Martine Carol
Encyclopedia
Biography
Born Marie-Louise Jeanne Nicolle Mourer in Saint-MandéSaint-Mandé
Saint-Mandé is a commune of the Val-de-Marne department in Île-de-France in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe.-History:...
, Val-de-Marne
Val-de-Marne
Val-de-Marne is a French department, named after the Marne River, located in the Île-de-France region. The department is situated to the southeast of the city of Paris.- Geography :...
, (France), she studied acting under René Simon
René Simon
René Simon, , born in Troyes was a French actor and founder in 1925 of the Cours Simon drama school.-External links:...
(1898–1966), making her stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
debut in 1940 and her first motion picture in 1943. One of the most beautiful women in film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, she was frequently cast as an elegant blonde seductress. During the late 1940s and early 1950s she was the leading sex symbol
Sex symbol
A sex symbol is a celebrity of either gender, typically an actor, musician, supermodel, teen idol, or sports star, noted for their sex appeal. The term was first used in the mid 1950s in relation to the popularity of certain Hollywood stars, especially Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte...
and a top box office
Box office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
draw of french cinema. One of her most famous roles was as the title character in Lola Montès
Lola Montès
Lola Montès is an historical film, and the last film directed by Max Ophüls. The film is based loosely on the life of the 19th Century cabaret dancer Lola Montez — portrayed by Martine Carol — and tells the story of her numerous affairs, most notably with Franz Liszt and Ludwig I, King of Bavaria,...
(1955), directed by Max Ophüls
Max Ophüls
Maximillian Oppenheimer — known as Max Ophüls — was an influential German-born film director who worked in Germany , France , the United States , and France again...
, in a role which necessitated dark hair.
Despite her fame and fortune, Martine Carol's personal life was filled with turmoil that included a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
attempt and drug abuse
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
, and four marriages. She was also kidnapped by gangster Pierre Loutrel
Pierre Loutrel
Pierre Loutrel , better known by his nickname of "Pierrot le fou" was France's first "public enemy number one" and one of the leaders of the Gang des tractions.-Life:...
(aka "Pierrot le Fou" or "Crazy Pete"), albeit briefly and received roses the next day as an apology.
She died unexpectedly of a heart attack in a Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
hotel room at the age of only forty-six.
Four weddings and two funerals
Martine Carol was married four times, to:- Stephen Crane (Josef Stephen Crane, aka), American actor and restaurant manager, previously Lana TurnerLana TurnerLana Turner was an American actress.Discovered and signed to a film contract by MGM at the age of sixteen, Turner first attracted attention in They Won't Forget . She played featured roles, often as the ingenue, in such films as Love Finds Andy Hardy...
's husband. Married in 1948, divorced in 1953. - Christian-JaqueChristian-JaqueChristian-Jaque was a French filmmaker. He was married to actress Martine Carol from 1954 to 1959.Christian-Jaque was born at Paris....
, film director. Married July 15, 1954, divorced in 1959. - Dr. André Rouveix, a young doctor she met in MartiniqueMartiniqueMartinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, Fort-de-FranceFort-de-FranceFort-de-France is the capital of France's Caribbean overseas department of Martinique. It is also one of the major cities in the Caribbean. Exports include sugar, rum, tinned fruit, and cacao.-Geography:...
. Married August 3, 1959, divorced in 1962. - Mike Eland, EnglishEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
businessman. Married in 1966, until her death.
She was initially buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the city of Paris, France , though there are larger cemeteries in the city's suburbs.Père Lachaise is in the 20th arrondissement, and is reputed to be the world's most-visited cemetery, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the...
, Paris. But her grave was violated (some media reported that she had been interred with her jewels). Martine Carol was then buried in the Grand Jas Cemetery (le cimetière "du Grand Jas") of Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
(square n°3).
Partial filmography
- Les amants de VéroneLes amants de VéroneLes amants de Vérone is a 1949 French film directed by André Cayatte and loosely based on the William Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet. The film was a joint project of...
