Henri Verneuil
Encyclopedia
Henri Verneuil was a French
-Armenian playwright
and filmmaker, who enjoyed a successful career in France
.
parents in Rodosto, East Thrace
, Turkey
. In the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide
when Ashod was a little child his family fled to France
and settled in Marseille
. He later recounted his childhood experience in the novel Mayrig, which he dedicated to his mother and made into a 1991 film
with the same name, which was followed by a sequel, 588 Rue Paradis
, the following year.
In 1947 Henri Verneuil managed to convince the established European film actor Fernandel
to appear in his first film. Later he also directed other movie stars including Jean Gabin
, Alain Delon
, Lino Ventura
(all together acting for him in "Le clan des siciliens
" in 1969 ), Jean-Paul Belmondo
("Le Corps de mon ennemi" in 1976 and other films), Omar Sharif
, Claudia Cardinale
and Michèle Morgan
.
He was awarded a César
in 1996.
He died at Bagnolet
in 2002.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-Armenian playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and filmmaker, who enjoyed a successful career in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Biography
Henri Verneuil was born Ashod Malakian to ArmenianArmenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
parents in Rodosto, East Thrace
East Thrace
East Thrace or Eastern Thrace , also known as Turkish Thrace, is the part of the modern republic of Turkey that is geographically part of Europe, all in the eastern part of the historical region of Thrace; most of Turkey is in Anatolia, also known as Asia Minor. Turkish Thrace is also called...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. In the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
when Ashod was a little child his family fled to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and settled in Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
. He later recounted his childhood experience in the novel Mayrig, which he dedicated to his mother and made into a 1991 film
Mayrig
Mayrig is a 1991 semi-autobiographical film written and directed by French-Armenian filmmaker Henri Verneuil. The film's principal cast includes Claudia Cardinale and Omar Sharif...
with the same name, which was followed by a sequel, 588 Rue Paradis
588 rue paradis
588 rue paradis is a 1992 semi-autobiographical film written and directed by French-Armenian filmmaker Henri Verneuil. The film's principal cast includes Richard Berry, Claudia Cardinale and Omar Sharif. It was preceded by Mayrig, the first autobiographical movie of Henri Verneuil....
, the following year.
In 1947 Henri Verneuil managed to convince the established European film actor Fernandel
Fernandel
Fernand Joseph Désiré Contandin , better known as Fernandel, was a French actor and singer. Born in Marseille, France, he was a comedy star who first gained popularity in French vaudeville, operettas, and music-hall revues...
to appear in his first film. Later he also directed other movie stars including 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...
, Alain Delon
Alain Delon
Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
, Lino Ventura
Lino Ventura
Lino Ventura , was an Italian actor who starred in French movies.-Biography:Born as Angiolino Giuseppe Pasquale Ventura in Parma, Italy to Giovanni Ventura and Luisa Borrini, "Lino" dropped out of school at the age of eight and later took on a variety of jobs...
(all together acting for him in "Le clan des siciliens
Le Clan des Siciliens
The Sicilian Clan is a 1969 French crime film directed by Henri Verneuil and starring Jean Gabin, Lino Ventura and Alain Delon. The film was largely marketed by the casting together of three of the leading French movie actors of the day.The film score was written by Italian composer Ennio Morricone...
" in 1969 ), Jean-Paul Belmondo
Jean-Paul Belmondo
Jean-Paul Belmondo is a French actor initially associated with the New Wave of the 1960s.-Career:Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, west of Paris, Belmondo did not perform well in school, but developed a passion for boxing and football."Did you box professionally very long?" "Not very long...
("Le Corps de mon ennemi" in 1976 and other films), Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif is an Egyptian actor who has starred in Hollywood films including Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and Funny Girl. He has been nominated for an Academy Award and has won two Golden Globe Awards.-Early life:...
