Mary Marquet

Mary Marquet

Born: April 14, 1895
Died: August 29, 1979
in Leningrad, USSR [now St. Petersburg, Russia]
Mary Marquet (born Micheline Marguerite Delphine Marquet; 14 April 1895 – 29 August 1979) was a French stage and film actress.

Marquet came from a family of artists: her parents were actors, an aunt was a star dancer at the Paris Opera, and another was an official at the Comédie-Française. She entered the National Superior Conservatory of Dramatic Art in 1913 and studied under Paul Mounet. She failed her final exams, but was immediately engaged in the company of Sarah Bernhardt, who was a great friend of the family. She went on play alongside her in The Eugene Morand cathedral.

She became established with her role in L'Aiglon by Edmond Rostand, whose mistress she became from 1915 to his death in 1918. She made her film debut in 1914 in a silent film, Les Frères ennemis, which was never finished. Her first major film role was in Sappho, produced by Léonce Perret in 1932. After World War I, she joined the Comédie-Française in 1923 where she stayed for over twenty years, before moving to the boulevard Theatre.

During the World War II, throughout the occupation, she sought the protection of German officers to protect her son who had told her of his intention to join the Resistance. The response was his arrest and deportation to Buchenwald concentration camp where he died aged 21. This was possibly the cause of her problems at the time of the Liberation when, due to her alleged relations with the enemy, Marquet was arrested and sent to Drancy and then to Fresnes. She was later released for lack of evidence.

In the 1950s, she turned to poetry recital, while continuing her career in theater on the boulevards. She worked for ORTF in the Maigret episodes of Les Cinq Dernières Minutes and Les Saintes Chéries and in the television adaptation of Lucien Leuwen, the novel by Stendhal.

Parallel to her acting career, as an antiquarian she ran a stand for many years at the Swiss Village, an important antique market in Paris where she demonstrated her skills as a saleswoman, mixing theatrical memorabilia with commercial interests.

Among her most successful parts in over forty films, were her roles in, Landru in 1962, Claude Chabrol, La Grande Vadrouille in 1966 by Gérard Oury, and Casanova in 1975 by Federico Fellini. After these three minor parts she played important roles in La vie de château (1966) the mother of Philippe Noiret and the stepmother of Catherine Deneuve and the Le malin plaisir (1975) with Claude Jade and Anny Duperey.

Mary Marquet and Victor Francen on their wedding day in 1934.

Her first lover was Edmond Rostand around 1915, living together for three years. In 1920 she married Maurice Escande, the future director of the house of Molière, ending in divorce in 1921, before meeting Firmin Gémier, the director of the new Théâtre National Populaire, who was still married but whose wife was barren. In 1922, Marquet gave birth to their son.

Before the death of Gémier in 1933, Marquet became the mistress of the president of the then Council, André Tardieu, in a semi-official liaison. Having broken up with Tardieu, she married Victor Francen. The couple separated after seven years together. Marquet died of heart attack at the age of 84 in her apartment in the Rue Carpeaux, She is buried in Montmartre Cemetery.

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

Movies for Mary Marquet...

Une fille cousue de fil blanc
Title: Une fille cousue de fil blanc
Character: The grandmother
Released: January 26, 1977
Type: Movie
A young girl dies in an accident just before her wedding. But when her sister starts to look into it, she discovers the truth about her.
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Fellini's Casanova
Title: Fellini's Casanova
Character: Casanova's Mother
Released: December 10, 1976
Type: Movie
Casanova is a libertine, collecting seductions and sexual feats. But he is really interested in someone, and is he really an interesting person? Is he really alive?
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Title: Numéro un
Character: Self
Released: April 5, 1975
Type: TV
A French variety show.
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Title: Apostrophes
Character: Self
Released: January 10, 1975
Type: TV
Apostrophes was a live, weekly, literary, prime-time, talk show on French television created and hosted by Bernard Pivot. It ran for fifteen years (724 episodes) from January 10, 1975, to June 22, 1990, and was one of the most watched shows on French television (around 6 million regular viewers). It was broadcast on Friday nights on the channel France 2 (which was called "Antenne 2" from 1975 to 1992). The hourlong show was devoted to books, authors and literature. The format varied between one-on-one interviews with a single author and open discussions between four or five authors.
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Le Malin Plaisir
Title: Le Malin Plaisir
Character: Madame Mère
Released: January 1, 1975
Type: Movie
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Title: Paul et Virginie
Character: la tante Vauté
Released: December 24, 1974
Type: TV
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The Marvelous Visit
Title: The Marvelous Visit
Character: la duchesse
Released: November 27, 1974
Type: Movie
One morning, the rector of a small French village comes across a young man, lying unclothed and unconscious on a deserted beach. Intrigued, the rector has the young man carried back to his home. When he awakes the stranger calmly identifies himself as Jean, an angel who has just arrived on Earth. Naturally, the rector doesn’t believe this, but decides to humour the young man. At first, Jean’s arrival in the village causes no upset. He is a harmless soul, full of good intentions and capable of only the kindest deeds. But then the villagers grow wary of him, and this wariness turns to outright hostility when Jean unwittingly causes an accident...
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Title: Un curé de choc
Character: La baronne
Released: July 22, 1974
Type: TV
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Par ici la monnaie
Title: Par ici la monnaie
Character: La propriétaire
Released: April 3, 1974
Type: Movie
All the inhabitants of an old house are swindlers, dreaming only of the big score that will enable them to survive an announced eviction. They end up pulling it off together, by building a fake tollgate.
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Love at the Top
Title: Love at the Top
Character: Mrs. Hermens
Released: March 13, 1974
Type: Movie
Nicolas Mallet, an inconspicuous and shy bank employee, one day successfully invites Marie-Paul, a young woman he hadn’t known before, in the streets of Paris to a café and sleeps with her the next day. When he tells his surprised friend Claude about the incident, the disillusioned and handicapped writer starts to guide him, leading Nicolas on a dazzling social ascent.
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Title: Lucien Leuwen
Character: Mme de Marcilly
Released: December 19, 1973
Type: TV
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Title: Midi trente
Character: Self
Released: March 6, 1972
Type: TV
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Title: Samedi soir
Character: Self
Released: January 9, 1971
Type: TV
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La visite de la vieille dame
Title: La visite de la vieille dame
Character: Clara
Released: January 5, 1971
Type: Movie
Adaptation for TV of the play by Friedrich Durrenmatt. A very rich old lady arrives in her nearly bankrupt native village. She is ready to come to the rescue but only if her old lover who had once abandoned her pregnant is killed.
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Bruno: Sunday's Child
Title: Bruno: Sunday's Child
Character: Michel's mother
Released: June 6, 1969
Type: Movie
The weekend of August 15th gives the opportunity to Michel Fauvet, a recently divorced father, to spend two full days with Bruno, his thirteen-year-old son, that he can normally see only one Sunday a month. Feeling guilty, he tries to compensate for the trauma inflicted to Bruno by giving him presents. This time around, Michel has decided to treat him to a nice trip to Bruges and the Belgian Coast. Which will not prevent Bruno from asking his father disturbing questions.
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Phèdre
Title: Phèdre
Character: Oenone
Released: October 16, 1968
Type: Movie
In the absence of her royal husband Theseus, thought to be dead, Phaedra declares her love to Hippolyte, Theseus's son from a previous marriage.
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The Marriage Came Tumbling Down
Title: The Marriage Came Tumbling Down
Character: La Duchesse
Released: June 7, 1968
Type: Movie
