Marie Bell (23 December 1900 – 14 August 1985), born Marie-Jeanne Bellon-Downey, was a French

tragedian Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy i ...

comic actor A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the olde ...

and

stage director A theatre director or stage director is a professional in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theatre production such as a play, opera, dance, drama, musical theatre performance, etc. by unifying various endeavors a ...

. She was the director of the Théâtre du Gymnase in

Paris 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 ...

from 1962 onwards, and this theatre now bears her name.

Early life

Marie Bell was born on 23 December 1900 in

Bègles Bègles (; Gascon: ''Begla'') is a commune in the Gironde department in southwestern France. It is a suburb of the city of Bordeaux and is adjacent to it on the south. Bègles station has rail connections to Langon and Bordeaux. Population ...

near Bordeaux (France). With her Irish father, she spent her childhood between

Bordeaux Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefect ...

and

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

Career

Bell was a classical actress. She also appeared in avant-garde theatre, Jean Genet in particular. Her interpretation of the role of

Phèdre ''Phèdre'' (; originally ''Phèdre et Hippolyte'') is a French dramatic tragedy in five acts written in alexandrine verse by Jean Racine, first performed in 1677 at the theatre of the Hôtel de Bourgogne in Paris. Composition and premiere Wit ...

is highly noted : "Voir Marie Bell dans Phèdre est une chance unique pour quiconque veut savoir ce qu'est le génie français."

André Malraux Georges André Malraux ( , ; 3 November 1901 – 23 November 1976) was a French novelist, art theorist, and Minister of Culture (France), minister of cultural affairs. Malraux's novel ''La Condition Humaine'' (Man's Fate) (1933) won the Prix Go ...

During the German Occupation of France (1940–1944), she participated in the

French resistance The French Resistance (french: La Résistance) was a collection of organisations that fought the German occupation of France during World War II, Nazi occupation of France and the Collaborationism, collaborationist Vichy France, Vichy régim ...

as one of nine directors of the Front national du théâtre. She was awarded the decoration of the

Légion 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 ...

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Charles de Gaulle.

Personal life

Bell married

Jean Chevrier Jean Chevrier (25 April 1915 – 13 December 1975) was a French film actor and member of the Comédie-Française. He appeared in 50 films between 1936 and 1972. He was married to actress Marie Bell. At the end of his life, he was known as ...

, who was also an actor.

Death

Bell died on 14 August 1985 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine,

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

. She was buried alongside her husband

at the

Monaco Cemetery The Monaco Cemetery (French: ''Cimetière de Monaco'') is a cemetery in La Colle. Overview The cemetery contained 2350 tombs until 2014, when 198 more were built. It is open to the public from 8am to 7pm in the summer and from 8am to 6pm in the w ...

not far from

Josephine Baker Josephine Baker (born Freda Josephine McDonald; naturalised French Joséphine Baker; 3 June 1906 – 12 April 1975) was an American-born French dancer, singer and actress. Her career was centered primarily in Europe, mostly in her adopted Fran ...

Filmography

*''Paris'' (dir. René Hervil, 1924), as Marthe de Lignières *''

Madame Récamier Madame may refer to: * Madam, civility title or form of address for women, derived from the French * Madam (prostitution), a term for a woman who is engaged in the business of procuring prostitutes, usually the manager of a brothel * ''Madame'' ...

'' (dir. Tony Lekain and

Gaston Ravel Gaston Ravel (1878–1958) was a French screenwriter and film director. He made over sixty films, mostly during the silent era. In 1929 he co-directed the historical film ''The Queen's Necklace''.Klossner p.77 Selected filmography * '' The Knot'' ...

, 1928), as

Juliette Récamier Jeanne Françoise Julie Adélaïde Récamier (; 3 December 1777 – 11 May 1849), known as Juliette (), was a French socialite whose salon drew people from the leading literary and political circles of early 19th-century Paris. As an icon of ...

* '' The Farewell Waltz'' (dir.

