Mistinguett

Mistinguett
Mistinguett by Nadar
Born	Jeanne Bourgeois 5 April 1875(1875-04-05) Enghien-les-Bains, Île-de-France, France
Died	5 January 1956(1956-01-05) (aged 80) Bougival, Île-de-France, France

Mistinguett in the United States in 1924

Mistinguett (5 April 1875 – 5 January 1956) was a French actress and singer, whose birth name was Jeanne Bourgeois. She was at one time the best-paid female entertainer in the world. She inspired a fashion for long headresses and gowns, which became a staple of French music hall.^[1]

Biography

Jeanne Bourgeois originated from Enghien-les-Bains, Val-d'Oise, Île-de-France, France. At an early age she aspired to be an entertainer. She began as a flower seller in a restaurant in her hometown, singing popular ballads as she sold her flowers. When a song-writing acquaintance made up the name Miss Tinguette, Jeanne liked it. She made it her own by joining it together and eventually dropping the second S and the final E (Mistinguett).

Jeanne Bourgeois made her debut as Mistinguett at the Casino de Paris in 1895 and went on to appear in venues such as the Folies Bergère, Moulin Rouge and Eldorado. Her risque routines captivated Paris, and she went on to become the most popular French entertainer of her time and the highest paid female entertainer in the world. She incorporated flamboyance and a zest for the theatrical.^[1] In 1919 her legs were insured for 500,000 francs. She had a long relationship with Maurice Chevalier, 13 years her junior.

She first recorded her signature song "Mon Homme" in 1916. It was popularised under its English title "My Man" by Fanny Brice, and has become a standard in the repertoire of numerous pop and jazz singers.

During a tour of the United States, she was asked by Time magazine to explain her popularity. Her answer was: "It is a kind of magnetism. I say 'Come closer' and draw them to me."

Jeanne Bourgeois' career lasted more than 50 years. She died at the age of 80 and is buried in the Cimetiere Enghien-les-Bains, Île-de-France, France.

Filmography

• Carosello del varietà (1955)
• Paris 1900 (1947)
• Rigolboche (1936) .... Lina Bourget
• L'Île d'amour (1928) ... aka Island of Love (International: English title)
• Mistinguett détective II (1917)
• Mistinguett détective (1917)
• Fleur de Paris (1916) .... Margot Panard et Mistinguett
• Sous la menace (1916)
• Chignon d'or (1916) .... Mistinguett ... aka The Gold Chignon (USA: literal English title)
• Doppia ferita, La (1915)
• Valse renversante, La (1914)
• Misérables – Époque 4: Cosette et Marius, Les (1913) .... Éponine
• Misérables – Époque 3: Cosette, Les (1913) .... Éponine
• Misérables – Époque 2: Fantine, Les (1913) .... Éponine Thénardier
• Misérables – Époque 1: Jean Valjean, Les (1913) .... Éponine Thénardier
• Glu, La (1913) .... Fernande, dite 'La Glu'
• Une bougie récalcitrante (1912)
• Parapluie, Le (1912)
• Vocation de Lolo, La (1912)
• À bas les hommes (1912)
• Bal costumé (1912)
• Coup de foudre, Le (1912)
• Folle de Penmarch, La (1912) .... Yvonne ... aka Folle de Pen-March, La (France)
• Moche, La (1912)
• L'Oubliée, L (1912)
• Un enfant terrible (1912)
• Clown et le pacha, Le (1911)
• Épouvante, L' (1911) .... La star de music-hall ... aka Terror-Stricken (UK)
• Ruse de Miss Plumcake, La (1911) .... Miss Plumcake
• Timidités de Rigadin, Les (1910) .... La fiancée de Rigadin
• Ce bon docteur (1909)
• L'Enlèvement de Mademoiselle Biffin (1909)
• Un mari qui l'échappe belle (1909)
• Fiancée récalcitrante, La (1909)
• Fleur de pavé (1909)
• L'Empreinte ou La main rouge (1908)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 420. ISBN 1-904041-96-5. 

External links

• Mistinguett at the Internet Movie Database
• Fan Site
• Mistinguett by Lenci, c.1924
• Photographs and literature

Persondata
Name	Mistinguett
Alternative names	Bourgeois, Jeanne
Short description	French actress and singer
Date of birth	5 April 1875
Place of birth	Enghien-les-Bains, Île-de-France, France
Date of death	5 January 1956
Place of death	Bougival, Île-de-France, France