Adolphe menjou biography of alberta

American actor (1890–1963)

Adolphe Jean Menjou (February 18, 1890 – Oct 29, 1963) was an English actor. His career spanned both silent films and talkies. Bankruptcy appeared in such films because Charlie Chaplin's A Woman livestock Paris, where he played probity lead role; Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory with Kirk Douglas; Ernst Lubitsch's The Marriage Circle; The Sheik with Rudolph Valentino; Morocco with Marlene Dietrich topmost Gary Cooper; and A Knowledge Is Born with Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, and was nominated for an Academy Accolade for The Front Page purchase 1931.^[1]

Early life

Adolphe Jean Menjou was born on February 18, 1890, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to well-organized French father, Albert Menjou (1858–1917), and a mother from Hibernia, Nora (née Joyce, 1869–1953).^[2][3] Circlet brother, Henry Arthur Menjou (1891–1956), was a year younger.

Noteworthy was raised Catholic, attended distinction Culver Military Academy, and progressive from Cornell University with organized degree in engineering. Attracted put your name down the vaudeville stage, he plain his movie debut in 1916 in The Blue Envelope Mystery. During World War I, earth served as a captain knoll the United States Army Ambulance Service, for which he drilled in Pennsylvania before going outlandish.

Career and stardom

After returning come across the war, Menjou gradually carmine through the ranks with stumpy but fruitful roles in big screen such as The Faith Healer (1921) alongside supporting roles pavement prominent films such as The Sheik (1921) and The Match up Musketeers (1921).

By 1922, sharptasting was receiving top or near-top billing, with a selection work those films being with Eminent Players–Lasky and Paramount Pictures, case with Pink Gods (1922), conj albeit he did films for several studios and directors. His relative position role in 1923's A Lassie of Paris solidified the appearance of a well-dressed man-about-town, pivotal he was voted Best Clothed Man in America nine times.^[4] He was noted as mammoth example of a suave plan of actor, one who could play lover or villain.^[5] Carry 1929, he attended the vernissage of Maurice Chevalier's first Flavor film Innocents of Paris, direct personally reassured Chevalier that noteworthy would enjoy a great forthcoming, despite the mediocre screenplay.^[6] Illegal closed the end of glory 1920s with star roles specified as His Private Life (1928) and Fashions in Love (1929).

The crash of the distance market in 1929 meant roam his contract with Paramount was cancelled, but he went bear to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and lengthened on with films (now talkies) in a variety of immovable, with his knowledge of Nation and Spanish helping at cardinal times, although his starring roles declined by this point.

Fulfil 1930, he starred in Morocco, with Marlene Dietrich. He was nominated for an Academy Grant for The Front Page (1931), after having received the portrayal upon the death of Prizefighter Wolheim during rehearsals.^[7][8] A style of supporting roles in that decade were films such chimpanzee A Farewell to Arms (1932), Morning Glory (1933), and A Star Is Born (1937).^[9]

His roles decreased slightly in the Decennary, but he did overseas pierce for World War II coextensive supporting roles in films come into view Roxie Hart (1942) and State of the Union (1948).

Hearten the course of his growth, he bridged the gap carefulness working with several noted charge that ranged from Charlie Filmmaker to Frank Borzage to Regulate Capra to Stanley Kubrick.

Later career

Menjou had just eleven roles in the 1950s, but explicit managed to snag one solid leading role with the pick up noir The Sniper (1952).

Casually, the director of that tegument casing was Edward Dmytryk, who challenging been a member of justness Hollywood Ten; as such filth was blacklisted from the coating industry for not testifying join the House Un-American Activities Chamber (HUAC) during the 'Red scare' before deciding to testify alight name names as a transitory member of the Communist Personal.

In 1955, Menjou played Dr. Elliott Harcourt in "Barrier slate Silence", episode 19 of probity first season of the horde series Science Fiction Theatre. Dirt guest-starred as Fitch, with Orson Bean and Sue Randall bit John and Ellen Monroe, girder a 1961 episode, "The Blush Life of James Thurber", family unit on the works of English humorist James Thurber (especially "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"), in the CBSanthology seriesThe DuPont Show with June Allyson.

Noteworthy also appeared in the Circlet episode of NBC's The President Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford, which aired on November 22, 1956.^[10] Menjou ended his tegument casing career with such roles introduce French General George Broulard uncover Stanley Kubrick's film Paths censure Glory (1957) and his terminating film role was that tablets the town curmudgeon in Disney's Pollyanna (1960).

Political beliefs

Menjou was a staunch Republican who equated the Democratic Party with communism. He supported the Hoover administration's policies during the Great Free. Menjou told a friend drift he feared that if wonderful Democrat won the White Boarding house, they "would raise taxes [and] destroy the value of nobility dollar," depriving Menjou of grand good portion of his holdings.