, Claudia Cardinale
Claudia Cardinale
Claudia Cardinale is an Italian actress, and has appeared in some of the most prominent European films of the 1960s and 1970s. The majority of Cardinale's films have been either Italian or French...
and Michèle Morgan
Michèle Morgan
Michèle Morgan is a French film actress, who was a leading lady for three decades.- Career :Morgan was born Simone Renée Roussel in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, a western suburb of Paris....
.
He was awarded a César
César
Cesar Lacbu Nucum , better known as Kuya Cesar, was a Filipino radio personality. He was also known as "Speed Begal".-Early life:...
in 1996.
He died at Bagnolet
Bagnolet
Bagnolet is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. Its inhabitants are called Bagnoletais.-History:...
in 2002.
Filmography
- Pipe chien (1950)
- On demande un bandit (1950)
- Maldonne (1950)
- La Légende de Terre-Blanche (1950)
- L'Art d'être courtier (1950)
- La Table-aux-Crevés (1995) (+ playwright)
- Le Fruit défendu (1952) (+ playwright)
- Brelan d'As (1952)
- Le Boulanger de Valorgue (1953)
- Carnaval (Carnival) (1953)
- L'Ennemi Public n°1 (Public Enemy No.1) (1953)
- Le Mouton à cinq pattesThe 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...
(The Sheep Has Five Legs) (1954) (director + screenwriter) - Les Amants du Tage (1955)
- Des gens sans importance (1955) (+ playwright)
- Paris, Palace Hôtel (1956) (+ playwright)
- Une manche et la belle (1957) (+ playwright)
- Sois belle et tais-toi (1958)
- MaximeMaxime (film)Maxime is a 1958 French drama film directed by Henri Verneuil who co-wrote screenplay with Henri Jeanson and Albert Valentin. It based on novel by Henri Duvernois...
(1958) (+ playwright) - Le Grand chefLe Grand ChefLe Grand Chef is a 2007 South Korean film.-Synopsis:Based on a popular comic book authored by Huh Young-man, the film tells the story of two chefs competing for the title of heir to the last Royal Chef of the Joseon Dynasty.-Cast:...
(1959) - La Vache et le PrisonnierLa Vache et le PrisonnierLa Vache et le Prisonnier is a French-Italian tragicomedy film from 1959 starring Fernandel and directed by Henri Verneuil. The story was based on Jacques Antoine's novel, Une histoire vraie. It is considered to be a classic and one of Fernandel's most iconic and popular films...
(1959) (+ playwright) with FernandelFernandelFernand Joseph Désiré Contandin , better known as Fernandel, was a French actor and singer. Born in Marseille, France, he was a comedy star who first gained popularity in French vaudeville, operettas, and music-hall revues... - L'Affaire d'une nuit (1960)
- La Française et l'amour (1960)
- Le Président (The President) (1961) (+ playwright) with Jean GabinJean 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...
- Les Lions sont lâchésLes Lions sont lâchésLes Lions sont lâchés is a 1961 French comedy film directed by Henri Verneuil, and written by France Roche and Michel Audiard...
(1961) - Un singe en hiver (1962)
- Mélodie en sous-sol (1963) (Any Number Can Win) (1964 Edgar AwardEdgar AwardThe Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
, Best Foreign Film) with Alain DelonAlain DelonAlain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
and Jean GabinJean 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... - Cent mille dollars au soleil (1964) (+ playwright) with Lino VenturaLino VenturaLino Ventura , was an Italian actor who starred in French movies.-Biography:Born as Angiolino Giuseppe Pasquale Ventura in Parma, Italy to Giovanni Ventura and Luisa Borrini, "Lino" dropped out of school at the age of eight and later took on a variety of jobs...
- Week-end à ZuydcooteWeek-end à ZuydcooteWeekend at Dunkirk is a 1964 drama film directed by Henri Verneuil and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo. It is based on the 1949 Prix Goncourt winning novel Week-end at Zuydcoote by Robert Merle....