(1949) - I Like Only YouI Like Only YouI Like Only You , is a French comedy film from 1950, directed by Pierre Montazel, written by Jean Montazel, and starring by Luis Mariano and Louis de Funès.- Cast :* Louis de Funès : pianist of the orchestra...
(1950) - Caroline chérie (1951)
- Adorable Creatures (1952)
- Beauties of the NightLes Belles de nuitLes Belles de nuit is a 1952 French language motion picture fantasy directed and written by René Clair who co-produced with Angelo Rizzoli...
(1952) - Lucrèce BorgiaLucrèce BorgiaLucrèce Borgia is a 1953 French drama film starring Martine Carol and Pedro Armendáriz. The film was directed by Christian-Jaque, who co-wrote screenplay with Cécil Saint-Laurent and Jacques Sigurd, based on novel by Alfred Schirokauer...
(1953) - Destinées (1954) segment "Lysistrata"
- Madame du BarryMadame du Barry (film)Madame du Barry is a 1954 French historical drama film directed by Christian-Jaque and starring Martine Carol, Daniel Ivernel, Gianna Maria Canale and Jean Parédès...
(1954) - NanaNana (1955 film)Nana or Nanà is a French-Italian film by Christian-Jaque starring Charles Boyer. It is an adaptation of Emile Zola's novel Nana....
(1955) - Les Carnets du Major ThompsonThe French, They Are a Funny RaceThe French, They Are a Funny Race, known in France as Les Carnets du Major Thompson and in the U.K. as The Diary of Major Thompson, is a 1955 comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, based on the novel by Pierre Daninos...
(1955) - Lola MontèsLola MontèsLola Montès is an historical film, and the last film directed by Max Ophüls. The film is based loosely on the life of the 19th Century cabaret dancer Lola Montez — portrayed by Martine Carol — and tells the story of her numerous affairs, most notably with Franz Liszt and Ludwig I, King of Bavaria,...
(1955) - Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
- Action of the TigerAction of the TigerAction of the Tiger is a 1957 British-American action film distributed by MGM, directed by Terence Young, and starring Van Johnson and Martine Carol....
(1957) - The StowawayThe Stowaway (1958 film)The Stowaway is a 1958 French-Australian film co produced by Lee Robinson. It was shot on location in Tahiti. There are French and English versions.-Cast:* Martine Carol* Roger Livesey* Arletty* Serge Reggiani* Carl Boehm* Reg Lye...
(1958) - Ten Seconds to HellTen Seconds to HellTen Seconds To Hell is a 1959 British, American and German film directed by Robert Aldrich and based upon Lawrence P. Bachmann's novel, The Phoenix...
(1959) - AusterlitzAusterlitz (film)Austerlitz is a 1960 film directed by Abel Gance and starring Jean Marais, Rossano Brazzi, Jack Palance, Claudia Cardinale, Vittorio de Sica, Orson Welles, Leslie Caron and Elvire Popesco. Pierre Mondy portrays Napoleon in this film about one of his greatest victories at the Battle of Austerlitz...
(1959) - Love and the Frenchwoman (1960)
- The Counterfeiters of Paris (1961)
- Vanina VaniniVanina Vanini (film)Vanina Vanini also known as The Betrayer is a 1961 Italian drama film directed by Roberto Rossellini.-Plot summary:Vanina Vanini, a bored, spoiled Roman countess, falls in love with a dedicated young patriot who is in Rome to assassinate a traitor to the brotherhood of the Free Masons.-Cast:*Sandra...
(1961) - I Don Giovanni della Costa AzzurraI Don Giovanni della Costa AzzurraI Don Giovanni della Costa Azzurra is a 1962 Italian film, directed by Vittorio Sala. It stars actor Gabriele Ferzetti.- Cast :*Curd Jürgens - Mr...
(1962)