Catherine Sauvage

Catherine Sauvage

Born: May 29, 1929
Died: March 20, 1998
in Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France
Catherine Sauvage (26 May 1929 – 20 March 1998) was a French singer and actress.

Born Marcelle Jeanine Saunier in Nancy, France, she moved with her family in 1940 to the Free Zone in Annecy. After high school, she turned to the theater, performing under the name Janine Saulnier. After eight years of studying piano, singing and drama, in 1950 she met Léo Ferré and fell in love with his songs. In 1952 she sang his "Paris canaille", which became a hit. In 1954, she won the "Grand Prix du Disque", a famous French award, for the song "L'Homme", again by Ferré. On tour in Canada, she made the acquaintance of Gilles Vigneault, who wrote "Mon Pays, Le Corbeau, la Manikoutai" for her.

Arriving in Paris, she adopted the surname Sauvage, borrowed from a childhood friend, and, began studying drama: I did my apprenticeship with Jean-Louis Barrault, with John Vilar, Roger Blin, Marcel Marceau. [...] The chance of life allowed me to be presented to Moyses, who was the director of the cabaret Le Boeuf sur le Toit. I sang him some stuff like that, recited two or three poems. As a result, Moyses hired me the next day. I used a directory with songs including Marianne Oswald. I stayed two months at the Boeuf sur le Toit --- afterwards, I sang at the Quod Libet, a nightclub on 3 rue des Prés-At-Clerics.

She also performed at the cabarets L'Arlequin at 131 bis, boulevard Saint-Germain, then at L'Écluse at 15, Quai des Grands Augustins, in the 6th arrondissement.

She met Léo Ferré, whom she helped in bringing recognition to his music: "It was the meeting of my life. As a happiness never comes alone, they say, Jacques Canetti came to hear me a beautiful evening. He was always looking for artists for the record company of which he was the artistic director, as well as for [the concert hall] Les Trois Baudets that he had established."

Jacques Canetti hired her in 1953 and 1954 to work at Les Trois Baudets. "So I visited that cabaret on Rue Coustou for two years. Later I was featured at the Olympia, and received a grand prize for record L'Homme with Léo Ferré."

She died in 1998, aged 68, in Bry-sur-Marne, Val-de-Marne.

She has always given preference to poetry set to music. Léo Ferré and Gilles Vigneault have said they considered Sauvage their best performer. Aragon, one of her favorite poets, wrote about her: "And suddenly with her voice, like a gift, every word makes complete sense."

Source: Article "Catherine Sauvage" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Movies for Catherine Sauvage...

Title: La Chance aux chansons
Character: Self
Released: March 26, 1984
Type: TV
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La Fiancée qui venait du froid
Title: La Fiancée qui venait du froid
Character: mère de Paul
Released: November 27, 1983
Type: Movie
Paul is a playboy: a former girlfriend asks him to marry Zosia ,a Polish girl ,opponent of the regime of her country (it's 1981,December would see the state of siege in Poland and the arrest of many opponents) Paul hesitates but they told him so: it will be an unconsummated marriage and they will divorce shortly after.Against all odds,Paul ,who is a happy-go-lucky guy,who does not care about politics,flies to Warsaw :Zosia is a gorgeous blonde, and during their honeymoon, he falls in love with her.But it's not that easy ;back in Paris, Zosia is still a political activist whose friends look upon Paul as an intruder.
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Title: Champs-Elysées
Character: Self
Released: January 16, 1982
Type: TV
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Title: Police Commissioner Moulin
Character: Alice Dudeffant
Released: August 4, 1976
Type: TV
The series follows the adventures of lighthearted Jean-Paul Moulin, a police Commissaire, and his team as they solve crimes.
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Title: Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Character: Self
Released: January 12, 1975
Type: TV
A talk show presented by Michel Drucker
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Title: Midi trente
Character: Self
Released: March 6, 1972
Type: TV
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Title: Le Grand Échiquier
Character: Self
Released: January 12, 1972
Type: TV
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Title: Cadet Rousselle
Character: Self
Released: November 4, 1971
Type: TV
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Title: Samedi soir
Character: Self
Released: January 9, 1971
Type: TV
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Title: À bout portant
Character: Self
Released: December 16, 1968
Type: TV
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Two Hours to Kill
Title: Two Hours to Kill
Character: Diane Damerville
Released: January 14, 1966
Type: Movie
In the waiting room of the Auvernaux station, the atmosphere is very lively. Several passengers, who have missed their train, are discussing the killer of young girls who is rampant in the region. While the criminal might be in the vicinity, pursued by the police, a journalist leads the investigation inside the station.
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Title: Discorama
Character: Self
Released: February 4, 1959
Type: TV
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Maid in Paris
Title: Maid in Paris
Released: January 20, 1956
Type: Movie
Penelope Benson, known as Penny, is both romantic and determined. Put in a select boarding school by her mother, she takes advantage of a trip to Paris to get away from it all and live her own life. That's how she meets Antoine du Merlet, whom she takes for a young hoodlum when in fact he's a police superintendent. She spends the night at his place, which leads to a number of setbacks for poor Antoine, who is stigmatized by the headmistress, abandoned by his mistress and has to face a strip-tease session starring the unconscious Penny... But Penny's a spicy one and Antoine's a nice guy, so... !