Lilian Greuze (1890-1950) was a French
model
A model is an informative representation of an object, person or system. The term originally denoted the plans of a building in late 16th-century English, and derived via French and Italian ultimately from Latin ''modulus'', a measure.
Models c ...
, and actress of the stage and screen. She was from
Paris, France
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, 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), ma ...
Theater ingenue (stock character)
She was a
protégé
Mentorship is the influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organizational setting, a mentor influences the personal and p ...
of
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt (; born Henriette-Rosine Bernard; 22 or 23 October 1844 – 26 March 1923) was a French stage actress who starred in some of the most popular French plays of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including '' La Dame Aux Camel ...
and performed at the French Theater on West 44th Street in Manhattan (New York). Her first New York appearance came during the 1915 theatrical season. Greuze was one of many French notables who were recruited by
Lucien Laurent Bonheur, director of
the French Theater.
She acted in a humorous sketch entitled ''English School'' in her first American stage performance. She was paired with George Ranavant. An observer remarked about her skill in speaking, ''So perfect was her enunciation and the modulation of her voice that every syllable could be heard distinctly in the rear of the auditorium.''
In December 1915 she played with
Paul Gavault
Paul Armand Marcel Gavault (1 September 1866 - 25 December 1951) was a French dramatist, playwright and former director of the théâtre de l'Odéon.
Biography
He enjoyed a hit with his 1906 comic play '' Mademoiselle Josette, My Woman'' whi ...
at the French Theatre in ''Mademoiselle Josette Ma Femme''. As ''Josette'', Greuze portrayed the character which made
Billie Burke
Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was an American actress who was famous on Broadway and radio, and in silent and sound films. She is best known to modern audiences as Glinda the Good Witch of the North ...
famous. A reviewer commented favorably about her playful acting quality, citing her ''diverting
gaminerie''.
Film actress
Greuze appeared as ''Marian Somerset'' in ''The Recoil'' (1917), with
William Courtenay
William Courtenay ( 134231 July 1396) was Archbishop of Canterbury (1381–1396), having previously been Bishop of Hereford and Bishop of London.
Early life and education
Courtenay was a younger son of Hugh de Courtenay, 10th Earl of Devon ( ...
.
The
melodrama
A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or exces ...
is a quickly paced story about trying to save an innocent man from being electrocuted by intervening with the governor. The
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...
has preserved an incomplete copy of this film. Reel one is missing.
Her acting career continued in France, Germany, and Italy until the 1930s. Greuze's
filmography
A filmography is a list of films related by some criteria. For example, an actor's career filmography is the list of films they have appeared in; a director's comedy filmography is the list of comedy films directed by a particular director. The t ...
following ''The Recoil'' includes roles in ''Hier et aujord'hui'' (1918), ''Simone'' (1918),
''Tragedia senza lagrime'' (1919), ''Maître Bolbec et son mari'' (1934), ''Fanatisme'' (1934), and ''Le Clown Bux'' (1935).
Philanthropy
In November 1915 she was paid $200 for a kiss on the French
liner Rochambeau. The ship was en route to New York and Greuze was passing a collection bag for charity. She overheard a man remark that he would donate the sum in return for a kiss from her. The money was contributed for the benefit of orphans of French dressmakers who were killed at the
front
Front may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''The Front'' (1943 film), a 1943 Soviet drama film
* ''The Front'', 1976 film
Music
* The Front (band), an American rock band signed to Columbia Records and active in the 1980s and e ...
in the war.
During World War I Greuze worked with the
Red Cross
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million Volunteering, volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure re ...
at the French front in 1917. She was a nurse in a hospital at
Neuilly
Neuilly (, ) is a common place name in France, deriving from the male given name
A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as we ...
from the beginning of the war. The hospital was conducted by
Princess Henriette, Duchess of Vendôme and Alençon.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Greuze, Lillian
French stage actresses
French film actresses
French silent film actresses
Vaudeville performers
French female models
French women nurses
Female wartime nurses
20th-century French actresses
Female nurses in World War I
French women in World War I
1890 births
1950 deaths
People in health professions from Paris