Jaque Catelain (9 February 1897 – 5 March 1965) was a French actor who came to prominence in silent films of the 1920s, and who continued acting in films and on stage until the 1950s. He also wrote and directed two silent films himself, and he was a capable artist and musician. He had a close association with the director Marcel L'Herbier. (He was born as Jacques Guérin-Castelain;[1] other variations of his name used at different times were Jaque-Catelain, Jacques Catelain, Jacques Catelin, and Jacque Cathelain.)
Jaque Catelain was born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye in the Pavillon Henri IV (he was said to have been born in the same room as Louis XIV). His father was then the mayor of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, and also moved in literary and theatrical circles, which allowed the young Jacques to encounter many famous names in his childhood, including Catulle Mendès, Anatole France, Sarah Bernhardt, and Gabrielle Réjane.[2] He showed early enthusiasm for the arts and music, and at the age of 16 he entered the Académie Julian in Paris to study fine arts. With the outbreak of war in the following year, he changed direction and chose to study acting at the Conservatoire, enrolling in the class of Paul Mounet, before being mobilised into the artillery.[3]
Careeredit
In 1914 Catelain met Marcel L'Herbier, then a writer and critic, who became a major influence on his life and career, and with whom he formed a lifelong friendship. When L'Herbier began directing films in 1917, Catelain became his leading man of choice and starred in twelve of his silent films, starting with Le Torrent. The first major role to attract attention was that of the dissolute son of a Breton fisherman in L'Homme du large (1920). This was followed by El Dorado, Don Juan et Faust, L'Inhumaine, and Le Vertige, and they made Catelain into a leading star who was in demand to appear in foreign films as well as in productions of other French directors such as Léonce Perret (in Kœnigsmark). In 1922 he was working in Munich under contract to a German film company[4] and he returned there in 1925 to appear in Robert Wiene's (silent) production of Der Rosenkavalier. Also in 1925 he was offered a seven-year contract by MGM to work in America, but he turned this down.[5]
Jaque Catelain's activities in this period extended beyond acting. He had already worked as an editor on L'Homme du large, and when Marcel L'Herbier set up his own production company Cinégraphic in 1922, its first project became Le Marchand de plaisirs which Catelain directed as well as acting a double role in it.[6] In the following year he wrote and directed a second film, La Galerie des monstres (1923/24). Both films were successful enough to cover their costs.[7] He devised controversial make-up for some of the actors in L'Inhumaine,[8] and his artistic skills were put to further use in two set designs for L'Argent[9] As a pianist he would sometimes step in to provide improvised accompaniment for previews of L'Herbier's films.[10]
Catelain successfully made the transition from silent to sound films, starring in L'Herbier's L'Enfant de l'amour (1929), but during the 1930s he took fewer leading film roles and started to act in the theatre. In February 1933 Catelain married Suzanne Vial,[11] a friend since childhood who had become a production assistant to L'Herbier in the 1920s and continued working with him until 1944. Soon afterwards in 1933/1934 Catelain was employed by the daily newspaper Le Journal to go to Hollywood to carry out a series of interviews with leading personalities such as Chaplin, Stroheim and Sternberg.[12]
In May 1940, Catelain left France for a four-month theatrical tour of South America, but within a month France was occupied by the Germans and his absence lasted for six years. In Buenos Aires he became so ill with pneumonia that he was given the last rites, but he recovered and went to Canada for the next three years for work in the theatre and propaganda broadcasts. In 1943 he was invited to Hollywood and remained there for a further three years taking bits parts and film dubbing jobs. He returned to Paris in 1946, and resumed an occasional career in films, appearing in minor roles in three of Jean Renoir's films in the 1950s. In 1950, he published a biography and appreciation of the work of Marcel L'Herbier.[13]
Catelain died in Paris in 1965, and he was buried in Passy Cemetery.
