Madame sans gene arletty biography

1. Biography of Arletti
2. Stage Career
3. Film Career
4. Later Life and Legacy

Biography of Arletti

Arletti, born Léonie Marie Julie Bathiat on May 15, 1898, in Courbevoie, Hauts-de-Seine, was a French actress, singer, and model. She received a good education at a private school before studying stenography at the Pigier school. However, her life took a tragic turn during World War I when her beloved died. In 1916, her father also tragically died after being hit by a tram, and Léonie, along with her brother and mother, were evicted from their public housing apartment.

Stage Career

In need of money, Léonie decided to use her voice and looks. She began performing in music halls and later started appearing in theaters and cabarets. She caught the attention of young banker Jacques-Georges Lévy, and they became romantically involved. Arletti, as she was now known, moved into his luxurious villa, sharing neighbors with Coco Chanel and André Brulé. Lévy introduced her to theater directors, couturiers, and the high society of Paris.

During this time, Arletti also posed as a model for various artists such as Marie Laurencin, Kees van Dongen, Moïse Kisling, and Jean-Gabriel Domergue. Her stage career took off after her participation in Raoul Moretti's operetta "Un soir de réveillon" in 1932. A year later, she played the same role in the American adaptation of the operetta, which further increased her popularity on both sides of the Atlantic. She went on to perform in Sacha Guitry's operettas and starred in "Le Bonheur mesdames," which had about 500 performances.

Film Career

Arletti made her film debut in 1930 in the movie "La douceur d'aimer" alongside the famous actor Victor Boucher. The following year, she excelled in the leading role of Jean Choux's delightful film "Un chien qui rapporte." Renowned poet Jacques Prévert and director Marcel Carné offered Arletti some of their best roles in films, including the drama "Hôtel du Nord" in 1938, which made her famous and established her as a living legend of Paris. Her famous line "Atmosphère, atmosphère! Est-ce que j'ai une gueule d'atmosphère?" directed at Louis Jouvet became one of the most iconic quotes in French cinema.

Throughout her career, Arletti appeared in a total of 62 roles in feature and short films, but she never acted on television. During the occupation of France, she delivered her best performances in films such as "Madame Sans-Gêne" (1941), "Les Visiteurs du soir" (1942), and "Les Enfants du Paradis" (1945). After the liberation of France, Arletti faced a trial, not for collaboration with the occupiers, but for her affair with German officer Hans Jürgen Soehring, whom she had met in 1941. Her statement, "My heart is French, but my ass is international!" became famous throughout Paris.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1963, Arletti suffered a nearly blinding accident, which led her to retire from the stage and screen. However, she continued to lend her voice to dubbing and often worked as a voice-over artist. She passed away on July 24, 1992, at the age of 94 in Paris. Arletti left behind a legacy of exceptional performances and memorable quotes, solidifying her place as one of the iconic figures in French cinema.