Maurice Chevalier

Maurice Auguste Chevalier
1888 - 1972
French born Paris

Nickname Mo . Height 5' 11½" (1.82 m) . Maurice Chevalier's first working job was as an acrobat, until a severe accident turned him toward singing and making pictures, that is, short films in France, the year being 1908. He joined the French Army in World War I, but was wounded, captured, and imprisoned by the Germans. While in prison, he learned the English language from fellow prisoners. After the war, he returned to making French films. When Hollywood started to make talkies, Muarice felt he had to be there and left for America in 1928. In 1929, Chevalier was matched up with the beautiful opeattic singer/actress, Jeanette MacDonald to make the movie, Love Parade. Chevalier was immediately attracted to MacDonald, and "made the moves on her" - she rejected him (she only had eyes for Gene Raymond her future husband). Maurice, who considered himself a catch, was not used to being rejected by his female co-stars, called Jeanette a "prude", she called him the "quickest derriere pincher in Hollywood". They made three more pictures together, the most successful being, Love Me Tonight (1932) (1932). In the late 1930's, Maurice returned to Europe, making several French and English films. World War II interrupted his career for he was accused of being a Nazi collaborator - later being vindicated. In the 1950's, he returned to Hollywood, he was older and gray-headed. He made the movie Gigi (1958), this gave him his signature songs, "Thank Heaven for Little Girls", and "I Remember it Well". He also received a special oscar that year. In the 1960's, he continued to make a few more films, and in 1970, he sang the title song for Walt Disney's, Aristocats. This marked his last contribution to the film industry. Spouse Yvonne Vallée (1927 - c. 1932) (divorced).

"Disneyland" (1978) , Monkeys, Go Home! (1967) , "The Bell Telephone Hour" (1964) , I'd Rather Be Rich (1964) , Panic Button (1964) , In Search of the Castaways (1962) , Jessica (1962) , The Broadway of Lerner and Loewe (1962) , Fanny (1961) , Pepe (1960) , A Breath of Scandal (1960) , Can-Can (1960) , 1-2-3-4 ou Les Collants noirs (1960) , Count Your Blessings (1959) , Gigi (1958) , Love in the Afternoon (1957) , J'avais sept filles (1954) , Cento anni d'amore (1954) , Ma pomme (1950) , Roi, Le (1949) , Silence est d'or, Le (1947) , Pièges (1939) ,Break the News (1938) , Homme du jour, L' (1937) , The Beloved Vagabond (1936) , Folies-Bergère (1936) , Vagabond bien-aimé, Le (1936) , Avec le sourire (1936) , Folies Bergère de Paris (1935) , The Merry Widow (1934) , Veuve joyeuse, La (1934) , The Way to Love (1933), A Bedtime Story (1933) , Amour guide, L' (1933) , Love Me Tonight (1932) , Make Me a Star (1932) , Une heure près de toi (1932) , One Hour with You (1932) , Monkey Business (1931) ,The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) , Petit café, Le (1931) , Paramount en parade (1930) , The Playboy of Paris (1930) , Grande mare, La (1930) , The Big Pond (1930) , Paramount on Parade (1930) , The Love Parade (1929) , Innocents of Paris (1929) , Jim Bougne, boxeur (1923) , Par habitude (1923) , Accordeur, L' (1923) , Affaire de la rue de Lourcine, L' (1923) , Gonzague (1922) , Mauvais garçon, Le (1922) , Match Criqui-Ledoux, Le (1922) , Une soirée mondaine (1917) , Valse renversante, La (1914) , Royaume nain de Lilliput contre Gigas le long, prince des géants, Le (1914) , Une bougie récalcitrante (1912) , Une mariée qui se fait attendre (1911) , Par habitude (1911) , Trop crédules (1908)