МОРИС ОГЮСТ ШЕВАЛЬЕ

b. Maurice Auguste Chevalier, 12 September 1888, Menilmontant, nr. Paris, France, d. 1 January 1972, Paris, France. The ninth of 10 children eventually reduced by death to three males, Chevalier's early ambitions to become an acrobat were thwarted by injury. He toured local cafes and music halls as a singer and broad comedian, and later performed at the Eldorado in Paris. His big break came when he signed a three-year contract with the FOLIES BERGИRE, and worked with his idol, Mistinguett. In 1913 he was drafted into the French Army, was captured, and sent to Alten Grabow prisoner-of-war camp where he learnt to speak English. After the war he developed a more sophisticated act, wearing a tuxedo for his solo spot, and the straw boater which soon became his trademark. In between the triumphs at the Folies Bergere, Casino de Paris and the Empire in Paris, Chevalier suffered a serious mental breakdown. When he recovered he went to England in 1927 and appeared in the revue WHITE BIRDS. Two years later he made his first Hollywood film, INNOCENTS OF PARIS, in which he introduced "Louise," a song forever associated with him (‘every little breeze seems to whisper Louise’). He also sang his famous French version of "Yes, We Have No Bananas." He then starred in several films, directed by Ernst Lubitsch including Lubitsch's first talkie, The Love Parade (1929). It was also the first of four films that Chevalier made with Jeanette MacDonald. Following THE SMILING LIEUTENANT (1931) with Claudette Colbert, and One Hour With You (1932), Chevalier made what has been described as ‘one of the great films of the decade’. Love Me Tonight, directed by Rouben Mamoulian, and co-starring Jeanette MacDonald, was innovative in several ways, especially in its integration of plot and music. It also contained "Mimi," another special Chevalier song. He then appeared in THE MERRY WIDOW (1934, MGM) and Folies Bergиre (1935, United Artists) in 1935 before returning to France, as one of the world's leading entertainers. During World War II Chevalier lived mostly in seclusion, emerging twice to perform in response to German demands, once in exchange for the release of 10 French prisoners. Rumours and accusations of collaboration with the enemy were emphatically disproved. After the war he projected a more mature image in the film LE SILENCE EST D'OR ( MAN ABOUT TOWN 1947) directed by Renй Clair, which won the Grand Prize at the Brussels Film Festival. During the same period, Chevalier toured Europe and the USA with his ‘one man show’. Semi-retired during the early '50s, he returned to Hollywood to play a series of character roles in films such as LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON (1957), Gigi (1958), Can-Can (1959), FANNY (1961), IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS (1962) and I'D RATHER BE RICH (1964). GIGI was one of the highlights of Chevalier's career. His idiosyncratic versions of "Thank Heaven For Little Girls," "I'm Glad I'm Not Young Any More," and a duet with Hermione Gingold, "I Remember It Well," charmed the Academy of MPAS into awarding GIGI nine Oscars, including Best Picture. At the age of 70, Chevalier received a special Academy Award for his contribution to the world of entertainment for over half a century. During the '60s he appeared frequently on US television with his own ‘specials’ such as THE WORLD OF MAURICE CHEVALIER, and travelled widely with his ‘one man show’ until 1968, when, from the stage of the Theatre des Champs Elysees in Paris, he announced his retirement. His honours included the Croix de Guerre (1917), the Belgian Order of Leopold (1943), the Legion d'Honneur (1938) and the Order Merite National (1964).

ДИСКОГРАФИЯ

GIGI (RHINO) (1996)
Performer
Vocals

ENCORE MAURICE! (1994)
Primary Artist

TENDRE REFRAINS D'AMOUR (1993) by Various Artists
Performer

FROM THIS MOMENT ON: SONGS OF COLE PORTER [BOX] (1992) by Various Artists
Performer

NIPPER'S GREATEST HITS: THE 30S, VOL 1 (1990) by Various Artists
Performer

CAN-CAN (1960)
Performer

CABARET'S GOLDEN AGE, VOL 2 by Various Artists
Performer

AU TEMPS DU CHARLESTON
Primary Artist

KING OF THE MUSIC HALL
Primary Artist

MA CHERIE
Primary Artist

THE RADIO YEARS - 25 SONGS by Bing Crosby
Performer

THE FLAPPER BOX [BOX] by Various Artists
Performer

THE HOLLYWOOD MEN by Various Artists
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PURE NOSTALGIA: THE GREATEST ARTISTS (1928-1941) by Various Artists
Performer

SONG HITS OF THE YEAR - 1930 by Various Artists
Performer

SONG HITS OF THE YEAR - 1932 by Various Artists
Performer

25 CONTINENTAL ALL-TIME HITS by Various Artists
Performer

SONG HITS OF THE YEAR - 1935 by Various Artists
Performer

SONG HITS OF THE YEAR - 1936 by Various Artists
Performer

SONG HITS OF THE YEAR - 1937 by Various Artists
Performer

SONG HITS OF THE YEAR - 1938 by Various Artists
Performer

SONG HITS OF THE YEAR - 1939 by Various Artists
Performer