Françoise Arnoul
Encyclopedia
Françoise Arnoul is a French actress, who achieved popularity with her cute and sexy charm, especially during the 1950s.
Born Françoise Annette Marie Mathilde Gautsch in Constantine
, France (now Algeria
), as the daughter of stage actress Janine Henry and artillery general Charles Gautsch, she has two brothers. While her father continued military service in Morocco
, the rest of family moved to Paris in 1945.
After learning drama there, she was noticed by director Willy Rozier, who offered her a major role in the film L'Épave (1949).
Arnoul starred in such films as Henri Verneuil
's Forbidden Fruit
(1952), Jean Renoir
's French Can-Can (1954), Des gens sans importance (1956) with Jean Gabin
, Henri Decoin
's La Chatte (1958), Le Chemin des écoliers (1959) with Bourvil
, and Jean Cocteau
's Testament of Orpheus
(1960).
Later in life, she moved into television appearing in different TV movies and mini-series, also turning to character parts. She published her autobiography entitled Animal doué de bonheur in 1995.
In 1956, Arnoul was married to publicity agent Georges Cravenne
whom she had met two years previously, but they separated in 1960. From 1964, she became companion of French director/scriptwriter Bernard Paul, a relationship which lasted until his death in 1980.
Born Françoise Annette Marie Mathilde Gautsch in Constantine
Constantine, Algeria
Constantine is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. It was the capital of the same-named French département until 1962. Slightly inland, it is about 80 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, on the banks of Rhumel river...
, France (now Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
), as the daughter of stage actress Janine Henry and artillery general Charles Gautsch, she has two brothers. While her father continued military service in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, the rest of family moved to Paris in 1945.
After learning drama there, she was noticed by director Willy Rozier, who offered her a major role in the film L'Épave (1949).
Arnoul starred in such films as Henri Verneuil
Henri Verneuil
Henri Verneuil was a French-Armenian playwright and filmmaker, who enjoyed a successful career in France.-Biography:...
's Forbidden Fruit
Forbidden Fruit (1952 film)
Forbidden Fruit is a 1952 drama film directed by Henri Verneuil and starring Fernandel.-Cast:* Fernandel - Dr. Charles Pellegrin* Françoise Arnoul - Martine Englebert* Jacques Castelot - Boquet, le propriétaire du 'Poker bar'...
(1952), Jean Renoir
Jean Renoir
Jean Renoir was a French film director, screenwriter, actor, producer and author. As a film director and actor, he made more than forty films from the silent era to the end of the 1960s...
's French Can-Can (1954), Des gens sans importance (1956) with Jean Gabin
Jean Gabin
-Biography:Born Jean-Alexis Moncorgé in Paris, he grew up in the village of Mériel in the Seine-et-Oise département, about 22 mi north of Paris. The son of cabaret entertainers, he attended the Lycée Janson de Sailly...
, Henri Decoin
Henri Decoin
Henri Decoin was a French film director and screenwriter. He directed 50 films between 1933 and 1964. He was also a swimmer who competed for France in the men's 400 metre freestyle event at the 1908 Summer Olympics and the water polo tournament at the 1912 Summer Olympics.-Selected filmography:*...
's La Chatte (1958), Le Chemin des écoliers (1959) with Bourvil
Bourvil
André Bourvil, born André Robert Raimbourg was a French actor and singer best known for his roles in comedy, most notably in his collaboration with Louis de Funès in La Grande Vadrouille .-Biography:His father was killed in the First World War before Bourvil was born...
, and Jean Cocteau
Jean Cocteau
Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau was a French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker. His circle of associates, friends and lovers included Kenneth Anger, Pablo Picasso, Jean Hugo, Jean Marais, Henri Bernstein, Marlene Dietrich, Coco Chanel, Erik Satie, María...
's Testament of Orpheus
Testament of Orpheus
Testament of Orpheus is a 1960 film directed by and starring Jean Cocteau. It is considered the final part of the Orphic Trilogy, following The Blood of a Poet and Orphée...
(1960).
Later in life, she moved into television appearing in different TV movies and mini-series, also turning to character parts. She published her autobiography entitled Animal doué de bonheur in 1995.
In 1956, Arnoul was married to publicity agent Georges Cravenne
Georges Cravenne
Georges Cravenne , real name Joseph-Raoul Cohen, was a French film producer, publicity agent and founder of the César Award. He received an Honorary César in 2000.-Marriages:...
whom she had met two years previously, but they separated in 1960. From 1964, she became companion of French director/scriptwriter Bernard Paul, a relationship which lasted until his death in 1980.
Selected filmography
- L'Épave (1949)
- The Red RoseThe Red RoseThe Red Rose, is a French comedy film from 1951, directed by Marcello Pagliero, written by Robert Scipion, starring by Françoise Arnoul and Louis de Funès...
