proprietor of four horses was called "Great Claus," ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pierre Prévert
CAST:  Elisabeth Wiener  •  Madeleine Damien  •  Maurice Baquet  •  Hubert Deschamps

Adrienne Lecouvreur (1938)

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 ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marcel L'Herbier
CAST:  Yvonne Printemps  •  Pierre Fresnay  •  Junie Astor  •  André Lefaur

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 ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marcel L'Herbier
CAST:  Yvonne Printemps  •  Pierre Fresnay  •  Junie Astor  •  André Lefaur

The World Will Shake (1939)

In this sci-fi film, a scientist invents a prescient machine that can tell people when they will die. Oddly enough, the people do not want to know and therefore begin to riot…  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Pottier
CAST:  Claude Dauphin  •  Madeleine Sologne  •  Erich von Stroheim  •  Roger Duchesne

In this sci-fi film, a scientist invents a prescient machine that can tell people when they will die. Oddly enough, the people do not want to know and therefore begin to riot…  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Pottier
CAST:  Claude Dauphin  •  Madeleine Sologne  •  Erich von Stroheim  •  Roger Duchesne

Pasha's Wives (1939)

Mireille, a Frenchwoman, marries a westernized Turkish diplomat and, thinking that she will live a dream life in an Arabian Nights setting, follows him back to his native country, only to discover that, in a staunchly traditional society, she will not be a free ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  G.W. Pabst  •  Marc Sorkin
CAST:  Viviane Romance  •  Marcel Dalio  •  John Lodge  •  Mila Parély

Mireille, a Frenchwoman, marries a westernized Turkish diplomat and, thinking that she will live a dream life in an Arabian Nights setting, follows him back to his native country, only to discover that, in a staunchly traditional society, she will not be a free ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  G.W. Pabst  •  Marc Sorkin
CAST:  Viviane Romance  •  Marcel Dalio  •  John Lodge  •  Mila Parély

The King and the Mockingbird (1980)

The kingdom of Takicardie quakes under the rule of the tyrannical King Charles V-et-III-font-VIII-et-VIII-font-XVI, whose favourite pastime is shooting birds. His archenemy is a cheeky mockingbird, whose favourite pastime is thwarting the king’s attempts to shoot ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Grimault
CAST:  Jean Martin  •  Pascal Mazzotti  •  Raymond Bussières  •  Agnès Viala

The kingdom of Takicardie quakes under the rule of the tyrannical King Charles V-et-III-font-VIII-et-VIII-font-XVI, whose favourite pastime is shooting birds. His archenemy is a cheeky mockingbird, whose favourite pastime is thwarting the king’s attempts to shoot ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Grimault
CAST:  Jean Martin  •  Pascal Mazzotti  •  Raymond Bussières  •  Agnès Viala
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