Jean-Pierre Aumont Movies
Throughout his lengthy screen and stage career, French actor Jean-Pierre Aumont served as the very essence of sophistication, adding a touch of grace and class to even the least noteworthy production. Born Jean Pierre-Salomon in Paris on January 5, 1909, he was the product of a wealthy family, and his mother was an actress. At the age of 16, he began studying drama at the Paris Conservatory and made his professional debut on-stage in 1930. A year later, Aumont appeared in his first film, Jean de la Lune, but he did not shoot to fame prior to starring in Jean Cocteau's play La Machine Infernal in 1934. That same year, he co-starred with Jean Gabin in the Julien Duvivier feature Maria Chapdelaine, followed in 1936 by the Marcel Carné comedy Drôle de Drame. In 1938, Aumont reunited with Carné for Hotel du Nord, but his film career was to come to a five-year halt when he joined the Free French forces in Tunisia, Italy, and France, ultimately winning the Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre for his bravery in battle. Fleeing the Nazis' occupation of France, he relocated to California in 1942, landing a contract with MGM.The studio made the most of Aumont's background by assigning him a pair of 1943 war dramas, The Cross of Lorraine and Assignment in Brittany, both detailing the efforts of the French Resistance forces. The following year, Aumont starred in the war romance Three Hours, and in 1946 appeared in Heartbeat. Many of his postwar films, like 1947's Song of Scheherazade and 1948's Siren of Atlantis, lacked distinction, and by the early '50s he was primarily working in Europe, appearing in productions originating in Italy (Revenge of the Pirates), Britain (1953's The Gay Adventure), and, of course, France (Life Begins Tomorrow, made in 1949 but released internationally in 1952). However, because he enjoyed a fan following in America, Aumont occasionally returned to the U.S. to appear in films, on-stage, and on television, and in 1953, he co-starred in the acclaimed musical Lili. Never a major star, Aumont rarely appeared in films of consequence, although he did co-star in Francois Truffaut's 1973 Oscar-winner La Nuit Américaine. In the mid-'90s, he also appeared in Jefferson in Paris and The Proprietor, a pair of films from the well-regarded Merchant-Ivory team. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1937
Although the title of this French melodrama translates as White Cargo, it has nothing to do with the steamy stage play of the same name. Instead, its source was Chemin di Rio, a novel by Jean Masson. A very young Jean-Pierre Aumont plays a crusading reporter who investigates a white-slavery ring. When Aumont disappears, his sweetheart Kate von Nagy vows to continue his work. Inevitably, Nagy falls into the clutches of demonic pimp Jules Berry and jaded madam Suzy Prim. Dismissed by its director Robert Siodmak in later years as "a dirty movie," Cargaison Blanche seems rather sedate when seen today, save for a brief and tasteful nude bathing scene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jules Berry, Kaethe von Nagy, (more)
- 1936
Director Marcel L'Herbier adapted the screenplay for La Porte du Large (Open Door to the Sea) from a novel by Charles Spaak. Victor Francen stars as Captain Vilette, the recently-appointed commander of the Naval officer's school where his son (Jean-Pierre Aumont) is a cadet. The younger Vilette becomes involved in his dad's personal affairs when the Captain falls in love with a very-married American heiress (Marcel Chantal). Hoping that the Captain will marry the gorgeous woman -- after she divorces her husband of course -- Vilette Jr. arranges an elopement in a "borrowed" navy plane. This results in an apparent tragedy, for which the duty-bound Vilette holds his son responsible. On the verge of court-martial and disgrace, the young man is saved and the Captain is able to marry his sweetheart. Much of La Porte du Large was filmed on location at the Ecole Navale at Brest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victor Francen, Marcelle Chantal, (more)
In a comedy-farce that runs from black humor to slapstick, this story is one in which a mystery writer is caught unawares by his cousin, a vicar, who shows up unannounced for a visit. Since the servants have just walked out, the writer's wife hides out from the vicar, taking care of the cooking, cleaning and other household chores. To explain his wife's absence as hostess, the writer concocts an excuse which only makes the vicar convinced that he has done away with his spouse. Things go from bad to worse and eventually Scotland Yard is called in to clear things up. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Simon, Françoise Rosay, (more)
- 1935
Released in the U.S. as Happy Days, Les Beaux Jours was Simone Simon's last French vehicle before she launched the Hollywood phase of her career. The story revolves around the lives and loves of a group of attractive young Parisian students. The most attractive, of course, is our girl Simon, who is wooed by such eligible males as Raymond Rouleau and Jean-Pierre Aumont. The unexpected star of the proceedings, however, is the brilliant pantomimist Jean-Louis Barrault, whose first film this was. Barrault of course was later the star of the wartime classic Les Enfants du Paradis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Louis Barrault, Simone Simon, (more)
- 1935
Filmmaker Anatole Litvak was still one year away from his "breakthrough" picture Mayerling when he co-wrote and directed L'Equipage (The Crew). Charles Vanel and Annabella star respectively as a daring WW I aviator and his loving but neglected wife. Ostracized by the other pilots because of his recklessness and standoffishness, Vanel nonetheless befriends a young flyboy (Jean-Pierre Aumont). It is therefore a great source of consternation for Aumont when he discovers that the woman with whom he's fallen in love is none other than Vanel's wife Annabella. This untenable situation is resolved during an airborne skirmish with the enemy, resulting in the death of one of the two male protagonists -- and a finale that belongs in the Self-Sacrificial Hall of Fame. Based on a story by Josef Kessel, L'Equipage was remade by Litvak in Hollywood as The Woman I Love (1937), with Paul Muni (complete with Charles Vanel's beard!), Miriam Hopkins and Louis Hayward as the romantic triangle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Vanel, Annabella, (more)
- 1935
From 1931 to 1934, Russian director Victor Tourjansky made Paris his headquarters. The last of his French productions was 1934's Les Yeux Noirs, released in the U.S. the following year as Dark Eyes. The alluring Simone Simon stars as Tania, the daughter of Moscow headwaiter Ivan Ivanovitch (Harry Baur). Ashamed of his profession -- especially when he's expected to "pimp" for his more lecherous customers -- Ivan hides the truth from his daughter. Imagine his shock and dismay when he inadvertently arranges an assignation between the innocent Tania and the not-so-innocent Rudin (Jean Max). How can Ivan rescue his daughter from a Fate Worse Than Death without revealing his complicity in that fate? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simone Simon, Harry Baur, (more)
- 1934
Also known as The Naked Heart, Maria Chapdelaine beautifully supports and sustains French filmmaker Julien Duvivier's gift for "poetic realism." At base, this is a simple 19th century romantic triangle. Canadian lass Madeline Renaud is adored with equal fervor by aristocratic Jean-Pierre Aumont and by crude lumberjack Jean Gabin. Her indecision paves the way for tragedy. Yes, Maria Chapdelaine is a bit old-fashioned in technique and story material, but that fact never stopped Duvivier from turning out a film of genuine merit. Though the 1984 remake, directed by Gilles Carle, is superior to Duvivier's, the earlier film shouldn't be ignored. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Madeleine Renaud, Suzanne Desprès, (more)
- 1933
Marc Allegret's Lac Aux Dames (Ladies' Lake) boasts an impressive pedigree, having been adapted by novelist Collette from a book by Vicki Baum. A very young and dazzlingly handsome Jean-Pierre Aumont plays an unemployed engineer who lands a job as a lifeguard at a Tyrolean resort. Boasting a most impressive physique, Aumont finds himself besieged by willing females and not complaining about it one tiny bit. Despite the plethora of female pulchritude, Aumont has eyes only for the beauteous Illa Meary, but he ends up neglecting her, with unfortunate consequences. Lac Aux Dames was financed in part by a member of the Rothschild banking family, who made back his investment many times over. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Pierre Aumont, Vladimir Sokoloff, (more)
- 1933
Dans le Rue (Song of the Streets) was based on a novel by J. H. Rosny. In anecdotal fashion, the film charts the progress of a gang of Parisian street youths, headed by Jacques (Jean-Pierre Aumont). Living for the moment and by his wits, Jacques assumes that anything he wants is there for the taking. This proves not to be true in the case of Rosalie (Madeleine Ozeray), daughter of neighborhood "fence" Schlamp (Vladimir Sokolff). Jacques is forced to fight another young tough for Rosalie's affections, winning the bout and the girl all at once. But all bad things must come to an end, as Jacques discovers when one of his robbery victims dies of heart failure, forcing his gang to hide out from the relentless gendarmes. Hardly a pleasant film, Dans le Rue is undeniably compelling, with a forceful performance by Jean-Pierre Aumont in one of his first important roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Pierre Aumont, Madeleine Ozeray, (more)
- 1931
Flower-shop owner Clo-Clo (Michel Simon) is known to his friends as "Jean de la Lune" ("Moondreaming John") because he fantasizes about remaking the world to his own specifications. Falling in love with Marceline (Madeline Renaud), a girl who's "been around," Clo-Clo idealizes his sweetheart, blinding himself to her many faults. At first, Marceline laughs at Clo-Clo behind his back but eventually is so touched by his wistful sincerity that she falls genuinely in love with him. Based on a play by Marcel Achard, Jean de la Lune is treated in a frank, realistic manner. This serves to make the happy ending, in which Clo-Clo's "moondreaming" comes true, all the more powerful. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Madeleine Renaud, Suzet Mais, (more)
