Armand Denis
Encyclopedia
Armand Denis was a Belgian-born documentary film-maker. After several decades of pioneering work in filming and presenting the ethnology and wildlife of remote parts of Africa and Asia, he became best known in Britain as the director and co-presenter of natural history programmes on television in the 1950s and 1960s, with his second wife Michaela
.
, Farnborough
on lubricating oils, and then in Belgium on coke oven technology, before moving to the USA. There, in 1926, he invented a system of automatic volume control for radio, and the royalties he received allowed him to indulge his love of travel and movie-making.
After moving to Hollywood he worked as a cameraman, and began film-making with André Roosevelt
, a first cousin once-removed of Theodore Roosevelt
. In 1928, Denis and Roosevelt traveled to Bali
to make Goona Goona (also known as The Kriss), a compilation of authentic expedition footage with a dramatic plotline involving a romance between a Balinese prince and a servant girl. The movie was first released in 1930 and in a version called Love Powder, edited to conform to American censorship restrictions, in 1932. It started a craze for all things Balinese, and "Goona-goona", originally a Javanese term for love magic, became a slang expression for "sexually exciting".The film’s success brought Denis to the attention of the cinema industry, and in 1934 he directed Wild Cargo, starring adventurer and animal collector Frank Buck
.
with the cinematographer Leroy G. Phelps
, to record sound film material suitable for use in African movies. They recorded a wide variety of footage, including the first film of the music and dances of the Mangbetu
and Tutsi
(Watusi) peoples. The soundtracks were released as commercial recordings, and the movie material, from the Congo and the Sahara, was edited for release as Wheels Across Africa in 1936.
Armand and Leila continued to work together on short documentaries through the late 1930s, and in 1944 put together the movie Dangerous Journey covering their travels in Africa, India and Burma.
in New York. They began an affair and, after he and Leila divorced, Armand and Michaela married in Bolivia.
In order to finance their independent work, the couple travelled to Africa in 1950 to work on the feature film, King Solomon's Mines
, in which Michaela acted as Deborah Kerr
's double. In 1953 they made a new film together, Below The Sahara, and appeared on BBC radio to promote it. The BBC saw the couple's potential for television work, and in 1954 they produced a successful TV programme, Filming Wild Animals.
The quality of Armand Denis' film-making, combined with his heavy accent and Michaela's enthusiasm and glamorous appeal, made them fixtures on BBC TV screens during the 1950s and early 1960s, revolutionising wildlife documentaries on television. They made several series for both BBC and ITV, including Filming In Africa (1955), Armand and Michaela Denis (1955-58), On Safari (1957-59), and Safari to Asia (1959-61), which were repeated until well into the 1960s. Their early collaborations relied on the couple travelling alone in a Land Rover with technical equipment, presenting material in a style that was much parodied, but in later series it became clear that they used a team of cameramen.
In January 1963, Armand Denis was the first editor of Animals magazine, which later became BBC Wildlife
.
, Kenya. Armand Denis published an autobiography, On Safari: the story of my life in 1963. He died from Parkinson's disease
in 1971.
With Michaela Denis
Michaela Denis
Michaela Denis was a British-born wildlife documentary film-maker and presenter, working with her husband, Armand Denis.-Life:...
.
Childhood and early career as a scientist and inventor
He was born in Brussels, Belgium (though the family moved to Antwerp soon after his birth), the son of a judge, and developed an interest in travel and the natural world as a child. He fought in the First World War before escaping to England, where he read chemistry at Oxford University. He worked at the Royal Aircraft EstablishmentRoyal Aircraft Establishment
The Royal Aircraft Establishment , was a British research establishment, known by several different names during its history, that eventually came under the aegis of the UK Ministry of Defence , before finally losing its identity in mergers with other institutions.The first site was at Farnborough...
, Farnborough
Farnborough Airfield
Farnborough Airport or TAG London Farnborough Airport is an airport situated in Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire, England...
on lubricating oils, and then in Belgium on coke oven technology, before moving to the USA. There, in 1926, he invented a system of automatic volume control for radio, and the royalties he received allowed him to indulge his love of travel and movie-making.
First success as a film-maker
Andre Roosevelt
Andre Roosevelt was a filmmaker. He was born in Paris, France to Cornelius Roosevelt , a cousin of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, who married a French actress....
, a first cousin once-removed of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
. In 1928, Denis and Roosevelt traveled to Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
to make Goona Goona (also known as The Kriss), a compilation of authentic expedition footage with a dramatic plotline involving a romance between a Balinese prince and a servant girl. The movie was first released in 1930 and in a version called Love Powder, edited to conform to American censorship restrictions, in 1932. It started a craze for all things Balinese, and "Goona-goona", originally a Javanese term for love magic, became a slang expression for "sexually exciting".The film’s success brought Denis to the attention of the cinema industry, and in 1934 he directed Wild Cargo, starring adventurer and animal collector Frank Buck
Frank Buck (animal collector)
Frank Howard Buck was a hunter and "collector of wild animals," as well as a movie actor, director, writer and producer...
