Marie Bell

Marie Bell (23 December 1900 – 14 August 1985), born Marie-Jeanne Bellon-Downey, was a French tragedian, comic actor and stage director. She was the director of the Théâtre du Gymnase in Paris from 1962 onwards, and this theatre now bears her name. Marie Bell was born on 23 December 1900 in Bègles near Bordeaux (France). With her Irish father, she spent her childhood between Bordeaux and England. Bell was a classical actress. She also appeared in avant-garde theatre, Jean Genet in particular. Her interpretation of the role of Phèdre is highly noted : "Voir Marie Bell dans Phèdre est une chance unique pour quiconque veut savoir ce qu'est le génie français." André Malraux During the German Occupation of France (1940–1944), she participated in the French resistance as one of nine directors of the Front national du théâtre. She was awarded the decoration of the Légion d'honneur by President Charles de Gaulle. Bell married Jean Chevrier, who was also an actor. Bell died on 14 August 1985 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She was buried alongside her husband Jean Chevrier at the Monaco Cemetery not far from Josephine Baker. Source: Article "Marie Bell" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

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The Phantom Wagon (1939)

French version of the Selma Lagerlof story, most famously filmed in 1921 by Victor Sjostrom, about a poor sinner who only realizes what misery he's wrought when he dies on New Year's Eve and is collected by Death in his carriage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Julien Duvivier
CAST:  Pierre Fresnay  •  Louis Jouvet  •  Micheline Francey  •  Marie Bell

French version of the Selma Lagerlof story, most famously filmed in 1921 by Victor Sjostrom, about a poor sinner who only realizes what misery he's wrought when he dies on New Year's Eve and is collected by Death in his carriage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Julien Duvivier
CAST:  Pierre Fresnay  •  Louis Jouvet  •  Micheline Francey  •  Marie Bell

Phèdre (1968)

In the absence of her royal husband Theseus, thought to be dead, Phaedra declares her love to Hippolyte, Theseus's son from a previous marriage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pierre Jourdan
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Jean Chevrier  •  Claude Giraud  •  Jacques Dacqmine

In the absence of her royal husband Theseus, thought to be dead, Phaedra declares her love to Hippolyte, Theseus's son from a previous marriage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pierre Jourdan
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Jean Chevrier  •  Claude Giraud  •  Jacques Dacqmine

The Man Who Killed (1931)

The new French military attaché at the Constantinople embassy helps a young woman being blackmailed by her own husband.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Bernhardt  •  Jean Tarride
CAST:  Jean Angelo  •  Marie Bell  •  Gabriel Gabrio  •  Max Maxudian

The new French military attaché at the Constantinople embassy helps a young woman being blackmailed by her own husband.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Curtis Bernhardt  •  Jean Tarride
CAST:  Jean Angelo  •  Marie Bell  •  Gabriel Gabrio  •  Max Maxudian

Caprice de princesse (1934)

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DIRECTION:  Karl Hartl
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Albert Préjean  •  Armand Bernard  •  Germaine Roger

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DIRECTION:  Karl Hartl
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Albert Préjean  •  Armand Bernard  •  Germaine Roger

Hotel Paradiso (1966)

Monsieur Feydeau has writer's block, and he needs a new play. But he takes an opportunity to observe the upper class of 1900 Paris - Monsieur Boniface with a domineering wife, and the next-door neglectful husband Henri with a beautiful but ignored wife, Marcelle. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Glenville
CAST:  Alec Guinness  •  Gina Lollobrigida  •  Robert Morley  •  Peggy Mount

Monsieur Feydeau has writer's block, and he needs a new play. But he takes an opportunity to observe the upper class of 1900 Paris - Monsieur Boniface with a domineering wife, and the next-door neglectful husband Henri with a beautiful but ignored wife, Marcelle. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Glenville
CAST:  Alec Guinness  •  Gina Lollobrigida  •  Robert Morley  •  Peggy Mount

Poliche (1934)

Didier Méreuil, affectionately called Poliche, is in love with Rosine, a beautiful girl, so he does everything to please her. She does not love him, and accepts a seductive airplane pilot who proposes to her. One day, she discovers that the funny man is just a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Abel Gance
CAST:  Constant Rémy  •  Marie Bell  •  Alexander D'Arcy  •  Edith Méra