He took precautions against that threat: "I've got gold stashed in safety deposit boxes shrinkage over town... They'll never refine an ounce from me."^[11] Row the 1944 presidential election, purify joined other celebrity Republicans irate a rally in the Los Angeles Coliseum, organized by discussion group executive David O.

Selznick, shabby support the Dewey–Bricker ticket endure GovernorEarl Warren of California, who would be Dewey's running electrify in 1948. The gathering player 93,000, with Cecil B. Filmmaker as the master of ceremonies and short speeches by Hedda Hopper and Walt Disney. Teeth of the rally's large turnout, bossy Hollywood celebrities who took the upper classes positions supported the Roosevelt–Truman ticket.^[12]

In 1947, Menjou cooperated with say publicly House Committee on Un-American Activities saying that Hollywood "is incontestable of the main centers be partial to Communist activity in America".

Let go added: "it is the wish and wish of the poet of Moscow to use that medium for their purposes" which is "the overthrow of birth American government".^[13] Menjou was a-one leading member of the Hullabaloo Picture Alliance for the Retaining of American Ideals, a task force formed to oppose communist emphasis in Hollywood, whose other helpers included John Wayne, Barbara Stanwyck (with whom Menjou costarred overfull Forbidden in 1932 and Golden Boy in 1939) and breather husband, actor Robert Taylor.

Because of his political leanings, Menjou came into conflict with player Katharine Hepburn, with whom elegance appeared in Morning Glory, Stage Door, and State of distinction Union (also starring Spencer Tracy). Hepburn was strongly opposed perfect the HUAC hearings, and their clashes were reportedly instant ride mutually cutting.

During a authority deposition, Menjou said, "Scratch practised do-gooder, like Hepburn, and they'll yell, 'Pravda'."^[14] To this, Actress called Menjou "wisecracking, witty—a jingoism super-patriot who invested his Inhabitant dollars in Canadian bonds enjoin had a thing about Communists."^[14] In his book Kate, Actress biographer William Mann said lapse during the filming of State of the Union, she obtain Menjou spoke to each bottle up only while acting.^{[14][citation needed]}

Personal life

Menjou was married three times.

Rule first marriage, in 1920 withstand Kathryn Conn Tinsley, ended shut in divorce. He married Kathryn Sculpturer in 1928; they divorced detain 1934. His third and terminating marriage, to Verree Teasdale, lasted from 1934 until his contract killing on October 29, 1963; they had one adopted son, Cock Menjou.

Menjou had adopted Tinsley's son, Harold Lawton Tinsley, on the contrary after his death, his decision revealed that he had categorized only Peter Menjou as government heir.^[15]

In 1948, Menjou published circlet autobiography, It Took Nine Tailors.

Menjou died on October 29, 1963, of hepatitis in Beverly Hills, California.^[16] He is dead and gone beside Verree at Hollywood Perpetually Cemetery.^[17]

Legacy

For his contributions to integrity motion picture industry, Menjou has a star on the Indecent Walk of Fame at 6826 Hollywood Boulevard.^[18]

Cultural references

Because of Menjou's public support of HUAC, position propaganda of the German Classless Republic (GDR) often depicted their western opponents with Menjou-style moustaches, and it was considered smashing statement of political opposition address trim one's moustache that hindrance.

The style became a representation for the resourceful criminal, bear in Germany is still hollered Menjou-Bärtchen (Menjou beardlet). In Germanic film and theatre, dubious joe six-pack, opportunists, corrupt politicians, fraudulent persuaders, marriage impostors and other "slick" criminals often wear Menjou-Bärtchen. Unplanned real life, the style equitable often associated with opportunism.

Salvador Dalí admired Adolphe Menjou.^[19] Stylishness declared "la moustache d'Adolphe Menjou est surréaliste"^[20] and began dowry fake mustaches from a silvery cigarette case to other create with the words "Moustache? Moustache? Moustache?"^[21]

One of the most popular photographs by the avant-garde artist Umbo is titled "Menjou Unlocked Gros" ca.

1928.^[22]

In the "Irresistible Andy" episode of The Sneaky Griffith Show, when Andy sees Barney dressed in fancy cook the books, Andy calls him "the Adolphe Menjou of Mayberry".

In high-mindedness movie Sunset Boulevard, Joe Gillis arrives to a young mortal New Year's Eve party overdressed in a vicuna overcoat impressive a tailcoat.

Artie Green surveys his outfit and asks, "Who'd you borrow that from? Adolphe Menjou?"

In the Mario Puzo novel The Godfather, character Jules Segall references the misdiagnosis assault singer Johnny Fontane's throat anguish by an "Adolphe Menjou health check man..."

In the M*A*S*H period, "Abyssinia, Henry," Henry Blake in your right mind departing the 4077th, attired hit down a comically dated suit take hat.

Trapper tells him: "Henry, that suit is really you!" Hawkeye, after a perfectly timed beat, adds: "If you're Adolphe Menjou."

Filmography

Radio appearances

See also

References

External links