Micheline Presle (; born Micheline Nicole Julia Émilienne Chassagne; 22 August 1922) is a French actress. She was sometimes billed as Micheline Prelle. Starting in 1939, she starred in over 50 French and English language films that were made in Hollywood and in France.
Life and career
Born in Paris,
she wanted to be an actress from an early age. She took acting classes in her early teens and made her film debut at the age of 15 in the 1937 production of ''La Fessée''. In 1938, she was awarded the
Prix Suzanne Bianchetti
The Prix Suzanne Bianchetti is an award in French cinema given annually since 1937 to the most promising young film actress.Colin Crisp. ''French Cinema—A Critical Filmography: Volume 2, 1940–1958'', p. 315 (Indiana University Press; 2015)
...
as the most promising young actress in French cinema. Her rise to European stardom, in films such as ''
Devil in the Flesh'', led to offers from
Hollywood, and in 1950, she was signed by
20th Century Fox
20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
.
20th Century Fox executives changed Presle's last name to Prell. It was later changed to Prelle after a soap company brought out
Prell shampoo.
Her first Hollywood production was a starring role opposite
John Garfield
John Garfield (born Jacob Julius Garfinkle, March 4, 1913 – May 21, 1952) was an American actor who played brooding, rebellious, working-class characters. He grew up in poverty in New York City. In the early 1930s, he became a member of ...
in the film ''
Under My Skin'' directed by
Jean Negulesco
Jean Negulesco (born Ioan Negulescu; – 18 July 1993) was a Romanian-American film director and screenwriter.Oliver, Myrna"Jean Negulesco 1900–1993 ''The Los Angeles Times'', 22 July 1993. He first gained notice for his film noirs and later ...
. That same year, director
Fritz Lang
Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), known as Fritz Lang, was an Austrian film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary ''Variety'', August 4, 1976, p. 6 ...
cast her opposite
Tyrone Power
Tyrone Edmund Power III (May 5, 1914 – November 15, 1958) was an American actor. From the 1930s to the 1950s, Power appeared in dozens of films, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads. His better-known films include '' Jesse James'', ...
in the war drama ''
American Guerrilla in the Philippines
''American Guerrilla in the Philippines'' (released as ''I Shall Return'' in the UK) is a 1950 American war film directed by Fritz Lang and starring Tyrone Power as a U.S. Navy ensign stranded by the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World ...
''. In 1950, she became the second wife of American actor
William Marshall with whom she had a daughter,
Tonie Tonie is a Swedish unisex given name and a nickname that is a diminutive form of Antonia in Sweden. It is also a Dutch unisex given name that is a diminutive form of Antonia, Antonius, Anton, Antoon, Anthonis, and Anthoon in use in Suriname, South ...
. William Marshall had teamed up with actor
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959) was an Australian-American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles, frequent partnerships with Olivia ...
and his production company, and in 1951 he directed Flynn and her in the film ''
Adventures of Captain Fabian''.
Presle's marriage did not last, and she returned to France, divorcing Marshall in 1954. Her career flourished in French films, and in 1957, she was a guest on the American ''
Ed Sullivan Show
''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the '' CBS Sunday Night ...
''. In 1959, she performed in the United Kingdom English-language production of ''
Blind Date
A blind date is a social engagement between two people who have not met, usually arranged by a mutual acquaintance.
Structure
A blind date is arranged for by a mutual acquaintance of both participants. The two people who take part in the blind ...
'' directed by
Joseph Losey
Joseph Walton Losey III (; January 14, 1909 – June 22, 1984) was an American theatre and film director, producer, and screenwriter. Born in Wisconsin, he studied in Germany with Bertolt Brecht and then returned to the United States. Blackliste ...
. She returned to Hollywood in 1962 for the role of
Sandra Dee's mother in the
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
film ''
If a Man Answers'', which also featured Dee's husband, singer
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert Cassotto; May 14, 1936 – December 20, 1973) was an American musician and actor. He performed jazz, Pop music, pop, rock and roll, Folk music, folk, Swing music, swing, and country music.
He started his car ...
. The following year, Presle acted again in English in ''
The Prize'' starring
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, film director, race car driver, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, three ...
