Jean Servais
Encyclopedia
Jean Servais was a Belgian
actor
trained at the Brussels Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, where he won the Second Prize.
His acting skills came to the attention of Raymond Rouleau, and he was hired at the Théâtre du Marais
, where he acted in Le mal de jeunesse, which was successful in Brussels
and in Paris. He was also a member of Jean-Louis Barrault
's theatre company.
His first film role was as the simple country dweller who was the victim of an error by the justice system in the film Criminel (1932), directed by Jack Forrester. Servais's film career continued in the 1930s with roles in films such as La Chanson De L'Adieu (1934) and La Vie Est Magnifique (1938). After a break in acting during World War II
, he returned to the screen with roles in films such as La Danse De Mort (1948).
In the 1950s, he displayed a brooding, haunted demeanor in the crime drama Rififi
(1955)(which François Truffaut
ranked as the best film noir
) directed by Jules Dassin
, in which he played an embittered and physically ailing leader of a gang of jewel thieves. He appeared in another film directed by Dassin, Celui qui doit mourir
, in 1957
. He also appeared in La fièvre monte à El Pao
(1959), a film written and directed by Luis Buñuel
.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Servais rejoined the Renaud-Barrault theatre troupe for several plays, including La répétition ou l'amour puni (1950), Volpone
(1955), and Marat/Sade
(1966). In the 1960s, Servais took small character roles in popular international fare such as The Longest Day
(1962), an epic recreation of the Allied invasion of Normandy, and That Man From Rio (1964). Other films in which he acted include Le Sahara Brule (1960), Un Soir Par Hasard (1964) Avec la Peau des Autres (1966).
He had roles in several films in the early 1970s, such as The Devil's Nightmare (1971), an Italian horror series, and Le Protecteur (1973), about a recently-released prisoner who tries to find his daughter who has fallen into the underworld of prostitution
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
trained at the Brussels Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, where he won the Second Prize.
His acting skills came to the attention of Raymond Rouleau, and he was hired at the Théâtre du Marais
Théâtre du Marais
The Théâtre du Marais has been the name of several theatres and theatrical troupes in Paris, France. The original and most famous theatre of the name operated in the 17th century. The name was briefly revived for a revolutionary theatre in 1791, and revived again in 1976...
, where he acted in Le mal de jeunesse, which was successful in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and in Paris. He was also a member of Jean-Louis Barrault
Jean-Louis Barrault
Jean-Louis Barrault was a French actor, director and mime artist, training that served him well when he portrayed the 19th-century mime Jean-Gaspard Deburau in Marcel Carné's 1945 film Les Enfants du Paradis .Jean-Louis Barrault studied with Charles Dullin in whose troupe he acted...
's theatre company.
His first film role was as the simple country dweller who was the victim of an error by the justice system in the film Criminel (1932), directed by Jack Forrester. Servais's film career continued in the 1930s with roles in films such as La Chanson De L'Adieu (1934) and La Vie Est Magnifique (1938). After a break in acting during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he returned to the screen with roles in films such as La Danse De Mort (1948).
In the 1950s, he displayed a brooding, haunted demeanor in the crime drama Rififi
Rififi
Rififi is a 1955 French crime film adaptation of Auguste le Breton's novel of the same name. Directed by American filmmaker Jules Dassin, the film stars Jean Servais as the aging gangster Tony le Stéphanois, Carl Möhner as Jo le Suédois, Robert Manuel as Mario Farrati, and Jules Dassin as César le...
(1955)(which François Truffaut
François Truffaut
François Roland Truffaut was an influential film critic and filmmaker and one of the founders of the French New Wave. In a film career lasting over a quarter of a century, he remains an icon of the French film industry. He was also a screenwriter, producer, and actor working on over twenty-five...
ranked as the best film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
) directed by Jules Dassin
Jules Dassin
Julius "Jules" Dassin , was an American film director, with Jewish-Russian origins. He was a subject of the Hollywood blacklist in the McCarthy era, and subsequently moved to France where he revived his career.-Early life:...
, in which he played an embittered and physically ailing leader of a gang of jewel thieves. He appeared in another film directed by Dassin, Celui qui doit mourir
He Who Must Die
He Who Must Die , is a 1957 French film directed by Jules Dassin. It is based on the novel Christ Recrucified by Nikos Kazantzakis. It was entered into the 1957 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Jean Servais - Photis* Carl Möhner - Agha...
