Jess Hahn
Encyclopedia
Jess HahnJess Hahn (born Jesse Beryle Hahn October 29, 1921, Terre Haute, Indiana
– d. June 29, 1998, Saint-Malo
, France
) was an American
actor who mostly starred in French
films.
After serving with the Marines in the Second World War
, he moved to France in 1949 and took French citizenship.
Firstly a musician, he became an actor and starred in film noir
s and western
s. A large man, Hahn often appeared in "strong man
" roles, such as in Cartouche
and Topkapi
. He was employed by French movie-maker Jean-Marie Pallardy
, becoming one of his recurrent actors, until his retirement. He died at age 76 in Saint-Malo
.
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
– d. June 29, 1998, Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo is a walled port city in Brittany in northwestern France on the English Channel. It is a sub-prefecture of the Ille-et-Vilaine.-Demographics:The population can increase to up to 200,000 in the summer tourist season...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor who mostly starred in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
films.
After serving with the Marines in the Second World War
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 moved to France in 1949 and took French citizenship.
Firstly a musician, he became an actor and starred in 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...
s and western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
s. A large man, Hahn often appeared in "strong man
Strongman (strength athlete)
In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or circus performers of similar ilk who displayed feats of strength such as the bent press , supporting large amounts of...
" roles, such as in Cartouche
Cartouche (film)
Cartouche is a 1962 French film directed by Philippe de Broca and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale.- Plot :In the 18th century, Louis Dominique Bourguignon is working with Malichot's gang, but their ways are too 'unethical' for him. He hides out from Malichot and joins the army,...
and Topkapi
Topkapi (film)
Topkapi is a heist film made by Filmways Pictures and distributed by United Artists. It was produced and directed by the emigre American film director, Jules Dassin...
. He was employed by French movie-maker Jean-Marie Pallardy
Jean-Marie Pallardy
Jean-Marie Pallardy is a French movie director.He first worked as a male model in the 1960s, before opting for a career change and directing softcore erotic pictures. He also tried his hand at crime fiction and adventure films, with mixed results...
, becoming one of his recurrent actors, until his retirement. He died at age 76 in Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo is a walled port city in Brittany in northwestern France on the English Channel. It is a sub-prefecture of the Ille-et-Vilaine.-Demographics:The population can increase to up to 200,000 in the summer tourist season...
.
Selected filmography
- Les Corsaires du Bois de BoulogneLes Corsaires du Bois de BoulogneLes Corsaires du Bois de Boulogne , is a French comedy film from 1954, directed and written by Norbert Carbonnaux, starring Raymond Bussières and Louis de Funès.- Cast :* Raymond Bussières : Hector Colomb, street singer...
(1954) - L'impossible Monsieur PipeletL'impossible Monsieur PipeletL'impossible Monsieur Pipelet , is a French comedy drama film from 1955, directed by André Hunebelle, written by Jacques Gut, starring Michel Simon and Louis de Funès. The film is known under the titles "The Impossible Mr...
(1955) - Les HussardsLes HussardsLes Hussards , is a French comedy film from 1955, directed by Alex Joffé, written by Gabriel Arout, starring Bernard Blier and Louis de Funès...
(1955) - The Big Gamble (1961)
- CartoucheCartouche (film)Cartouche is a 1962 French film directed by Philippe de Broca and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale.- Plot :In the 18th century, Louis Dominique Bourguignon is working with Malichot's gang, but their ways are too 'unethical' for him. He hides out from Malichot and joins the army,...
(1962) - The Sign of LeoThe Sign of LeoLe Signe du lion is a 1959 French film directed by Éric Rohmer, his feature debut. Along with Le Beau Serge, directed by Claude Chabrol , it was one of the first films of the French New Wave. The title refers to the Zodiac sign Leo, under which the protagonist says he was born...
(1962) - The TrialThe Trial (1962 film)The Trial is a 1962 film directed by Orson Welles, who also wrote the screenplay based on the novel of the same name by Franz Kafka...
(1962) - TopkapiTopkapi (film)Topkapi is a heist film made by Filmways Pictures and distributed by United Artists. It was produced and directed by the emigre American film director, Jules Dassin...
(1964) - What's New Pussycat?What's New Pussycat?What's New Pussycat? is a 1965 comedy film directed by Clive Donner and starring Peter Sellers, Peter O'Toole, Romy Schneider, Capucine, Paula Prentiss and Ursula Andress. It was Woody Allen's film debut, as well as his first produced script. The Academy Award-nominated title song by Burt Bacharach...
(1965) - Le Saint prend l'affûtLe Saint prend l'affûtLe Saint prend l'affût is a French adventure drama film from 1966. It was directed by Christian-Jaque, written by Jean Ferry, starring Jean Marais and Raffaella Carrà...
(1966) - The Night of the Following DayThe Night of the Following DayThe Night of the Following Day is a 1968 film starring Marlon Brando, Pamela Franklin, Richard Boone and Rita Moreno. Filmed in France, around Le Touquet it tells a simple story: a kidnapped heiress is held hostage in a remote beachhouse on the coast of France.The film starts with Dupont's...
(1968) - Boulevard du RhumBoulevard du RhumBoulevard du Rhum is a 1971 French-Italian-Spanish adventure film directed by Robert Enrico and produced by Alain Poiré. It is based on Jacques Pecheral's novel of the same name...
(1971) - Un linceul n'a pas de pochesUn linceul n'a pas de pochesUn linceul n'a pas de poches is a French film directed by Jean-Pierre Mocky in 1974-Plot:A journalist, Michel Dolannes, decides to use his newspaper to denounce the corruption of the established system...
(1974)