Didier Méreuil, affectionately called Poliche, is in love with Rosine, a beautiful girl, so he does everything to please her. She does not love him, and accepts a seductive airplane pilot who proposes to her. One day, she discovers that the funny man is just a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Abel Gance
CAST:  Constant Rémy  •  Marie Bell  •  Alexander D'Arcy  •  Edith Méra

The Tomboy (1936)

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 ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean de Limur
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Arletty  •  Édith Piaf  •  Henri Rollan

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 ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean de Limur
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Arletty  •  Édith Piaf  •  Henri Rollan

The Great Game (1934)

Pierre , a young lawyer, has enormous debts due to his mistress Florence and her whims of luxury life. Pierre has gone too far and put the family firm in jeopardy. They ask him to expatriate. To avoid scandal, Pierre joins the Foreign Legion. In Morocco, near the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jacques Feyder
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Pierre Richard-Willm  •  Charles Vanel  •  Georges Pitoeff

Pierre , a young lawyer, has enormous debts due to his mistress Florence and her whims of luxury life. Pierre has gone too far and put the family firm in jeopardy. They ask him to expatriate. To avoid scandal, Pierre joins the Foreign Legion. In Morocco, near the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jacques Feyder
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Pierre Richard-Willm  •  Charles Vanel  •  Georges Pitoeff

How to Make a French Dish (1964)

In this romantic drama, a middle-aged gambler tells a casino croupier her life story. The story is told in flashback and chronicles the woman's romantic exploits with men. Though she was involved with many men, only one really touched her heart. He was a bartender ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Thomas
CAST:  Annie Girardot  •  Marie Bell  •  Gérard Blain  •  Bernard Blier

In this romantic drama, a middle-aged gambler tells a casino croupier her life story. The story is told in flashback and chronicles the woman's romantic exploits with men. Though she was involved with many men, only one really touched her heart. He was a bartender ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Thomas
CAST:  Annie Girardot  •  Marie Bell  •  Gérard Blain  •  Bernard Blier

The Man in the Hispano-Suiza (1933)

The almost financially ruined French gentleman Gaston Dewalter spends several days in Biarritz before going off in the Hispano-Suiza, a luxe car which was a present from his friends. George becomes the lover of Lady Stéphane Oswill pretending he is wealthy. Then ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean Epstein
CAST:  Jean Murat  •  Marie Bell  •  Joan Helda  •  Gaston Mauger

The almost financially ruined French gentleman Gaston Dewalter spends several days in Biarritz before going off in the Hispano-Suiza, a luxe car which was a present from his friends. George becomes the lover of Lady Stéphane Oswill pretending he is wealthy. Then ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jean Epstein
CAST:  Jean Murat  •  Marie Bell  •  Joan Helda  •  Gaston Mauger

Fedora (1934)

Fedora swears to avenge the death of her fiancé, Prince Yarischkine, killed by Ipanoff who fled to Paris. She finds Ipanoff whom she falls in love with and he confesses to having killed her fiancé because Yarischkine was his wife's lover. But learning that her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louis J. Gasnier
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Ernest Ferny  •  Henri Bosc  •  Edith Méra

Fedora swears to avenge the death of her fiancé, Prince Yarischkine, killed by Ipanoff who fled to Paris. She finds Ipanoff whom she falls in love with and he confesses to having killed her fiancé because Yarischkine was his wife's lover. But learning that her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louis J. Gasnier
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Ernest Ferny  •  Henri Bosc  •  Edith Méra

Le Roman d'un jeune homme pauvre (1935)

Maxime de Champcey, a bankrupt marquis, is hired by the wealthy Laroque and falls for his daughter Marguerite. She loves him too but rejects him under the belief he's a fortune hunter.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Abel Gance
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Pierre Fresnay  •  André Baugé  •  Pauline Carton

Maxime de Champcey, a bankrupt marquis, is hired by the wealthy Laroque and falls for his daughter Marguerite. She loves him too but rejects him under the belief he's a fortune hunter.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Abel Gance
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Pierre Fresnay  •  André Baugé  •  Pauline Carton

Sous la terreur (1936)