. She did not make another English film, but after performing in more than 50 films in French, in 1989, she appeared in the French-made bilingual production ''
I Want to Go Home
''I Want to Go Home'' is a children's novel by Gordon Korman, first published in 1981. It was republished, as with most of Korman's older books, in 2004 with a new cover and updated text.
Main characters
Rudy Miller, the novel's protagonist, ...
'', for which she was nominated for the
César Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Cesar, César or Cèsar may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''César'' (film), a 1936 film directed by Marcel Pagnol
* ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt
* César Award, a French film award
Places
* Cesar, Portugal
* Ce ...
.
In 1971, Presle signed the
Manifesto of the 343
The Manifesto of the 343 (), was a French petition signed by 343 women "who had the courage to say, 'I've had an abortion. It was an act of civil disobedience, since abortion was illegal in France, and by admitting publicly to having aborted, they ...
, publicly declaring she had an illegal abortion.
Selected filmography
* ''
Girls in Distress
''Girls in Distress'' (french: Jeunes filles en détresse) is a 1939 French drama film directed by G. W. Pabst and starring Marcelle Chantal, Micheline Presle and André Lugue.Rentschler p.282
The film's sets were designed by the art director ...
'' (1939)
* ''
They Were Twelve Women
''They Were Twelve Women'' (French: ''Elles étaient douze femmes'') is a 1940 French comedy film directed by Georges Lacombe and starring Gaby Morlay, Françoise Rosay and Micheline Presle.Oscherwitz & Higgins p.306
The film's sets were designe ...
'' (1940)
* ''
Paradise Lost
''Paradise Lost'' is an epic poem in blank verse by the 17th-century English poet John Milton (1608–1674). The first version, published in 1667, consists of ten books with over ten thousand lines of verse (poetry), verse. A second edition fo ...
'' (1940)
* ''
Comedy of Happiness'' (1940)
* ''
Ecco la felicità'' (1940)
* ''
They Were Twelve Women
''They Were Twelve Women'' (French: ''Elles étaient douze femmes'') is a 1940 French comedy film directed by Georges Lacombe and starring Gaby Morlay, Françoise Rosay and Micheline Presle.Oscherwitz & Higgins p.306
The film's sets were designe ...
'' (1940)
* ''
Parade en 7 nuits'' (1941)
* ''
Histoire de rire'' (1941)
* ''
La Nuit fantastique
''La Nuit fantastique'' (''The Fantastic Night'') is a 1942 French fantasy film directed by Marcel L'Herbier. It is regarded as one of the most successful films made in France during the German occupation.
Plot
Denis, a poor student in philosoph ...
'' (1942)
* ''
The Beautiful Adventure'' (1942)
* ''
Le soleil a toujours raison'' (1943)
* ''
Un seul amour'' (1943)
* ''
Paris Frills
''Paris Frills'' (french: Falbalas) is a 1945 French drama film directed by Jacques Becker and starring Raymond Rouleau, Micheline Presle and Jean Chevrier. It was made in 1944 during the German occupation but not released until the following year ...
'' (1945)
* ''
Twilight
Twilight is light produced by sunlight scattering in the upper atmosphere, when the Sun is below the horizon, which illuminates the lower atmosphere and the Earth's surface. The word twilight can also refer to the periods of time when this il ...
'' (1945)
* ''
Fausse alerte'' (1945)
* ''
Boule de suif'' (1945)
* ''
Les jeux sont faits
''The Chips Are Down'' (french: Les jeux sont faits ) is a screenplay written by Jean-Paul Sartre in 1943 and published in 1947. The original title translates literally as "the plays are made", an idiomatic French expression used mainly in casi ...
'' (1947)
* ''
Devil in the Flesh'' (1947)
* ''
All Roads Lead to Rome'' (1949)
* ''
The Last Days of Pompeii
''The Last Days of Pompeii'' is a novel written by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1834. The novel was inspired by the painting ''The Last Day of Pompeii'' by the Russian painter Karl Briullov, which Bulwer-Lytton had seen in Milan. It culminates in ...
'' (1950)
* ''
Under My Skin'' (1950)
* ''
American Guerrilla in the Philippines
''American Guerrilla in the Philippines'' (released as ''I Shall Return'' in the UK) is a 1950 American war film directed by Fritz Lang and starring Tyrone Power as a U.S. Navy ensign stranded by the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World ...