Reputationedit
Jaque Catelain won considerable popularity in the early 1920s through his film roles as romantic lead or jeune premier. His good looks were of a rather bland and pretty kind which did not commend him so much to later audiences, and he was often criticised for wooden and inexpressive performances.[14] Some contemporary critics however, notably Louis Delluc, saw his restrained and economical technique as a significant development away from the exaggerated theatrical acting which was still common in films, and praised the sincerity and natural quality of his performances.[15] Catelain himself was sufficiently thoughtful on the subject of acting to develop his views about the differences between 'interior' and 'exterior' performance in a journal article published in 1925.[16] His own performance in L'Homme du large illustrates his understanding of the importance of movement and posture in relation to the camera frame at a time when a more 'expressionist' style of acting was common.[17]
^Dictionnaire du cinéma français, sous la direction de Jean-Loup Passek. (Paris: Larousse, 1987) p.245.
^Jaque Catelain présente Marcel L'Herbier. (Paris: Vautrain, 1950) p.7.
^Jaque Catelain présente Marcel L'Herbier. (Paris: Vautrain, 1950) pp.24–26.
^Jaque Catelain présente Marcel L'Herbier. (Paris: Vautrain, 1950) p.72.
^Jaque Catelain présente Marcel L'Herbier. (Paris: Vautrain, 1950) p.84.
^Richard Abel, French cinema: the First Wave, 1915-1929. (Princeton University Press, 1984). p.142.
^Dimitri Vezyroglou, "De Gaumont à Cinégraphic (1919-1929)", in Marcel L'Herbier: l'art du cinéma, [ed. by] Laurent Véray. (Paris: Association française de recherche sur l'histoire du cinéma, 2007.) p.75.
^Marcel L'Herbier, La Tête qui tourne. (Paris: Belfond, 1979) p.103.
^Jaque Catelain présente Marcel L'Herbier. (Paris: Vautrain, 1950) pp.102–104.
^Marcel L'Herbier, La Tête qui tourne. (Paris: Belfond, 1979) p.59.
^Marcel L'Herbier, La Tête qui tourne. (Paris: Belfond, 1979) p.210.
^Jaque Catelain présente Marcel L'Herbier. (Paris: Vautrain, 1950) p.6, p.114.)
^Jaque Catelain présente Marcel L'Herbier. (Paris: Vautrain, 1950).
^E.g. by Noël Burch, "Ambivalences d'un réalisateur 'bisexuel': quatre films de Marcel L'Herbier", in Marcel L'Herbier: l'art du cinéma, [ed. by] Laurent Véray. (Paris: Association française de recherche sur l'histoire du cinéma, 2007.) p.204.
^Louis Delluc, Paris-Midi, 9 juillet 1921; quoted by Laurent Guido, "Vers l'expression du mouvement intérieur: Jaque Catelain, théoricien du jeu et acteur chez Marcel L'Herbier", in Marcel L'Herbier: l'art du cinéma, [ed. by] Laurent Véray. (Paris: Association française de recherche sur l'histoire du cinéma, 2007.) p.122.
^Jaque Catelain, "L'Acteur", in Les Cahiers du mois, n.16-17, 1925; pp.17–21.
^Laurent Guido, "Vers l'expression du mouvement intérieur: Jaque Catelain, théoricien du jeu et acteur chez Marcel L'Herbier", in Marcel L'Herbier: l'art du cinéma, [ed. by] Laurent Véray. (Paris: Association française de recherche sur l'histoire du cinéma, 2007.) pp.119–132.
