![Stage](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Stage._Fridolinons_BAnQ_P48S1P12560.jpg)
Gratien Gélinas, (December 8, 1909 – March 16, 1999) was a Canadian writer, playwright, actor, director, producer and administrator who is considered one of the founders of modern Canadian theatre and film.
His major works include ''Tit-Coq'' (1948), ''Bousille et les Justes'' (1959), and ''Hier, les enfants dansaient'' (1968). He also wrote a series of satirical revues known as the ''Fridolinades''.
The ''Fridolinades'' revues, consisting of comic sketches, songs, and monologues, were named for the often-featured character Fridolin. A poor boy from Montreal, he wore a tri-colour
Canadiens
French Canadians (referred to as Canadiens mainly before the twentieth century; french: Canadiens français, ; feminine form: , ), or Franco-Canadians (french: Franco-Canadiens), refers to either an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Fren ...
hockey jersey, knee socks, and suspenders. While not quite
joual, the French he spoke was reflective of what a person would hear on the streets of Montreal, which made it stand out in sharp contrast to the continental French being spoken in most other theatres. Fridolin's boundless optimism in the face of constant disappointment came to emblemize the Quebec spirit of "survivance", and made him one of the first distinctly Canadian heroes of the stage. His success was considerable: Gélinas was declared by an adoring public to be the first playwright "de chez nous" (from our place).
[
Gélinas' play ''Hier, les enfants dansaient'' ('']Yesterday the Children were Dancing
''Yesterday the Children were Dancing'', or ''Hier, les enfants dansaient'', is a Canadian, specifically Québécois play by Gratien Gélinas.
The story is about a Member of Parliament, Pierre Gravel, who is offered the post of Minister of Justi ...
'') takes place entirely in one night. Based in 1966, it revolves around the tumultuous politics in Quebec around that time though its characters are entirely fictitious. Pierre Gravel is debating whether or not to accept a prominent position within the Liberal party. Throughout the course of the play, Gravel's sons, André and Larry, admit that they are active members of the separatist party and responsible for the bombs that had been threatening the city and destroying historical landmarks.[
Gélinas also founded the ''Comédie-Canadienne'', which was active until 1972.][
In 1967, Gélinas was made an Officer of the ]Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the cen ...
and was promoted to Companion in 1989. In 1985, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as ''l'Ordre national du Québec'', and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is an order of merit in the Canadian province of Quebec. Instituted in 1984 when Lieutenant Governo ...
. He received an honorary doctorate from the Royal Military College of Canada
'')
, established = 1876
, type = Military academy
, chancellor = Anita Anand ('' la, ex officio, label=none'' as Defence Minister)
, principal = Harry Kowal
, head_label ...
in St-Jean in 1989.
He married Huguette Oligny in 1973 and is the grandfather of actor and pop singer Mitsou Gélinas, MusiquePlus
Elle Fictions (stylized ELLE Fictions) is a Canadian French language specialty channel owned by Remstar Media Group. The channel broadcasts general entertainment programming targeting young adult women.
It was first established in 1986 as the mu ...
veejay, writer and actor Abeille Gélinas
Abeille Gélinas, also known as DJ Abeille, (born July 12, 1979) is a Canadian DJ, entertainer and actress.
Biography
Born in the province of Quebec, she is the sister of actress and singer Mitsou and the granddaughter of actor Gratien Gélinas. ...
, and writer Anne-Marie Sicotte who has written the biography "Gratien Gélinas : la ferveur et le doute", published by the Éditions Québec/Amérique in 1995 et 1996. After his death in 1999, he was entombed at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery (french: Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges) is a rural cemetery located in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Montreal, Quebec, Canada which was founded in 1854. The entrance and the grounds run a ...
in Montreal. The Library and Archives Canada contains sound recordings and transcriptions of Anne-Marie Sicotte's interview with Gelinas.Fonds Anne Marie Sicotte
Library and Archives Canada
Filmography
*''La dame aux camélias, la vraie'' - 1942
*''Fridolinons'' - 1945
*'' The Plouffe Family (La famille Plouffe)'' - 1953
*''Tit-Coq
''Tit-Coq'' (lit. "Little Rooster") is a Canadian film, directed by René Delacroix and Gratien Gélinas, and released in 1953. Gélinas' immensely popular play started life as a film script, but when he had difficulty with the financing he perfo ...
'' - 1953
*''Red
Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a secondar ...
'' - 1970
*'' Cordélia'' - 1980
*''Peau de banane'' - 1982
*'' Agnes of God'' - 1985
*''The Canadian Conspiracy
''The Canadian Conspiracy'' is a 1985 HBO/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, CBC mockumentary, co-written and directed by Robert Boyd (director), Robert Boyd, about the way the Government of Canada is subverting the United States by taking over i ...
'' - 1985
*''The Mills of Power
''The Mills of Power'' (french: Les Tisserands du pouvoir) is a Canadian television miniseries, directed by Claude Fournier. A historical drama, the film centres on the historical phenomenon of French Canadians who emigrated to New England for w ...
(Les Tisserands du pouvoir)'' - 1988
References
External links
*
Gratien Gélinas
at The Canadian Encyclopedia
''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' (TCE; french: L'Encyclopédie canadienne) is the national encyclopedia of Canada, published online by the Toronto-based historical organization Historica Canada, with the support of Canadian Heritage.
Available f ...
Podcast on Gratien Gelinas from Library and Archives Canada
*
Fonds Gratien Gélinas (R666)
at Library and Archives Canada
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gelinas, Gratien
1909 births
1999 deaths
Canadian male stage actors
Companions of the Order of Canada
Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada
Knights of the National Order of Quebec
Film directors from Quebec
20th-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights
Writers from Quebec
Male actors from Quebec
Canadian dramatists and playwrights in French
20th-century Canadian male actors
Canadian male dramatists and playwrights
Best Supporting Actor Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners
20th-century Canadian male writers
Burials at Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery