Jean Tissier Movies
French actor Jean Tissier played character and comic roles in scores of films. He got his start on the stage in the early '20s and made his film debut in 1937. Before becoming an actor, he was a journalist. In 1945, he published his autobiography, Sans Maquillage. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1939
Originally Tourbillon de Paris, this film details the misadventures of a group of French military-school students. The plot is merely an excuse to showcase the considerable talents of bandleader Ray Ventura and his orchestra, most of whom play students so as to justify their presence in the film. After getting in and out of one scrape after another, the students redeem themselves by landing a contract as nightclub performers. Corpulent comic actor Charpin provides acting relief as a pompous headmaster, who deals as best as he can with his unruly charges. The best way to sum up Whirlwind of Paris is to imagine an American film in which Benny Goodman and his orchestra play West Point cadets. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claire Jordan, Ray Ventura, (more)
- 1938
A pair of slippers is the plot catalyst for this rambling French comedy. Hoping to save the reputation of a philandering friend, do-gooder Beatrice (Betty Stockfield) drives all the way from Paris to Switzerland to return an incriminating slipper to its mate. Along the way, she is sidetracked by handsome Georges (Roger Treville). By the time Beatrice arrives at her appointed destination, she finds that her friend has already replaced the tell-tale slipper. Now she's got to get rid of that pesky third slipper-which isn't as easy as it sounds, and which results in all sorts of merry misadventures. The Slipper Episode is based on a story by Tristan Bernard, who appears briefly at the beginning of the film to "explain" the action. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Betty Stockfeld, Roger Treville, (more)
- 1938
Crossroads is the English title for Carrefour, directed in France by German-born Kurt (later Curtis) Bernhardt. Suzy Prin and Jules Berry star in this master blend of amnesia, romance and deceit. A respected French diplomat is blackmailed by criminals, who insist that the diplomat, who'd once suffered a loss of memory, had been a crook in his previous "life". When Kurt Bernhardt emigrated to the US, he was signed by Warner Bros., thus had no opportunity to work on MGM's remake of Carrefour (again titled Crossroads) starring William Powell, Hedy Lamarr and Basil Rathbone. The story would be adapted a third time for the 1950 British melodrama Dead Man's Shoes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jules Berry, Charles Vanel, (more)
- 1938
The Courier of Lyons stars Pierre Blanchar as both hero and villain. Blanchar is introduced as Joseph Lesurques, who has the misfortune of bearing a remarkable resemblance to notorious outlaw Dubosque. Arrested for a robbery and murder committed by his lookalike, Lesurques cannot account for his actions when the dirty deeds were perpertrated, and is summarily sentenced to be hanged. It is up to Lesurques' wife Mina (Dita Parlo) to clear her husband-but Mina has every reason to see the philandering Lesurques executed. The otherwise grim courtroom sequences provides a brief and very welcome bit of comedy relief when a cheery prostitute (Sylvia Bataille) offers to be a witness for the defense. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Blanchar, Dita Parlo, (more)
- 1937
Sarati le Terrible is the wealthy and callous absentee landlord (Harry Baur) of a cheap Algiers rooming house near a coal mine. With little money of their own, the local coal-haulers have no choice but to accept Sarati's usurious rental rates. As ruthless at home as he is in business, Sarati refuses to allow his pretty niece (Jacqueline Laurent) to marry the man of her dreams -- not because of avuncular devotion, but because he's got designs on the girl himself! The despotic Sarati gets his comeuppance when he's driven out of business by the increased mechanization of the Algerian coal industry, depleting his tenant pool and driving him to suicide. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jacqueline Laurent, Harry Baur, (more)
- 1936
Also known as La Grande Refrain, Symphonie D'Amour was filmed in 1936 but wasn't released in America until a decade later. Fernand Gravet plays Panard, a young composer who has yet to receive his big break. His actress girlfriend (Jacqueline Francell) inveigles a wealthy marquis to finance a production of Panard's latest operetta. To improve the box-office take, a rumor is spread that Panard has committed suicide. When the show becomes a hit, our hero is forced to go into hiding lest he be exposed as a fraud. Finally his conscience gets the better of him, and all is rosy. Though the direction of Symphonie D'Amour is credited to Robert Siodmak, he was actually the supervising director. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fernand Gravey
