Albert Préjean (27 October 1894 in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...

– 1 November 1979 in Paris) was a French actor, primarily in film. He served in World War I, and was decorated with the

Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...

and the

Legion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

. With

Lysiane Rey Lysiane Rey (Jacqueline, Andrée, Albertine, Louise Leharanger) (13 November 1922 in Amiens – 1 October 1975 in Maisons-Laffitte) was a French actress. With Albert Préjean she was the mother of actor Patrick Préjean, and the grandmother ...

, he was the father of

Patrick Préjean Patrick Préjean (born 4 June 1944) is a French actor, known especially for his work in dubbing. He has also made a career in boulevard theatre. He is the son of the actor Albert Préjean and the actress Lysiane Rey, and is the father of actr ...

, and grandfather of

Laura Préjean Laura Préjean (born 1978) is a French actress who is the daughter of actor Patrick Préjean and the granddaughter of actors Albert Préjean and Lysiane Rey. Biography Dubbing roles Television animation *'' Argai: The Prophecy'' (Angéle) *'' ...

Biography

Préjean shot his first five films with French director

Henri Diamant-Berger Henri Diamant-Berger (9 June 1895 – 7 May 1972) was a French director, producer and screenwriter. In a career that lasted more than 50 years, he directed 48 films between 1913 and 1959, produced 17 between 1925 and 1967 and wrote 21 screen ...

between 1921 and 1923. The roles he played tended to embody the leading man for the people, generous and strong. His most lasting fame stems from his work in the films of

René Clair René Clair (11 November 1898 – 15 March 1981), born René-Lucien Chomette, was a French filmmaker and writer. He first established his reputation in the 1920s as a director of silent films in which comedy was often mingled with fantasy. He wen ...

that transition from the silent to the sound eras. These include most notably the farce '' Un Chapeau de Paille d'Italie'' (1928) and the musicalized melancomic '' Sous les toits de Paris'' (1930). When German director G. W. Pabst directed the film version of the huge Brecht-Weill musical hit ''

Die Dreigroschenoper ''The Threepenny Opera'' ( ) is a "play with music" by Bertolt Brecht, adapted from a translation by Elisabeth Hauptmann of John Gay's 18th-century English ballad opera, ''The Beggar's Opera'', and four ballads by François Villon, with music b ...

'' in 1931, he simultaneously shot a French-language version (''L'opéra de quat'sous'') with a French lead cast. Préjean was given the coveted lead role of the underworld kingpin Mackie Messer. In 1929 he directed a medium-length film '' L'Aventure de Luna-Park'' with Daniele Parola. In addition to acting he was also a popular singer in the 1930s. He sang songs like "La Valse to Dede Montmartre". During World War II he continued to act in films. In March 1942, he joined a group of actors who at the invitation of the Germans visited film studios in Berlin. This was alongside French actors and actresses such as René Dary, Astor Junie,

Viviane Romance Viviane Romance (born Pauline Ronacher Ortmanns; 4 July 1912 – 25 September 1991) was a French actress. Viviane Romance was born in Roubaix, France. She began her career as a dancer at the Moulin Rouge in Paris and was elected Miss Paris of 193 ...

Suzy Delair Suzy Delair (born Suzette Pierrette Delaire; December 31, 1917 – March 15, 2020) was a French actress, dancer, singer, comedian and star of vaudeville. Early years Growing up in Montmartre, Delair was the daughter of a father who upholstered ...

and

Danielle Darrieux Danielle Yvonne Marie Antoinette Darrieux (; 1 May 1917 – 17 October 2017) was a French actress of stage, television and film, as well as a singer and dancer. Beginning in 1931, she appeared in more than 110 films. She was one of France's g ...

. He recollected his memories in a book published in 1979 with the help of his son, voice actor

Selected filmography

* '' Le Miracle des loups'' (1924) * '' The Phantom of the Moulin Rouge'' (1925) * '' The Crazy Ray'' (1925) * '' The Imaginary Voyage'' (1926) * '' The Italian Straw Hat'' (1928) * '' Verdun: Visions of History'' (1929) * ''

Les Nouveaux Messieurs ''Les Nouveaux Messieurs'' ("the new men") is a 1929 French silent film directed by Jacques Feyder. It is a satirical comedy, whose initial release in France was delayed for several months because of objections to its portrayal of the French par ...