'' (1950)
* ''
Adventures of Captain Fabian'' (1951)
* ''
The Lady of the Camellias
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
'' (1953)
* ''
It Happened in the Park
''It Happened in the Park'' ( it, Villa Borghese) is a 1953 film directed by Gianni Franciolini. The film consists of six vignettes set in the Villa Borghese gardens in Rome.
Plot
The story shows the lives of various people from different parts ...
'' (1953)
* ''
The Love of a Woman
''The Love of a Woman'' (French: ''L'amour d'une femme'', Italian: ''L'amore di una donna'') is a 1953 French-Italian drama film directed by Jean Grémillon and starring Micheline Presle, Massimo Girotti and Gaby Morlay.The A to Z of French Cinem ...
'' (1953)
* ''
Les Impures
''Les Impures'' en, The Impure Ones, is a French drama film from 1954, directed by Pierre Chevalier, written by Juliette Saint-Giniez, starring Micheline Presle and Louis de Funès. The film is known under the titles "Human Cargo" (USA), "The ...
'' (1954)
* ''
House of Ricordi
''House of Ricordi'' ( it, Casa Ricordi) is a 1954 French-Italian historical melodrama film based on the early history of the Italian music publishing house Casa Ricordi. It is directed by Carmine Gallone and stars Märta Torén, Marcello Mastr ...
'' (1954)
* ''
Napoléon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
'' (1955)
* ''
Thirteen at the Table
''Thirteen at the Table'' (French: ''Treize à table'') is a 1955 French comedy film directed by André Hunebelle and starring Micheline Presle, Fernand Gravey and Germaine Montero.Parish p. 224 It was shot at the Francoeur Studios in Paris. The f ...
'' (1955)
* ''
Beatrice Cenci
Beatrice Cenci (; 6 February 157711 September 1599) was a Roman noblewoman who murdered her father, Count Francesco Cenci. She was beheaded in 1599 after a lurid murder trial in Rome that gave rise to an enduring legend about her.
Life
Beatri ...
'' (1956)
* ''
The Bride Is Much Too Beautiful
''The Bride Is Much Too Beautiful'' (French: ''La mariée est trop belle'') is a 1956 French comedy film directed by Pierre Gaspard-Huit and starring Brigitte Bardot, Micheline Presle and Louis Jourdan. It was also known by the alternative title ...
'' (1956)
* ''
Christine
Christine may refer to:
People
* Christine (name), a female given name
Film
* ''Christine'' (1958 film), based on Schnitzler's play ''Liebelei''
* ''Christine'' (1983 film), based on King's novel of the same name
* ''Christine'' (1987 fil ...
'' (1958)
* ''
Blind Date
A blind date is a social engagement between two people who have not met, usually arranged by a mutual acquaintance.
Structure
A blind date is arranged for by a mutual acquaintance of both participants. The two people who take part in the blind ...
'' (1959)
* ' (1960)
* ' (1960)
* ''
Mistress of the World
''Mistress of the World'' (german: Die Herrin der Welt, french: Les mystères d'Angkor, it, Il mistero dei tre continenti) is a 1960 science-fiction spy film remake of the 1919 eight-part silent film ''The Mistress of the World'' directed by Wi ...
'' (1960)
* ' (1961)
* ''
Five Day Lover
''Five Day Lover'' (french: L'Amant de cinq jours) is a 1961 French sex comedy film directed by Philippe de Broca, starring Jean Seberg and Micheline Presle. It is based on the 1959 novel ''L'amant de cinq jours'' by Françoise Parturier. The ...
'' (1961)
* ''
The Assassin'' (1961)
* ''
Time Out for Love'' (1961)
* ''
The Italian Brigands
''I briganti italiani'' (internationally released as ''The Italian Brigands'' and ''Seduction of the South'') is a 1962 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Mario Camerini. It was shot in Cerreto Sannita.''Una passeggiata nella storia'', Di Lauro ...
'' (1961)
* ''
Le Diable et les Dix Commandements
''Le Diable et les Dix Commandements'' ( en, The Devil and the Ten Commandments) is a French film from 1962 directed by Julien Duvivier that consists of seven sketches (eight in the versions shown in Germany and Japan) played by an ensemble cast ...
