Raimu
Encyclopedia
Raimu was the stage name
for the French
actor Jules Auguste Muraire (18 December 1883 – 20 September 1946).
in the Var
département, he made his stage debut there in 1899. After coming to the attention of the then great music hall
star Félix Mayol
who was also from Toulon, in 1908 he was given a chance to work as a secondary act in the Paris theater scene. Primarily a comedian, in 1916 writer/director Sacha Guitry
gave him significant parts in productions at the Folies Bergère and other major venues. In addition to his appearances on stage, Raimu also developed a successful career in film
s sometimes under the name Jules Raimu.
He starred in the premiere of Messager's operetta Coups de roulis
in 1928. In 1929, already a leading actor, he gained wide acclaim for his starring role in the stage production of the Marcel Pagnol
play Marius. Although reluctant because of his disappointment over his first film role many years before, he agreed to act in Guitry's film Le Blanc et le Noir and then reprised his Marius
role on film a year later. By his late forties, Raimu had become one of his country's most respected actors and considered the ultimate actor by luminaries such as Alec Guinness
, Marlene Dietrich
, and Orson Welles
.
On his passing in 1946 in Neuilly-sur-Seine
, he was interred in the cemetery of his birthplace in Toulon-sur-Mer where there is the Cinéma Raimu Toulon named in his honor. In 1961, the government of France honored him with his image on a postage stamp. A small museum created by his grand-daughter Isabelle Nohain exists in the town of Cogolin
in the Var
département in France.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
for the French
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...
actor Jules Auguste Muraire (18 December 1883 – 20 September 1946).
Biography
Born in ToulonToulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
in the Var
Var (département)
The Var is a French department in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in Provence, in southeast France. It takes its name from the river Var, which used to flow along its eastern boundary, but the boundary was moved in 1860...
département, he made his stage debut there in 1899. After coming to the attention of the then great music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
star Félix Mayol
Félix Mayol
Félix Mayol was a French singer and entertainer.-Career:Mayol was born in Toulon, France. His parents were both amateur singers and actors, who arranged for Felix to make his debut stage at six years of age....
who was also from Toulon, in 1908 he was given a chance to work as a secondary act in the Paris theater scene. Primarily a comedian, in 1916 writer/director Sacha Guitry
Sacha Guitry
Alexandre-Pierre Georges Guitry was a French stage actor, film actor, director, screenwriter, and playwright of the Boulevard theatre.- Biography :...
gave him significant parts in productions at the Folies Bergère and other major venues. In addition to his appearances on stage, Raimu also developed a successful career 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...
s sometimes under the name Jules Raimu.
He starred in the premiere of Messager's operetta Coups de roulis
Coups de roulis
Coups de roulis is an opérette in three acts with music by André Messager and a French libretto by Albert Willemetz, based on the 1925 novel by Maurice Larrouy.-Performance history:...
in 1928. In 1929, already a leading actor, he gained wide acclaim for his starring role in the stage production of the Marcel Pagnol
Marcel Pagnol
Marcel Pagnol was a French novelist, playwright, and filmmaker. In 1946, he became the first filmmaker elected to the Académie Française.-Biography:...
play Marius. Although reluctant because of his disappointment over his first film role many years before, he agreed to act in Guitry's film Le Blanc et le Noir and then reprised his Marius
Marius (film)
Marius is a French theatre script written by Marcel Pagnol that was later converted into a film of the same name. The film is a part of a trilogy which includes the films César and Fanny .-Synopsis:The film takes place mostly in the waterfront bar of Cesar, Marius' father...
role on film a year later. By his late forties, Raimu had become one of his country's most respected actors and considered the ultimate actor by luminaries such as Alec Guinness
Alec Guinness
Sir Alec Guinness, CH, CBE was an English actor. He was featured in several of the Ealing Comedies, including Kind Hearts and Coronets in which he played eight different characters. He later won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Colonel Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai...
, Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich was a German-American actress and singer.Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself, professionally and characteristically. In the Berlin of the 1920s, she acted on the stage and in silent films...
, and Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
.
On his passing in 1946 in Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
, he was interred in the cemetery of his birthplace in Toulon-sur-Mer where there is the Cinéma Raimu Toulon named in his honor. In 1961, the government of France honored him with his image on a postage stamp. A small museum created by his grand-daughter Isabelle Nohain exists in the town of Cogolin
Cogolin
Cogolin is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France....
in the Var
Var (département)
The Var is a French department in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in Provence, in southeast France. It takes its name from the river Var, which used to flow along its eastern boundary, but the boundary was moved in 1860...
département in France.
Partial filmography
- Cine-Follies (1977) (archive footage)
- Chantons sous l'OccupationChantons sous l'OccupationChantons sous l'Occupation is a French documentary film from 1976. It was directed and written by André Halimi, starring Pascal Mazzotti, Maître Naud, and Fabienne Jamet....
(1976) (archive footage) - L' Homme au chapeau rond (1946)
- Le Colonel Chabert (1943)
- Untel père et filsThe Heart of a NationThe Heart of a Nation is a 1943 French drama film directed by Julien Duvivier who co-wrote screenplay with Marcel Achard and Charles Spaak. The film stars Raimu, Michèle Morgan and Louis Jouvet...
(1943) - L'ArlésienneL'Arlésienne (film)L'Arlésienne has been the title of two notable film versions of Alphonse Daudet's play of the same name. The first was an early talking film made in 1930 starring Blanche Montel and José Noguero; the second was made in 1942 starring the French actor Raimu and a young Louis Jourdan...
(1942) - Les Inconnus dans la maison (1941)
- La Fille du puisatierLa Fille du PuisatierThe Well-Digger's Daughter is a 1940 French romantic comedy drama film directed by Marcel Pagnol.-Selected cast:*Raimu as Pascal Amoretti*Fernandel as Félipe Rambert*Josette Day as Patricia Amoretti*Line Noro as Marie Mazel...
(1940) - La Femme du boulangerThe Baker's Wife (film)- Cast :* Raimu as Aimable Castanier* Ginette Leclerc as Aurélie Castanier* Fernand Charpin as Le marquis Castan de Venelles* Robert Vattier as Le Curé* Charles Blavette as Antonin* Robert Bassac as L'instituteur* Marcel Maupi as Barnabé...
(1938) - Le Fauteuil 47 (1937)
- GribouilleGribouille (film)Gribouille is a 1937 French comedy film directed by Marc Allégret, based on story "Gribouille" by Marcel Achard who co-wrote screenplay with H.G. Lustig. The music score is by Georges Auric. The film stars Raimu and Michèle Morgan.It was remade in the U.S...
(1937) - L' Etrange Monsieur Victor (1937)
- Un carnet de bal (1937)
- Faisons un reve (1936)
- CésarCésar (film)"César" is a 1936 French film, written and directed by Marcel Pagnol. It's the final part of his Marseille trilogy, which began with the film Marius and was followed by Fanny. In difference to these two movies "César"was not based on a play by Pagnol, but written directly as a film script...
(1936) - L'Ecole des cocottes (1935)
- FannyFanny (1932 film)Fanny is a 1932 French comedy film, directed by Marc Allégret based on the play by Marcel Pagnol. It's the second part in the Marseillaise film trilogy that started with Marius and concluded with César ...
(1932) - MariusMarius (film)Marius is a French theatre script written by Marcel Pagnol that was later converted into a film of the same name. The film is a part of a trilogy which includes the films César and Fanny .-Synopsis:The film takes place mostly in the waterfront bar of Cesar, Marius' father...
(1931) - Le Blanc et le Noir (1930)
- Le fumiste (1912)
External links
- Raimu Museum : http://www.musee-raimu.com