(1951) - Le désir et l'amour (1952)
- Forbidden FruitForbidden Fruit (1952 film)Forbidden Fruit is a 1952 drama film directed by Henri Verneuil and starring Fernandel.-Cast:* Fernandel - Dr. Charles Pellegrin* Françoise Arnoul - Martine Englebert* Jacques Castelot - Boquet, le propriétaire du 'Poker bar'...
(1952) - Les Compagnes de la nuitLes Compagnes de la nuitLes Compagnes de la nuit , is a French drama film from 1953, directed by Ralph Habib, written by Paul Andréota, starring Françoise Arnoul and Louis de Funès.- Cast :* Françoise Arnoul : Olga Viterbo* Raymond Pellegrin : Jo Verdier...
(1953) - Dortoir des grandesDortoir des grandesDortoir des grandes , is a French crime drama film from 1954, directed by Henri Decoin, written by François Chalais, starring Jean Marais and Louis de Funès...
(1953) - La Rage au corpsLa Rage au corpsLa Rage au corps is a 1954 French drama film directed by Ralph Habib, based on story by Jean-Claude Aurel and Jacques Companeez. The film tells the story of a nymphomaniac, who would be saved only by really falling in love...
(1954) - Secrets d'alcôve (1954)
- The Sheep Has Five LegsThe Sheep Has Five LegsThe Sheep Has Five Legs is a 1954 French film directed by Henri Verneuil. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Story.- Cast :*Fernandel as Édouard Saint-Forget / Les quintuplés : Alain, Bernard, Charles, Désiré...
(1954) - French CancanFrench CancanFrench Cancan is a 1954 French musical film written and directed by Jean Renoir and starring Jean Gabin and María Félix.-Plot:Set in 1890s Paris, Henri Danglard is the owner of a cafe, which features his mistress, Lola, as a belly dancer...
(1954) - Les Amants du Tage (1955)
- Si Paris nous était conté (1956)
- Des gens sans importance (1956)
- Le Pays, d'où je viens (1956)
- Paris, Palace Hôtel (1956)
- No Sun in VeniceNo Sun in VeniceNo Sun in Venice is a 1957 French-Italian drama film directed by Roger Vadim. It was entered into the 7th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Françoise Arnoul - Sophie* Christian Marquand - Michel Lafaurie* Robert Hossein - Sforzi* O. E...
(1957) - Thérèse ÉtienneThérèse ÉtienneThérèse Étienne is a 1958 French-Italian drama film directed by Denys de La Patellière and starring James Robertson Justice, Françoise Arnoul and Pierre Vaneck. It was based on a novel by John Knittel...
(1958) - La Chatte (1958)
- Asphalt (1959)
- Le Chemin des écoliers (1959)
- Testament of OrpheusTestament of OrpheusTestament of Orpheus is a 1960 film directed by and starring Jean Cocteau. It is considered the final part of the Orphic Trilogy, following The Blood of a Poet and Orphée...
(1960) - Le Diable et les dix commandementsLe Diable et les Dix CommandementsLe Diable et les Dix Commandements , is a French comedy-drama film from 1963, directed by Julien Duvivier, written by David Alexander and Michel Audiard, starring Michel Simon and Louis de Funès...
(1962) - À couteaux tirés (1964)
- Compartiment tueurs (1965)
- Le dimanche de la vie (1967)
- The Little Theatre of Jean RenoirThe Little Theatre of Jean RenoirThe Little Theatre of Jean Renoir is a 1970 television film written and directed by Jean Renoir. The last completed work by Renoir, it consists of three short films: The Last Christmas Dinner, The Electric Floor Waxer and A Tribute to Tolerance.-Cast:Le Dernier Réveillon*Nino Formicola as Le...
(1970) (TV) - Dialogues of ExilesDialogues of Exiles-Cast:* Françoise Arnoul* Carla Cristi* Daniel Gélin* Sergio Hernández* Percy Matas* Etienne Bolo* Edgardo Cozarinsky* Huguette Faget* Luis Poirot* Waldo Rojas* Valeria Sarmiento* Carlos Solanos* Aquiles Varas* Alfonso Varela...
(1975) - Black-Out (1977)
- Violette & François (1977)
- Ronde de nuit (1984)
- Voir l'éléphant (1989)
- Heavy Weather (1996)
- Post Coitum, Animal TristePost Coitum, Animal TristeAfter Sex is a 1997 film by French director Brigitte Roüan.Roüan stars in the film as Diane Clovier, a married mother of two who has an affair with the friend of a young writer she is mentoring...
(1997)
External links
- Brief biography
- Françoise Arnoul at DvdToile