'' (1962)
* ''
If a Man Answers'' (1962)
* ''
Venere Imperiale'' (1962)
* ''
The Law of Men'' (1962)
* ''
Combat! Just For the Record
''Combat!'' is an American television drama series that originally aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from 1962 until 1967. The exclamation point in ''Combat!'' was depicted on-screen as a stylized bayonet. The show covered the grim l ...
'' (1962)
* ''
The Bamboo Stroke
''The Bamboo Stroke'' (French: ''Le coup de bambou'') is a 1963 French comedy film directed by Jean Boyer and starring François Périer, Micheline Presle and Jean Richard.Quinlan p.385 The title is a French expression for something that is pain ...
'' (1963)
* ''
The Prize'' (1963)
* ''
Dark Purpose
''Dark Purpose'' is a 1964 film directed by George Marshall and starring Shirley Jones, Rossano Brazzi, and George Sanders.
Plot
American secretary Karen Williams travels to Italy with her employer, art appraiser Raymond Fountaine, to assess ...
'' (1964)
* ''
Male Hunt'' (1964)
* ''
Je vous salue, mafia!'' (1965)
* ''
Le Roi de Cœur'' (1966)
* ''
Peau d'Âne'' (1970)
* ''
The Legend of Frenchie King
''The Legend of Frenchie King'' (french: Les Pétroleuses) or Petroleum Girls is a 1971 French, Spanish, Italian and British international co-production western comedy film directed by Christian-Jaque and starring Claudia Cardinale and Brig ...
'' (1971)
* ''
Devil in the Brain
''Devil in the Brain'' ( it, Il diavolo nel cervello) is a 1972 Italian psychological thriller movie.
Plot
Oscar Minno returns from working several years overseas and looks up his old flame Sandra. Sandra is widowed and lives in a childlike men ...
'' (1972)
* ''
Clochemerle
''Clochemerle'', published in the United States as ''The Scandals of Clochemerle'', is a French satirical novel by Gabriel Chevallier (1895–1969) first published in 1934. It centres on personal rivalries and local politics in the fictional ...
'' (1972)
* ''
Thieves After Dark'' (1984)
* ''
Fanfan
Christine Fan (born March 18, 1976), better known by her stage name FanFan or her Chinese name Fan Wei-chi, is a Taiwanese singer-songwriter, TV presenter, record producer, actress, author and philanthropist. She sings mostly in Mandarin, but ha ...
'' (1993)
* ''
Les Misérables
''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.
In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original ...
'' (1995)
* ''
Le coeur à l'ouvrage
''Le coeur à l'ouvrage'' is a 2000 French comedy drama film, directed by Laurent Dussaux.
Plot
Cinema is a big family, even when we made porn films. The day actors, producers and technicians decided to join forces for a "real" film, they do not r ...
'' (2000)
* ''
Chouchou'' (2003)
* ''
Vous êtes de la police ?'' (2007)
* ''
Musée haut, musée bas
''A Day at the Museum'' (french: Musée haut, musée bas; ) is a 2008 French ensemble comedy film directed by Jean-Michel Ribes
Jean-Michel Ribes (born 15 December 1946, in Paris) is a French playwright, screenwriter, theatre director, film mak ...
'' (2008)
* ''
A Man and His Dog
''A Man and His Dog'' (''Un Homme et Son Chien'') is a 2008 French film directed by French director Francis Huster, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, based on the 1952 film '' Umberto D.'' directed by Vittorio De Sica, and written by Cesare Zavattini. ...
'' (2009)
* ''
Going South'' (2009)
* ''
Thelma, Louise et Chantal
''Thelma, Louise et Chantal'' is a 2010 French comedy film directed by . The film premiered at the 2010 L'Alpe d'Huez Film Festival.
Plot
Gabrielle, Nelly and Chantal are three girlfriends. They decide to travel together to the wedding of their ...
'' (2010)
* ''
Hitler in Hollywood
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
'' (2011)
References
Further reading
*
*
External links
*
Micheline Presle at Allocine(French language)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Presle, Micheline
1922 births
Living people
20th-century French actresses
21st-century French actresses
French centenarians
French film actresses
Actresses from Paris
French expatriate actresses in the United States
César Honorary Award recipients
Women centenarians
Signatories of the 1971 Manifesto of the 343