Henry Roussel Henry Roussel (1875–1946), also known as Henry Roussell, was a French silent film actor, film director and screenwriter best known for his silent films of the 1910s and 1920s. He starred in well over 40 films between 1912 and 1939. Selecte ...

, 1928), as Maria Wodzińska *'' Figaro'' (dir. Tony Lekain and

, 1929), as Suzanne *'' La nuit est à nous'' (''The Night Is Ours'') (dir. Carl Froelich and

, 1930), as Bettine de Barsac *''Le Joker'' (dir.

Erich Waschneck Erich John Waschneck (29 April 1887, in Grimma, Kingdom of Saxony – 22 September 1970, in Berlin) was a German cameraman, director, screenwriter, and film producer. Early life Erich was the son of Karl Hermann Waschneck, a blacksmith, and hi ...

, 1930), as Harriet Williams *' (dir.

Curtis Bernhardt Curtis Bernhardt (15 April 1899 – 22 February 1981) was a Jewish film director born in Worms, Germany, under the name Kurt Bernhardt. He trained as an actor in Germany, and performed on the stage, before starting as a film director in 1924, wi ...

and

Jean Tarride Jean Tarride (1901–1980) was a French actor and film director. He was the brother of the actor Jacques Tarride. Selected filmography Director * ' (1931) * ' (1932) * '' The Yellow Dog'' (1932) * ''Étienne Étienne, a French analog of Stephen ...

, 1931), as Lady Falkland *''La Folle Aventure'' (dir. Carl Froelich and

André-Paul Antoine André-Paul Antoine (1892–1982) was a French screenwriter.Klossner p.33 He also directed two films and a documentary during the early 1930s. Selected filmography * ''The Mysteries of Paris'' (1922) * '' Le Miracle des loups'' (1924) * '' My He ...

, 1931), as Nelly Irwin * ''

Luck Luck is the phenomenon and belief that defines the experience of improbable events, especially improbably positive or negative ones. The naturalistic interpretation is that positive and negative events may happen at any time, both due to rand ...

'' (dir. René Guissart, 1931), as Tania Balieff * '' The Man with the Hispano'' (dir. Jean Epstein, 1933), as Stéphane Oswill *' (dir. Karl Hartl and Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1934), as Isabelle *''Fedora'' (dir.

Louis J. Gasnier Louis Joseph Gasnier (September 15, 1875 – February 15, 1963) was a French-American film director, producer, screenwriter and stage actor. A cinema pioneer, Gasnier shepherded the early career of comedian Max Linder, co-directed the enormously ...

, 1934), as Fedora *'' Le Grand Jeu'' (dir.

Jacques Feyder Jacques Feyder (; 21 July 1885 – 24 May 1948) was a Belgian actor, screenwriter and film director who worked principally in France, but also in the US, Britain and Germany. He was a director of silent films during the 1920s, and in the 1930 ...

, 1934), as Florence / Irma *'' Poliche'' (dir. Abel Gance, 1934), as Rosine *' (dir.

Giovacchino Forzano Giovacchino Forzano (; 19 November 1884 – 28 October 1970) was an Italian playwright, librettist, stage and film director. A resourceful writer, he authored numerous popular plays and produced opera librettos for most of the major Italian comp ...

, 1935), as Anne-Marie de Beaulieu **' (dir.

and Marcel Cravenne, 1936), as Anne-Marie de Beaulieu *' (dir. Abel Gance, 1936), as Marguerite *'' La Garçonne'' (dir.

Jean de Limur Jean de Limur (13 November 1887, Vouhé, Charente-Maritime – 5 June 1976, Paris) was a French film director, actor and screenwriter. His works include '' La Garçonne'' (1936) and '' The Letter'' (1929). A French army officer and a designer, ...

, 1936), as Monique Lerbier – la garçonne *''La Tentation'' (dir. Pierre Caron, 1936), as Irène de Bergue *' (dir.