During the French Revolution in 1793, a member of the Convention, seduced by the Comtesse de Beaulieu, helps her to discover the truth about the relationship between Agnès de Fitz-James and the count who was guillotined.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marcel Cravenne  •  Giovacchino Forzano
CAST:  Pierre Alcover  •  Paul Amiot  •  Marie Bell  •  Jacques Berlioz

During the French Revolution in 1793, a member of the Convention, seduced by the Comtesse de Beaulieu, helps her to discover the truth about the relationship between Agnès de Fitz-James and the count who was guillotined.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marcel Cravenne  •  Giovacchino Forzano
CAST:  Pierre Alcover  •  Paul Amiot  •  Marie Bell  •  Jacques Berlioz

Temptation (1936)

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DIRECTION:  Pierre Caron
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Antonin Berval  •  Raymond Cordy  •  Arlette Dubreuil

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DIRECTION:  Pierre Caron
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Antonin Berval  •  Raymond Cordy  •  Arlette Dubreuil

Quand minuit sonnera (1936)

A criminal is being blackmailed by his former accomplices. He does everything in his power to gain time because the statutory limitation for the crime he committed starts at midnight.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Léo Joannon
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Pierre Renoir  •  Thomy Bourdelle  •  Roger Karl

A criminal is being blackmailed by his former accomplices. He does everything in his power to gain time because the statutory limitation for the crime he committed starts at midnight.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Léo Joannon
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Pierre Renoir  •  Thomy Bourdelle  •  Roger Karl

Les demi-vierges (1936)

Maxime, heir to an old provincial family, is deeply in love with Maud whom he makes his fiancée. But learning that the young girl's life has not always been beyond reproach, he refuses to marry her and returns to his castle in the company of his sister who, happier ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pierre Caron
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Madeleine Renaud  •  Rachel Devirys  •  Hélène Pépée

Maxime, heir to an old provincial family, is deeply in love with Maud whom he makes his fiancée. But learning that the young girl's life has not always been beyond reproach, he refuses to marry her and returns to his castle in the company of his sister who, happier ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pierre Caron
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Madeleine Renaud  •  Rachel Devirys  •  Hélène Pépée

Blanchette (1937)

Blanchette, unable to find a job, prostitutes herself in Paris. She then finds the man she loves when her morale is at its lowest.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pierre Caron
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Jean Martinelli  •  Abel Tarride  •  Mady Berry

Blanchette, unable to find a job, prostitutes herself in Paris. She then finds the man she loves when her morale is at its lowest.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pierre Caron
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Jean Martinelli  •  Abel Tarride  •  Mady Berry

Pantins d'amour (1937)

A rich, idle young man falls in love with a cabaret singer. Very skilful, she pretends to remain insensitive to this love, thus hoping to better achieve her ambitious ends.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Walter Kapps
CAST:  Léo Bardollet  •  Marie Bell  •  Armand Bernard  •  Hugues de Bagratide

A rich, idle young man falls in love with a cabaret singer. Very skilful, she pretends to remain insensitive to this love, thus hoping to better achieve her ambitious ends.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Walter Kapps
CAST:  Léo Bardollet  •  Marie Bell  •  Armand Bernard  •  Hugues de Bagratide

Life Dances On (1937)

After the death of her husband, Christine realizes she has possibly wasted her life by marrying him instead of the man towards whom, in her youth, she had a stronger inclination. To overcome these dreary thoughts, she decides to find out about him and the other men ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Julien Duvivier
CAST:  Harry Baur  •  Marie Bell  •  Pierre Blanchar  •  Fernandel

After the death of her husband, Christine realizes she has possibly wasted her life by marrying him instead of the man towards whom, in her youth, she had a stronger inclination. To overcome these dreary thoughts, she decides to find out about him and the other men ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Julien Duvivier
CAST:  Harry Baur  •  Marie Bell  •  Pierre Blanchar  •  Fernandel

Legions of Honor (1938)

An officer is tried for self-inflicted injury.He is thrown out of the Foreign Legion .  (more)

DIRECTION:  Maurice Gleize
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Abel Jacquin  •  Pierre Renoir  •  Charles Vanel

An officer is tried for self-inflicted injury.He is thrown out of the Foreign Legion .  (more)

DIRECTION:  Maurice Gleize
CAST:  Marie Bell  •  Abel Jacquin  •  Pierre Renoir  •  Charles Vanel
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