Maurice Chevalier - Saga All Stars: Louise / Maurice Chevalier at the Movies 1929-1958 '2012

Tracks list

Maurice Chevalier
Biography

Dubbed "the French Al Jolson," Maurice Chevalier was among the most beloved
song-and-dance men of the pre-war era. Born September 12, 1888 in Paris, he was
the youngest of nine children, quitting school at the age of 11 to work as an
apprentice engraver and factory worker. Chevalier also later performed as a
circus acrobat, but after suffering serious injuries he instead turned to
singing in Parisian cafes and music halls; although his voice lacked power, he
compensated with his fine comedic skills, and before long was among the most
popular performers in France, often partnering with the infamous Minstinguett in
the Folies-Bergere. Upon making his film debut in the 1908 silent comedy Trop
Crédule, a series of other film roles followed before Chevalier joined the
French forces fighting in World War I; from 1914 to 1916, he was held as a POW
by the Germans, learning English from his fellow prisoners. He was later awarded
a Croix de Guerre for his wartime service.

After his release, Chevalier returned to the cinema, as well as the cabaret
circuit; clad in his trademark straw boater and bow tie, in 1925 he introduced
"Valentine," one of the songs with which he remained identified for the duration
of his career. Upon learning of the advent of motion picture sound, Chevalier
relocated to Hollywood in 1928; a year later he made his American debut in
Innocents of Paris, which popularized his song "Louise." He then traveled to New
York, where he performed backed by Duke Ellington; returning to Hollywood, he
next appeared opposite Jeanette MacDonald in Ernst Lubitsch's hit The Love
Parade, a role which earned him an Academy Award nomination in the Best Actor
category. Chevalier and MacDonald made a total of four films together, the most
successful of them Rouben Mamoulian's 1932 effort Love Me Tonight, which
included several original compositions by Rodgers & Hart, among them "Mimi" and
"Isn't It Romantic."

With his happy-go-lucky charm and suave sophistication, Chevalier became a
romantic superstar, but he abruptly left Hollywood in 1935, reportedly incensed
over receiving second billing in a film; he returned to Europe a triumphant
global success, quickly reclaiming his cabaret throne and continuing to appear
in a variety of motion pictures. However, with the outbreak of World War II,
Chevalier was reluctant to perform live in Nazi-occupied areas; he finally
agreed to perform in Germany in 1941 on the condition that a group of French
POWs be released. (Such dealings ultimately led to charges of Nazi
collaboration, although he was later vindicated.) In the late 1940s, Chevalier
developed a one-man stage show which he took to London and later the U.S.; after
appearing in the 1950 feature Le Roi, he again attempted to return to America,
but was denied re-entry after signing the anti-nuclear document known as the
Stockholm Appeal.

In 1957, after several years away from the spotlight, Chevalier made a surprise
return to Hollywood, appearing in Billy Wilder's Love in the Afternoon; a year
later he starred in Gigi, the film's Lerner & Loewe score providing him with two
of his signature songs, "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" and "I Remember It
Well," the latter performed with Hermione Gingold. In 1959, Chevalier was
awarded an honorary Oscar for "contributions to the world of entertainment for
more than half a century." In 1960, he co-starred with Frank Sinatra and Louis
Jourdan in Can-Can, but after 1961's Fanny he began appearing in smaller roles,
typically cast as a patriarchal figure. After 1967's family comedy Monkeys, Go
Home!, Chevalier retired from the screen, and his vocal rendition of the title
song to the 1970 animated Disney feature The Aristocats was his last work in
Hollywood; he died at home in Paris on January 1, 1972. ~ Jason Ankeny

Tracklist:
1. Maurice Chevalier - Louise (Innocents of Paris) (03:16)
2. Maurice Chevalier - Wait 'Till You See "Ma Chérie" (Innocents of Paris)
(02:13)
3. Maurice Chevalier - Les ananas (Innocents of Paris) (02:37)
4. Maurice Chevalier - Nobody's Using It Now (The Love Parade) (02:37)
5. Maurice Chevalier - Paris, Stay the Same (The Love Parade) (02:21)
6. Maurice Chevalier - Mon cocktail d'amour (The Love Parade) (02:20)
7. Maurice Chevalier - Sweepin' the Clouds Away (Paramount on Parade) (02:41)
8. Maurice Chevalier - You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me (The Big Pond)
(02:26)
9. Maurice Chevalier - Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight (The Big
Pond) (02:44)
10. Maurice Chevalier - Dans la vie quand on tient le coup (The Big Pond)
(02:18)
11. Maurice Chevalier - Oh! Cette Mitzi! (One Hpur with You) (02:03)
12. Maurice Chevalier - Je suis un méchant (Love Me Tonight) (03:24)
13. Maurice Chevalier - Folie Bergère de Paris Medley: Générique /
Valentine / Rhythm of the Rain / Singing a Happy Song (12:19)
14. Maurice Chevalier - Thank Heaven for Little Girls (Gigi) (02:22)
15. Maurice Chevalier - It's a Bore (Gigi) (02:16)
16. Maurice Chevalier - I Remember It Well (Gigi) (02:12)
17. Maurice Chevalier - I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore (Gigi) (02:52)

Related artists