Léo Joannon Léo Joannon (21 August 1904 – 28 March 1969) was a French writer and film director. Born in Aix-en-Provence, Joannon was originally a law student who became a novelist and journalist before entering the film industry in the 1920s as a camerama ...

, 1936), as Mattia *''Les Demi-vierges'' (dir. Pierre Caron, 1936), as Maud de Rouvre *''Blanchette'' (dir. Pierre Caron, 1937), as Blanchette Rousset *' (dir.

Walter Kapps Walter Kapps (September 13, 1907 - February 1, 1975), was a French film director. Partial filmography * 1936 : ''Les Gaietés du palace'' * 1937 : ''Pantins d'amour'' * 1939 : ''Case of Conscience'' * 1942 : ' * 1943 : ''Mahlia la métisse' ...

, 1937), as Renée Morhange *'' Un carnet de bal'' (''Life Dances On'') (dir. Julien Duvivier, 1937), as Christine Surgère *' (dir.

Maurice Gleize Maurice Gleize (1898–1974) was a French screenwriter and film director.Hayward p.201 Selected filmography Director * '' The Red Night'' (1923) * '' Madonna of the Sleeping Cars'' (1928) * '' A Hen on a Wall'' (1936) * ''Coral Reefs A co ...

, 1938), de Simone *''La Glu'' (dir.

Jean Choux Jean Choux (1887–1946) was a French/Swiss film director and producer born in Geneva. Filmography * '' La Vocation d'André Carel'' (1925) * '' La Terre qui meurt'' (1926) * '' Le Baiser qui tue'' (1927) * '' Espionnage ou la guerre sans armes'' ...

, 1938), as Fernande "La Glu" *'' Noix de coco'' (''Cocoanut'') (dir. Jean Boyer, 1939), as Caroline * ''

The Phantom Carriage ''The Phantom Carriage'' ( sv, Körkarlen, literally "The Wagoner") is a 1921 Swedish silent film directed by and starring Victor Sjöström, based on the 1912 novel '' Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness!'' (''Körkarlen'') by Swedish author Selma Lag ...

'' (dir. Julien Duvivier, 1939), as Sœur Maria *' (dir. Yvan Noé, 1941), as Hélène *'' Vie privée'' (dir.

, 1942), as Florence *'' Le colonel Chabert'' (dir. René Le Hénaff, 1943), as Comtesse Rosine Ferraud *'' Il gattopardo'' (''The Leopard'') (dir.

Luchino Visconti Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo (; 2 November 1906 – 17 March 1976) was an Italian filmmaker, stage director, and screenwriter. A major figure of Italian art and culture in the mid-20th century, Visconti was one of the ...

, 1963), uncredited *'' La Bonne Soupe'' (dir. Robert Thomas, 1964), as Marie-Paule *'' Vaghe stelle dell'Orsa'' (''Sandra'') (dir.

, 1965), as Sandra's mother *''

Hotel Paradiso ''Hotel Paradiso'' is a 1966 British comedy film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in Panavision. It was directed by Peter Glenville and based on the play '' L'Hôtel du libre échange'' by Maurice Desvallières and Georges Feydeau. The film allo ...

'' (dir.

Peter Glenville Peter Glenville (born Peter Patrick Brabazon Browne; 28 October 19133 June 1996) was an English film and stage actor and director. Biography Born in Hampstead, London, into a theatrical family, Glenville was the son of Shaun Glenville (born J ...

, 1966), as La Grande Antoinette *''Phèdre'' (dir. Pierre Jourdan, 1968), as

*''Les Volets clos'' (dir. Jean-Claude Brialy, 1973), as Aurore

References

External links

* *
Marie Bell
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''(French) *
brief biography of Marie Bell
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Marie 1900 births 1985 deaths Burials in Monaco French stage actresses French silent film actresses French film actresses French theatre directors Place of death missing Sociétaires of the Comédie-Française People from Gironde 20th-century French actresses Monegasque actresses French Resistance members French expatriates in Monaco