.
Work with Leila Roosevelt Denis
Denis married André Roosevelt’s daughter Leila; they went on to have four children (Rene, David, Armand & Heidi Ann). In 1934-35, sponsored by the Belgian government, the couple travelled to the (then) Belgian CongoBelgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
with the cinematographer Leroy G. Phelps
Leroy G. Phelps
Leroy Garfield Phelps was a cinematographer who filmed Frank Buck’s second movie, Wild Cargo.-Early career:Phelps was official photographer of Yale University from 1920 to 1932...
, to record sound film material suitable for use in African movies. They recorded a wide variety of footage, including the first film of the music and dances of the Mangbetu
Mangbetu
The Mangbetu are a people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, living in Orientale Province. The majority live in the villages of Rungu, Poko, Watsa, Niangara, and Wamba.-Language:...
and Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
(Watusi) peoples. The soundtracks were released as commercial recordings, and the movie material, from the Congo and the Sahara, was edited for release as Wheels Across Africa in 1936.
Armand and Leila continued to work together on short documentaries through the late 1930s, and in 1944 put together the movie Dangerous Journey covering their travels in Africa, India and Burma.
Armand and Michaela
However, in 1948, Armand Denis met British dress designer Michaela HoldsworthMichaela Denis
Michaela Denis was a British-born wildlife documentary film-maker and presenter, working with her husband, Armand Denis.-Life:...
in New York. They began an affair and, after he and Leila divorced, Armand and Michaela married in Bolivia.
In order to finance their independent work, the couple travelled to Africa in 1950 to work on the feature film, King Solomon's Mines
King Solomon's Mines (1950 film)
King Solomon's Mines is a 1950 adventure film loosely based on the 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines by Henry Rider Haggard, starring Deborah Kerr, Stewart Granger and Richard Carlson. It was adapted by Helen Deutsch, directed by Compton Bennett and Andrew Marton and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
, in which Michaela acted as Deborah Kerr
Deborah Kerr
Deborah Kerr, CBE was a Scottish film and television actress from Glasgow. She won the Sarah Siddons Award for her Chicago performance as Laura Reynolds in Tea and Sympathy, a role which she originated on Broadway, a Golden Globe Award for the motion picture The King and I, and was a three-time...
's double. In 1953 they made a new film together, Below The Sahara, and appeared on BBC radio to promote it. The BBC saw the couple's potential for television work, and in 1954 they produced a successful TV programme, Filming Wild Animals.
The quality of Armand Denis' film-making, combined with his heavy accent and Michaela's enthusiasm and glamorous appeal, made them fixtures on BBC TV screens during the 1950s and early 1960s, revolutionising wildlife documentaries on television. They made several series for both BBC and ITV, including Filming In Africa (1955), Armand and Michaela Denis (1955-58), On Safari (1957-59), and Safari to Asia (1959-61), which were repeated until well into the 1960s. Their early collaborations relied on the couple travelling alone in a Land Rover with technical equipment, presenting material in a style that was much parodied, but in later series it became clear that they used a team of cameramen.
In January 1963, Armand Denis was the first editor of Animals magazine, which later became BBC Wildlife
BBC Wildlife
BBC Wildlife is a British glossy, all-colour, monthly magazine about wildlife, founded by BBC Worldwide and published through the BBC Magazines Bristol division, also trading as Bristol Magazines Ltd....
.
Later life
The couple made their home in NairobiNairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya. Armand Denis published an autobiography, On Safari: the story of my life in 1963. He died from Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
in 1971.
Filmography
- 1930 Goona Goona (also known as The Kriss) (with André Roosevelt)
- 1934 Wild Cargo (Frank BuckFrank Buck (animal collector)Frank Howard Buck was a hunter and "collector of wild animals," as well as a movie actor, director, writer and producer...
’s second movie)
With Leila Roosevelt Denis
- 1936 Wheels Across Africa
- 1937 Wheels Across India
- 1938 Magie Africaine (also known as Dark Rapture)
- 1941 Bring 'Em Back Alive
- 1941 Jungle Cavalcade (Frank BuckFrank Buck (animal collector)Frank Howard Buck was a hunter and "collector of wild animals," as well as a movie actor, director, writer and producer...
’s fourth movie) - 1944 Dangerous Journey
- 1949 Savage Splendor
With Michaela DenisMichaela DenisMichaela Denis was a British-born wildlife documentary film-maker and presenter, working with her husband, Armand Denis.-Life:...
- 1953 Below The Sahara
- 1954 Armand and Michaela Denis Under The Southern Cross
- 1955 Armand and Michaela Denis Among The Headhunters
- 1955 Armand and Michaela Denis On The Barrier Reef