'' (1929) * '' The Shark'' (1930) * ''

Under the Roofs of Paris ''Under the Roofs of Paris'' (french: Sous les toits de Paris) is a 1930 French film directed by René Clair. The film was probably the earliest French example of a filmed musical-comedy, although its often dark tone differentiates it from othe ...

'' (1930) * '' L'Opéra de quat'sous'' (1931) * '' Amourous Adventure'' (1932) * '' A Son from America'' (1932) * '' Madame Makes Her Exit'' (1932) * '' Sailor's Song'' (1932) * '' Honeymoon Trip'' (1933) * ''

Toto Toto may refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters Pets * Toto (Oz), Toto (''Oz''), a dog in the novel and film ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' * Toto, in Japanese ''The Cat Returns#Plot, The Cat Returns'' Characters of agency * a ...

'' (1933) * '' Volga in Flames'' (1934) * ''

The Crisis is Over ''The Crisis is Over'' (French: ''La crise est finie'') is a 1934 French musical comedy film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Albert Préjean, Danielle Darrieux and Marcel Carpentier. Many of those who worked on the film were exiles fro ...

'' (1934) * ''

Gold in the Street ''Gold in the Street'' (French: ''L'Or dans la rue'' ) is a 1934 French comedy film directed by Curtis Bernhardt, written by Henry Koster and Henri Decoin, and starring Danielle Darrieux.The A to Z of French Cinema p.119 The film's sets were d ...

'' (1934) * ''

Princess Tam Tam ''Princess Tam Tam'' is a 1935 French black-and-white film which stars Josephine Baker as a local Tunisian girl who is educated and then introduced to Parisian high society. Baker sings two songs, "Dream Ship" and "Neath the Tropical Blue Skies", ...

'' (1935) * '' Jenny'' (1936) * '' The Alibi'' (1937) * ''

Mollenard ''Mollenard'' is a 1938 French drama film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Harry Baur, Gabrielle Dorziat and Pierre Renoir. It was also known by the alternative titles of ''Hatred'' and ''Capitaine Corsaire''. The film's sets were desi ...

'' (1938) * ''

Unknown of Monte Carlo ''Unknown of Monte Carlo'' (French: ''L'inconnue de Monte Carlo'') is a 1939 French drama film directed by André Berthomieu and starring Dita Parlo, Albert Préjean and Jules Berry.Rège, Philippe. ''Encyclopedia of French Film Directors, Vol ...

'' (1939) * ''

Metropolitan Metropolitan may refer to: * Metropolitan area, a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories * Metropolitan borough, a form of local government district in England * Metropolitan county, a typ ...

'' (1939) * '' Cristobal's Gold'' (1940) * ''

Strange Suzy ''Strange Suzy'' (French: ) is a 1941 French comedy film directed by Pierre-Jean Ducis and starring Suzy Prim, Claude Dauphin and Marguerite Moreno. Made in the southern zone of Vichy France, the film was a commercial success. Along with another ...

'' (1941) * '' Caprices'' (1942) *'' Shop Girls of Paris'' (1943) * ''

Cecile Is Dead ''Cecile Is Dead'' (French: ''Cécile est morte!'') is a 1944 French crime film directed by Maurice Tourneur and starring Albert Préjean, Santa Relli and Germaine Kerjean. It is based on the 1942 novel of the same title by Georges Simenon fea ...

'' (1944) * '' Majestic Hotel Cellars'' (1945) * ''

The Murderer is Not Guilty ''The Murderer is Not Guilty'' (French: ''L'assassin n'est pas coupable'') is a 1946 French crime film directed by René Delacroix and starring Albert Préjean Albert Préjean (27 October 1894 in Paris – 1 November 1979 in Paris) w ...

'' (1946) * '' The Scarlet Bazaar'' (1947) * '' The Bouquinquant Brothers'' (1947) * '' Love and Desire'' (1951) * '' A Missionary'' (1955) * '' Bombs on Monte Carlo'' (1960)

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Prejean, Albert 1894 births 1979 deaths Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur French male film actors French male silent film actors Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) People from Pantin 20th-century French male actors