jaque, catelain, february, 1897, march, 1965, french, actor, came, prominence, silent, films, 1920s, continued, acting, films, stage, until, 1950s, also, wrote, directed, silent, films, himself, capable, artist, musician, close, association, with, director, ma. Jaque Catelain 9 February 1897 5 March 1965 was a French actor who came to prominence in silent films of the 1920s and who continued acting in films and on stage until the 1950s He also wrote and directed two silent films himself and he was a capable artist and musician He had a close association with the director Marcel L Herbier He was born as Jacques Guerin Castelain 1 other variations of his name used at different times were Jaque Catelain Jacques Catelain Jacques Catelin and Jacque Cathelain Jaque CatelainBornJacques Guerin Castelain 1897 02 09 9 February 1897Saint Germain en Laye FranceDied5 March 1965 1965 03 05 aged 68 Paris France Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Reputation 4 Selected filmography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editJaque Catelain was born in Saint Germain en Laye in the Pavillon Henri IV he was said to have been born in the same room as Louis XIV His father was then the mayor of Saint Germain en Laye and also moved in literary and theatrical circles which allowed the young Jacques to encounter many famous names in his childhood including Catulle Mendes Anatole France Sarah Bernhardt and Gabrielle Rejane 2 He showed early enthusiasm for the arts and music and at the age of 16 he entered the Academie Julian in Paris to study fine arts With the outbreak of war in the following year he changed direction and chose to study acting at the Conservatoire enrolling in the class of Paul Mounet before being mobilised into the artillery 3 Career editIn 1914 Catelain met Marcel L Herbier then a writer and critic who became a major influence on his life and career and with whom he formed a lifelong friendship When L Herbier began directing films in 1917 Catelain became his leading man of choice and starred in twelve of his silent films starting with Le Torrent The first major role to attract attention was that of the dissolute son of a Breton fisherman in L Homme du large 1920 This was followed by El Dorado Don Juan et Faust L Inhumaine and Le Vertige and they made Catelain into a leading star who was in demand to appear in foreign films as well as in productions of other French directors such as Leonce Perret in Kœnigsmark In 1922 he was working in Munich under contract to a German film company 4 and he returned there in 1925 to appear in Robert Wiene s silent production of Der Rosenkavalier Also in 1925 he was offered a seven year contract by MGM to work in America but he turned this down 5 Jaque Catelain s activities in this period extended beyond acting He had already worked as an editor on L Homme du large and when Marcel L Herbier set up his own production company Cinegraphic in 1922 its first project became Le Marchand de plaisirs which Catelain directed as well as acting a double role in it 6 In the following year he wrote and directed a second film La Galerie des monstres 1923 24 Both films were successful enough to cover their costs 7 He devised controversial make up for some of the actors in L Inhumaine 8 and his artistic skills were put to further use in two set designs for L Argent 9 As a pianist he would sometimes step in to provide improvised accompaniment for previews of L Herbier s films 10 Catelain successfully made the transition from silent to sound films starring in L Herbier s L Enfant de l amour 1929 but during the 1930s he took fewer leading film roles and started to act in the theatre In February 1933 Catelain married Suzanne Vial 11 a friend since childhood who had become a production assistant to L Herbier in the 1920s and continued working with him until 1944 Soon afterwards in 1933 1934 Catelain was employed by the daily newspaper Le Journal to go to Hollywood to carry out a series of interviews with leading personalities such as Chaplin Stroheim and Sternberg 12 In May 1940 Catelain left France for a four month theatrical tour of South America but within a month France was occupied by the Germans and his absence lasted for six years In Buenos Aires he became so ill with pneumonia that he was given the last rites but he recovered and went to Canada for the next three years for work in the theatre and propaganda broadcasts In 1943 he was invited to Hollywood and