Jouvet, Louis

(1887-1951)

   theater figure

   A major figure of 20th-century French theater, Louis Jouvet, who was born in Crozon, made his debut at the vieux-Colombier acting troop, which he founded with jacques copeau. He became director of the Comédie des Champs-Elysées en 1924. His first great success was Knock (1923), then Dono-goo (1930). Rejecting the commercialization that he saw in the theater, he was inspired to form the Cartel des Quatres with other actors (1926), and the production of jean giraudoux's Siegfried (1928) proved to be a turning point in his theatrical career. This was followed by 11 years of fruitful collaboration with that writer, and from Amphitryon 38 (1929) to Ondine (1939), Jouvet directed some of the great dramatic works of the era. Joining the Athénée in 1934, he there had some of his greatest successes, including L'École des femmes of jean-baptiste molière (1936). Beginning with the production of one of Giraudoux's posthumous works, La Folle de Chaillot (1945), Jouvet returned to France after the war with two daring production of Molière: Dom Juan (1947) and Tartuffe (1950). Professor at the Paris Conservatoire, lecturer, and essayist, Jouvet also had a wonderful career in films: Topaze (1933); Les Bas-Fonds (1937); Drôle de drame (1937); Hôtel de Nord (1938); Entrée des artistes (1938); Volpone (1939); Quai des Orfèvres (1947).