Victor Francen Movies
Silver-haired Belgian leading man Victor Francen was the son of a police commissioner. Upon embarking on an acting career, Francen toured the provinces of Europe, Russia, Canada and South America before joining the Comedie Francaise. After a stop-and-go silent film career, in 1931, Francen established himself as a leading man of French films. Some of his best work was under the direction of innovative filmmaker Abel Gance, who inspired Francen to expand his emotional range to the breaking point in such films as The End of the World (1931) and J'Accuse (1937). When the Nazis marched into Paris in 1940, Francen moved to the United States. He found himself much in demand as a worldly continental type in Hollywood, often as a villain, spy or schemer; in keeping with the tenor of his roles, Francen's acting style became heavier (as did the actor himself). Victor Francen closed off the Hollywood phase of his career with 1961's Fanny, making one final film appearance in the French La Grande Frousse before retiring in 1964. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1932
Also known as Der Traumende Mund and Dreaming Lips, Melo was filmed in both French- and German-language versions by director Paul Czinner. Based on a play by Henry Bernstein, the film focuses upon a romantic triangle: orchestra violinist Peter, his wife Gaby, and their concert-violinist friend Michael. Gaby loves both Peter and Michael with equal fervor, making the situation all the more unbearable. When no other solution seems possible, Gaby kills herself rather than hurt either one of her lovers. In the French version of Melo, Gaby was played by Gaby Morlay; in the German version, the role was essayed by Czinner's wife Elisabeth Bergner. Both versions were eventually banned in Germany because virtually everyone involved in the production was Jewish. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gaby Morlay, Anton Edthofer, (more)
- 1931
Apres L'Amour (When Love is Over) was a literal, scene-for-scene adaptation of the popular stage play by Pierre Wolff and Henri Duvernois. Victor Francen plays a wealthy historian who charms his way into the bedroom of impressionable young shopgirl Gaby Morlay. Almost simultaneously, Francen's previously frigid wife has entered into an affair with another man. The upshot of all this as that the shopgirl and the wife become pregnant, delivering their babies at the very same time and at the very same hospital. The shopgirl dies in childbirth, whereupon Francen switches her baby (who, after all, is really his) with the one conceived illegitimately by his own wife. Six years later, the consequences of Francen's face-saving act in the maternity hospital finally catch up with him. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gaby Morlay, Tania Fedor, (more)
- 1931
Never one to do anything by halves, director Abel Gance delivers just what the title La Fin du Monde promises: The End of the World. As a comet speeds along on a collision course with Planet Earth, the world prays for a miracle. Scientist Victor Francen races against time to avoid the cataclysm, while Francen's religious-fanatic brother (played by director Gance) puts his fate in the hands of God. Meanwhile, the governments of the world adopt near-fascistic methods to keep their panicking minions under control. Once all hope is abandoned, virtually all of civilization degenerates into a drunken orgy, replete with rape and bestiality. The worst is reserved for last, as the ever-approaching comet causes a plethora of natural disasters before the final "Big Bang." For its premiere engagements in 1929, La Fin du Monde was outfitted with a primitive but effective stereophonic-sound system, the aural equivalent to Abel Gance's Cinerama-like "Triptychs" in his 1927 masterpiece Napoleon. With his typical flair for the messianic, Gance originally released his film as Abel Gance's La Fin du Monde. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colette Darfeuil, Abel Gance, (more)