, in 1957
1957 in film
The year 1957 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 21 - The movie Jailhouse Rock, starring Elvis Presley, opens.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue-Awards:...
. He also appeared in La fièvre monte à El Pao
La fièvre monte à El Pao
La fièvre monte à El Pao is a 1959 film by director Luis Buñuel....
(1959), a film written and directed by Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:...
.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Servais rejoined the Renaud-Barrault theatre troupe for several plays, including La répétition ou l'amour puni (1950), Volpone
Volpone
Volpone is a comedy by Ben Jonson first produced in 1606, drawing on elements of city comedy, black comedy and beast fable...
(1955), and Marat/Sade
Marat/Sade
The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade , almost invariably shortened to Marat/Sade, is a 1963 play by Peter Weiss...
(1966). In the 1960s, Servais took small character roles in popular international fare such as The Longest Day
The Longest Day (film)
The Longest Day is a 1962 war film based on the 1959 history book The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan, about "D-Day", the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II....
(1962), an epic recreation of the Allied invasion of Normandy, and That Man From Rio (1964). Other films in which he acted include Le Sahara Brule (1960), Un Soir Par Hasard (1964) Avec la Peau des Autres (1966).
He had roles in several films in the early 1970s, such as The Devil's Nightmare (1971), an Italian horror series, and Le Protecteur (1973), about a recently-released prisoner who tries to find his daughter who has fallen into the underworld of prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
.
Selected filmography
- Mater dolorosa (1932)
- Criminel (1932)
- Voix sans visage, La (1933)
- Dernière heure (1934)
- Chanson de l'adieu, La (1934)
- Amok (1934)
- Les MisérablesLes Misérables (1934 film)Les Misérables is a 1934 film adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel of the same name. It was written and directed by Raymond Bernard and stars Harry Baur as Jean Valjean and Charles Vanel as Javert...
(1934) - Jeunesse (1934)
- AngèleAngele (film)Angèle is a 1934 French drama film directed, produced and written by Marcel Pagnol. It stars Orane Demazis as a naive young woman who is seduced and abandoned...
(1934) - Bourrasque (1935)
- Une fille à papa (1935)
- Valse éternelle (1936)
- Une si jolie petite plageUne si jolie petite plageUne si jolie petite plage is a French film shot in black-and-white, directed by Yves Allégret and released in 1949. The film stars Gérard Philipe, Madeleine Robinson and Jane Marken....
(1950) - Le Chevalier de la nuitLe Chevalier de la nuitLe Chevalier de la nuit , is a French comedy film from 1953, directed by Robert Darène, written by Jean Anouilh, starring Renée Saint-Cyr and Louis de Funès...
(1953) - RififiRififiRififi is a 1955 French crime film adaptation of Auguste le Breton's novel of the same name. Directed by American filmmaker Jules Dassin, the film stars Jean Servais as the aging gangster Tony le Stéphanois, Carl Möhner as Jo le Suédois, Robert Manuel as Mario Farrati, and Jules Dassin as César le...
(1955) - The Lebanese MissionThe Lebanese MissionThe Lebanese Mission is a 1956 French thriller film directed by Richard Pottier and starring Jean-Claude Pascal, Gianna Maria Canale and Jean Servais. Omar Sharif also appeared, in one of his earliest film roles...
(1956) - The CageThe Cage (film)The Cage is a 1963 French film directed by Robert Darène. It was entered into the 1963 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Marina Vlady* Jean Servais - Rispal* Philippe Mory* Muriel David* Colette Duval* Alain Bouvette...
(1963) - Black JesusBlack Jesus (film)Black Jesus is a 1968 Italian drama film directed by Valerio Zurlini. It was listed to compete at the 1968 Cannes Film Festival, but the festival was cancelled due to the events of May 1968 in France.-Cast:* Woody Strode as Lalubi...
(1968) - They Came to Rob Las VegasThey Came to Rob Las VegasThey Came to Rob Las Vegas is a 1968 crime film directed by Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi and starring Gary Lockwood, Elke Sommer and Lee J. Cobb. A crime outfit plan a heist to rob a truck containing $7 million in Las Vegas. Its Spanish title was Las Vegas 500 Milliones.-Cast:* Gary Lockwood - Tony...
(1968) - Protecteur, Le (1974)