Zizi Jeanmaire

Zizi Jeanmaire (born Renée Marcelle Jeanmaire; 29 April 1924 – 17 July 2020) was a French ballet dancer, actress and singer. She was the widow of renowned dancer and choreographer Roland Petit. She became famous in the 1950s after playing the title role in the ballet Carmen, produced in London in 1949, and went on to appear in several Hollywood films. She and Petit had one daughter, Valentine Petit, a dancer and actress. Jeanmaire is mentioned in the lyrics of the song by Peter Sarstedt, "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?", in the first line: "You talk like Marlene Dietrich, and you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire / Your clothes are all made by Balmain and there's diamonds and pearls in your hair". She is also mentioned in the lyrics of the song by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, "Nothing is Sacred", from their album Timeless Flight: "I said: "Zizi Jeanmaire wouldn't take this and neither will we / if they call me Napoleon again I'll be forced to let the lion free".

Hans Christian Andersen (1952)

A small-town shoemaker with a knack for spinning yarns, Hans encounters happiness and heartbreak on his road to becoming a full-fledged writer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles Vidor
CAST:  Danny Kaye  •  Farley Granger  •  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Joseph Walsh

A small-town shoemaker with a knack for spinning yarns, Hans encounters happiness and heartbreak on his road to becoming a full-fledged writer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles Vidor
CAST:  Danny Kaye  •  Farley Granger  •  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Joseph Walsh

That's Dancing! (1985)

A documentary film about dancing on the screen, from it's orgins after the invention of the movie camera, over the movie musical from the late 20s, 30s, 40s 50s and 60s up to the break dance and the music videos from the 80s.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jack Haley Jr.
CAST:  Mikhail Baryshnikov  •  Ray Bolger  •  Sammy Davis Jr.  •  Gene Kelly

A documentary film about dancing on the screen, from it's orgins after the invention of the movie camera, over the movie musical from the late 20s, 30s, 40s 50s and 60s up to the break dance and the music videos from the 80s.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jack Haley Jr.
CAST:  Mikhail Baryshnikov  •  Ray Bolger  •  Sammy Davis Jr.  •  Gene Kelly

Carmen (1980)

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DIRECTION:  Dirk Sanders
CAST:  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Denis Ganio  •  Luigi Bonino  •  Mikhail Baryshnikov

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DIRECTION:  Dirk Sanders
CAST:  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Denis Ganio  •  Luigi Bonino  •  Mikhail Baryshnikov

Folies-Bergère (1956)

A GI on furlough attends a Folies-Bergères show. He falls in love with a dancer, Claudie, the star of the theater.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henri Decoin
CAST:  Eddie Constantine  •  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Nadia Gray  •  Yves Robert

A GI on furlough attends a Folies-Bergères show. He falls in love with a dancer, Claudie, the star of the theater.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henri Decoin
CAST:  Eddie Constantine  •  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Nadia Gray  •  Yves Robert

Guinguette (1959)

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DIRECTION:  Jean Delannoy
CAST:  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Jean-Claude Pascal  •  Paul Meurisse  •  Cristina Gaïoni

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DIRECTION:  Jean Delannoy
CAST:  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Jean-Claude Pascal  •  Paul Meurisse  •  Cristina Gaïoni

L'Amour Fou (2010)

This documentary examines the life and work of the late fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent, recounting how a frail prodigy prone to bouts of depression became an icon of the fashion world. Initially appointed head of the House of Dior in 1957 before growing into a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pierre Thoretton
CAST:  Pierre Bergé  •  Yves Saint Laurent  •  Catherine Deneuve  •  Betty Catroux

This documentary examines the life and work of the late fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent, recounting how a frail prodigy prone to bouts of depression became an icon of the fashion world. Initially appointed head of the House of Dior in 1957 before growing into a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pierre Thoretton
CAST:  Pierre Bergé  •  Yves Saint Laurent  •  Catherine Deneuve  •  Betty Catroux

Anything Goes (1956)

Bill Benson and Ted Adams are to appear in a Broadway show together and, while in Paris, each 'discovers' the perfect leading lady for the plum female role. Each promises the prize role to the girl they selected without informing the other until they head back ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Lewis
CAST:  Bing Crosby  •  Donald O'Connor  •  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Mitzi Gaynor

Bill Benson and Ted Adams are to appear in a Broadway show together and, while in Paris, each 'discovers' the perfect leading lady for the plum female role. Each promises the prize role to the girl they selected without informing the other until they head back ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Lewis
CAST:  Bing Crosby  •  Donald O'Connor  •  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Mitzi Gaynor

Black Tights (1961)

Lively scenes of Paris, all narrated by Maurice Chevalier, link together four dramatic ballet choreographies by Roland Petit: La Croqueuse de diamants (The Gold Digger), Cyrano de Bergerac, Deuil en 24 heures (A Merry Mourning), and Carmen.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terence Young
CAST:  Cyd Charisse  •  Moira Shearer  •  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Roland Petit

Lively scenes of Paris, all narrated by Maurice Chevalier, link together four dramatic ballet choreographies by Roland Petit: La Croqueuse de diamants (The Gold Digger), Cyrano de Bergerac, Deuil en 24 heures (A Merry Mourning), and Carmen.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terence Young
CAST:  Cyd Charisse  •  Moira Shearer  •  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Roland Petit

Too Many Lovers (1957)

The charming Lulu, a cabaret singer and dancer, has no shortage of admirers. When she decides to get married, she sets her heart on Robert, a young industrialist, but he is already married. Disappointed, she sets out in search of the ideal man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henri Decoin
CAST:  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Daniel Gélin  •  Gert Fröbe  •  Henri Vidal

The charming Lulu, a cabaret singer and dancer, has no shortage of admirers. When she decides to get married, she sets her heart on Robert, a young industrialist, but he is already married. Disappointed, she sets out in search of the ideal man.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Henri Decoin
CAST:  Zizi Jeanmaire  •  Daniel Gélin  •  Gert Fröbe  •  Henri Vidal