remained there for a further three years taking bits parts and film dubbing jobs He returned to Paris in 1946 and resumed an occasional career in films appearing in minor roles in three of Jean Renoir s films in the 1950s In 1950 he published a biography and appreciation of the work of Marcel L Herbier 13 Catelain died in Paris in 1965 and he was buried in Passy Cemetery Reputation editJaque Catelain won considerable popularity in the early 1920s through his film roles as romantic lead or jeune premier His good looks were of a rather bland and pretty kind which did not commend him so much to later audiences and he was often criticised for wooden and inexpressive performances 14 Some contemporary critics however notably Louis Delluc saw his restrained and economical technique as a significant development away from the exaggerated theatrical acting which was still common in films and praised the sincerity and natural quality of his performances 15 Catelain himself was sufficiently thoughtful on the subject of acting to develop his views about the differences between interior and exterior performance in a journal article published in 1925 16 His own performance in L Homme du large illustrates his understanding of the importance of movement and posture in relation to the camera frame at a time when a more expressionist style of acting was common 17 Selected filmography editSilent Films Le Torrent 1917 Rose France 1918 Le Bercail 1919 Le Carnaval des verites 1920 L Homme du large 1920 also assistant editor El Dorado 1921 Don Juan et Faust 1922 Le Marchand de plaisirs 1922 also directed Kœnigsmark 1923 La Galerie des monstres 1924 also wrote and directed L Inhumaine 1924 Prince Charming 1925 Der Rosenkavalier 1925 Le Vertige 1926 Paname n est pas Paris Apaches of Paris 1927 Le Diable au cœur 1928 Nuits de princes Nights of Princes 1929 Sound films L Enfant de l amour 1930 La Reve The Dream 1931 Chateau de reve Dream Castle 1933 Le Bonheur 1934 La Route imperiale 1935 La Garconne 1936 La Marseillaise 1938 Adrienne Lecouvreur 1938 Le Voleur de femmes The Woman Thief 1938 Entente cordiale 1939 La Comedie du bonheur 1940 La Revoltee 1948 Les Derniers Jours de Pompei The Last Days of Pompeii 1950 French Cancan 1954 Elena et les hommes Paris Does Strange Things 1956 Le Testament du docteur Cordelier 1959 References edit Dictionnaire du cinema francais sous la direction de Jean Loup Passek Paris Larousse 1987 p 245 Jaque Catelain presente Marcel L Herbier Paris Vautrain 1950 p 7 Jaque Catelain presente Marcel L Herbier Paris Vautrain 1950 pp 24 26 Jaque Catelain presente Marcel L Herbier Paris Vautrain 1950 p 72 Jaque Catelain presente Marcel L Herbier Paris Vautrain 1950 p 84 Richard Abel French cinema the First Wave 1915 1929 Princeton University Press 1984 p 142 Dimitri Vezyroglou De Gaumont a Cinegraphic 1919 1929 in Marcel L Herbier l art du cinema ed by Laurent Veray Paris Association francaise de recherche sur l histoire du cinema 2007 p 75 Marcel L Herbier La Tete qui tourne Paris Belfond 1979 p 103 Jaque Catelain presente Marcel L Herbier Paris Vautrain 1950 pp 102 104 Marcel L Herbier La Tete qui tourne Paris Belfond 1979 p 59 Marcel L Herbier La Tete qui tourne Paris Belfond 1979 p 210 Jaque Catelain presente Marcel L Herbier Paris Vautrain 1950 p 6 p 114 Jaque Catelain presente Marcel L Herbier Paris Vautrain 1950 E g by Noel Burch Ambivalences d un realisateur bisexuel quatre films de Marcel L Herbier in Marcel L Herbier l art du cinema ed by Laurent Veray Paris Association francaise de recherche sur l histoire du cinema 2007 p 204 Louis Delluc Paris Midi 9 juillet 1921 quoted by Laurent Guido Vers l expression du mouvement interieur Jaque Catelain theoricien du jeu et acteur chez Marcel L Herbier in Marcel L Herbier l art du cinema ed by Laurent Veray Paris Association francaise de recherche sur l histoire du cinema 2007 p 122 Jaque Catelain L Acteur in Les Cahiers du mois n 16 17 1925 pp 17 21 Laurent Guido Vers l expression du mouvement interieur Jaque Catelain theoricien du jeu et acteur chez Marcel L Herbier in Marcel L Herbier l art du cinema ed by Laurent Veray Paris Association francaise de recherche sur l histoire du cinema 2007 pp 119 132 External links editJaque Catelain at L Encinematheque in French Jaque Catelain at IMDb Photographs and literature Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jaque Catelain amp oldid 1213273567, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