(1964) - La Vingt-cinquième heureThe 25th Hour (1967 film)La Vingt-cinquième Heure is a 1967 war drama film, starring Anthony Quinn and Virna Lisi. It was produced by Italian producer Carlo Ponti and directed by french director Henri Verneuil. The film is based on a novel by C. Virgil Gheorghiu...
(The 25th Hour) (1967) (+ playwright) with Anthony QuinnAnthony QuinnAntonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer... - La Bataille de San SebastianLa Bataille de San SebastianLa Bataille de San Sebastian is a 1968 spaghetti western directed by Frenchman Henri Verneuil...
(Guns for San Sebastian) (1968) with Charles BronsonCharles BronsonCharles Bronson , born Charles Dennis Buchinsky was an American actor, best-known for such films as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Rider on the Rain, The Mechanic, and the popular Death Wish series... - Le Clan des SiciliensLe Clan des SiciliensThe Sicilian Clan is a 1969 French crime film directed by Henri Verneuil and starring Jean Gabin, Lino Ventura and Alain Delon. The film was largely marketed by the casting together of three of the leading French movie actors of the day.The film score was written by Italian composer Ennio Morricone...
(The Sicilian Clan) (1969) (+ playwright), starring DelonAlain DelonAlain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
, GabinJean 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...
and VenturaLino VenturaLino Ventura , was an Italian actor who starred in French movies.-Biography:Born as Angiolino Giuseppe Pasquale Ventura in Parma, Italy to Giovanni Ventura and Luisa Borrini, "Lino" dropped out of school at the age of eight and later took on a variety of jobs... - Le CasseLe CasseLe Casse is a 1971 movie directed by French director Henri Verneuil, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, Omar Sharif and Robert Hossein. It is based on the 1953 novel by David Goodis and revolves around a team of four burglars chased by a corrupt cop in Athens...
(1971) (+ playwright) with Jean-Paul BelmondoJean-Paul BelmondoJean-Paul Belmondo is a French actor initially associated with the New Wave of the 1960s.-Career:Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, west of Paris, Belmondo did not perform well in school, but developed a passion for boxing and football."Did you box professionally very long?" "Not very long... - Le SerpentNight Flight from MoscowNight Flight from Moscow or Le Serpent is a French thriller made in 1973. It was produced and directed by Henri Verneuil. The music was written by Ennio Morricone.-Plot:...
(Night Flight from Moscow) (1973) (+ playwright) - Peur sur la ville (1975) (+ playwright)
- Le Corps de mon ennemi (1976) (+ playwright)
- I comme IcareI as in IcarusI as in Icarus is a 1979 French thriller film directed by Henri Verneuil.-Selected cast:*Yves Montand as Henri Volney*Michel Etcheverry as Frédéric Heiniger*Roger Planchon as Prof...
(I as in Icarus) (1979) (+ playwright) with Yves MontandYves Montand-Early life:Montand was born Ivo Livi in Monsummano Terme, Italy, the son of poor peasants Giuseppina and Giovanni Livi, a broommaker. Montand's mother was a devout Catholic, while his father held strong Communist beliefs. Because of the Fascist regime in Italy, Montand's family left for France in... - Mille milliards de dollars (1982) (+ playwright)
- Les MorfalousLes MorfalousLes Morfalous is a 1984 action-comedy French film, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and directed by Henri Verneuil, featuring the French Foreign Legion during the Second World War.- Plot :...
(1984) (+ playwright) - MayrigMayrigMayrig is a 1991 semi-autobiographical film written and directed by French-Armenian filmmaker Henri Verneuil. The film's principal cast includes Claudia Cardinale and Omar Sharif...
(Mother) (1992) (+ playwright) - 588 Rue Paradis588 rue paradis588 rue paradis is a 1992 semi-autobiographical film written and directed by French-Armenian filmmaker Henri Verneuil. The film's principal cast includes Richard Berry, Claudia Cardinale and Omar Sharif. It was preceded by Mayrig, the first autobiographical movie of Henri Verneuil....
(1993) (+ playwright)