Bourvil

André Bourvil, a French actor and singer best known for his roles in comedy, most notably in his collaboration with Louis de Funès in "La Grande Vadrouille" (1966), was born "André Robert Raimbourg" (July 27 1917, Prétot-Vicquemare, France). He died September 23 1970 in Paris, of Kahler's syndrome.

Biography

Bourvil wasn't yet born when his father was killed at war, and he spent his entire childhood in the village of Bourville, the name of which inspired his stage name. He married Jeanne Lefrique on January 23, 1943. After a battle with Kahler's syndrome, which attacks the bone marrow, he died at the age of 53. He is buried in Montainville (Yvelines).

His roles

In his comic performances Bourvil principally played roles of gentle and well-meaning characters who were often a bit obtuse or naive, such as his roles opposite the energetic Louis de Funès. Bourvil's well-meaning characters not only managed to make us laugh but also to save themselves from the Machiavellian designs of adversaries played by de Funès.

Bourvil was, however, also capable of more dramatic roles such as the handyman in "L'Arbre de Noël" (1969). In this role he observes the relationship between a man he works for and the young son who has fallen ill. The audience can identify with the character played by Bourvil, just as they can in his comic roles, so often as a simple man. One can also note his role of Thénardier in the film adaptation of "Misérables" (1958).

Filmography

* 1941 : "Croisières sidérales"
* 1945 : "la Ferme du pendu"
* 1946 : "Pas si bête"
* 1947 : "le Studio en folie"
* 1947 : "Par la fenêtre"
* 1947 : "Blanc comme neige"
* 1948 : "le Cœur sur la main"
* 1949 : "le Roi Pandore"
* 1949 : "Miquette et sa mère"
* 1950 : "le Rosier de madame Husson"
* 1950 : "le Passe-Muraille"
* 1951 : "Seul dans Paris"
* 1952 : "le Trou normand"
* 1952 : "Cent francs par seconde"
* 1953 : "les Trois Mousquetaires"
* 1954 : "Si Versailles m'était conté ..." directed by Sacha Guitry
* 1954 : "Poisson d'avril"
* 1954 : "Cadet-Rousselle"
* 1954 : "le Fil à la patte"
* 1955 : "les Hussards"
* 1956 : "La Traversée de Paris"
* 1956 : "le Chanteur de Mexico"
* 1958 : "Les Misérables" directed by Jean-Paul Le Chanois
* 1958 : "le Miroir à deux faces
* 1958 : "Sérénade au Texas"
* 1958 : "Un drôle de dimanche"
* 1959 : "le Chemin des écoliers"
* 1959 : "Le Bossu"
* 1959 : "la Jument verte"
* 1960 : "Le Capitan"
* 1960 : "Fortunat"
* 1961 : "Tout l'or du monde"
* 1961 : "Le Tracassin ou les plaisirs de la ville" ("The Busybody", Alex Joffé)
* 1962 : "les Culottes rouges"
* 1962 : "les Bonnes Causes"
* 1962 : "The Longest Day"
* 1962 : "Tartarin de Tarascon"
* 1963 : "le Magot de Josepha"
* 1963 : "Un drôle de paroissien"
* 1963 : "la Cuisine au beurre"
* 1964 : "la Grande Frousse
* 1964 : "Le Corniaud" (The Sucker) directed by Gérard Oury
* 1965 : "Guerre secrète"
* 1965 : "la Grosse Caisse"
* 1965 : "les Grandes Gueules"
* 1966 : "la Grande Vadrouille" directed by Gérard Oury
* 1966 : "Trois enfants dans le désordre"
* 1967 : "les Arnaud"
* 1967 : "les Cracks"
* 1968 : "la Grande Lessive"
* 1968 : "Le Cerveau" directed by Gérard Oury
* 1969 : "Monte Carlo or Bust" ("Gonflés à bloc") directed by Ken Annakin
* 1969 : "The Christmas Tree" (L'Arbre de Noël), directed by Terence Young
* 1969 : "L'Étalon" directed by Jean-Pierre Mocky
* 1970 : "Le Cercle rouge" directed by Jean-Pierre Melville
* 1970 : "Le Mur de l'Atlantique" (Atlantic Wall) directed by Marcel Camus

ongs

Nearly 300, among which the best known are:
* "La tendresse"
* "Salade de fruits"
* "Les crayons"
* "La Tactique du gendarme" (from the film "Le roi Pandore")
* "Ballade irlandaise"
* "Un clair de lune à Maubeuge"

External links

*imdb name|id=0100186|name=Bourvil

French links

* [http://users.skynet.be/bourvil/ Regularly updated Biography Site]
* [http://jetiembre.free.fr Biography Site]