Jacques spends his summer vacation with his grandfather, Jericho, in the company of his wife Marie. The malicious ancestor quickly realizes that his grandson's marriage is on the brink of breakdown. He does everything to save him.
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Title: Les Dossiers de l'Agence O
Character: Grandmère
Released: March 11, 1968
Type: TV
L’Agence O is a famous Parisian private detective firm. Its premises are located in the Passage Choiseul. In front, Torrence leads the shop. In fact, the agency's team is complemented by Émilie le Roux, Mademoiselle Berthe and Barbet, who scrutinize clients through a one-way mirror located behind the desk. Getting hold of a man disguised as an old lady, solving the mystery of the Prisoner of Lagny or discovering who is blackmailing the painter Tigrane Alban does not worry the experts at the O Agency. Les Dossiers de l’Agence O is a French-Canadian television series in thirteen episodes of approximately 55 minutes created by Marc Simenon and broadcast first in Quebec from December 14, 1967 to March 13, 1968 on Télévision de Radio-Canada, then in France from March 11 to June 3, 1968 on the first channel of the ORTF.
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Boys and Girls
Title: Boys and Girls
Character: Tante Berthe
Released: September 21, 1967
Type: Movie
Ten young people (six boys and four girls), most of whom students, rent a house in bad repair and set about living together. The experience is not obvious and the ten tenants have to cope with more than one difficulty. But they also have their moments. Things really go awry when Françoise, an unmarried girl, is forced to deliver the baby she carries prematurely and when Solange, the lonely girl of the group, attempts suicide. Shortly afterwards, the group learns that the house is due for demolition. They decide to take advantage of this opportunity to face adult life individually.
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Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At!
Title: Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At!
Character: Mother Superior
Released: December 8, 1966
Type: Movie
During World War II, two French civilians and a downed British Bomber Crew set out from Paris to cross the demarcation line between Nazi-occupied Northern France and the South. From there they will be able to escape to England. First, they must avoid German troops – and the consequences of their own blunders.
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The Gardener of Argenteuil
Title: The Gardener of Argenteuil
Character: Dora
Released: October 7, 1966
Type: Movie
Tulipe, is an old man who lives alone in an old railway carriage in the Argentueil region of Paris. His main passions are gardening and oil painting, but he also has a secret source of income. His godson discovers that Tulipe is actually a master forger, producing perfect copies of 10 franc notes. His godson’s girlfriend sees this as an opportunity to get very rich – but she must persuade Tulipe to forge 500 franc notes. Assuming Tulipe’s agreement, his godson and his girlfriend buy an expensive new car and luxury villa in provincial France – but there is a cruel turn of fate in store for them when Tulipe strikes up a friendship with a millionaire playboy.
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Les combinards
Title: Les combinards
Character: Mme Florenne, la marieuse
Released: February 2, 1966
Type: Movie
Léo and Claude, two penniless friends turned con artists, answer matrimonial classified ads to trap women. But one of the friends soon finds his own game turned against him.
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A Matter of Resistance
Title: A Matter of Resistance
Character: Charlotte
Released: January 25, 1966
Type: Movie
In the countryside near Normandy's beaches lives Marie, unhappy. It's 1945, she's married to Jérôme, a somewhat fussy milquetoast, diffident to the war around him and unwilling to move his wife to Paris, where she longs to live, shop, and party. A German outfit is bivouacked at Jérôme and Marie's crumbling château because its commanding officer is pursuing Marie. She's also eyed by a French spy working with the Allies as they plan D-Day. He woos her (posing to the Germans as her brother) and, in his passion, forgets his mission. Heroics come from an unexpected direction, and Marie makes her choice.
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Bluebeard
Title: Bluebeard
Character: Old Lady
Released: January 25, 1963
Type: Movie
Paris, France, during the First World War. While thousands of soldiers die every day on the battlefields, Henri Landru, a seemingly respectable furniture dealer, married and father of four children, relentlessly feeds his own sinister factory of death.
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We Will Go to Deauville
Title: We Will Go to Deauville
Character: La propriétaire - Gertrude Couffinous
Released: December 24, 1962
Type: Movie
Comical adventures of two pairs of friends during their stay in Deauville, Normandy.
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Arsène Lupin vs. Arsène Lupin
Title: Arsène Lupin vs. Arsène Lupin
Character: Elizabeth de Poldavie
Released: August 29, 1962
Type: Movie
André Laroche, an industrialist, has just passed away. Face to his grave, as he is being buried, Anne de Vierne, the wife of a magistrate, confesses to her son François that Laroche was in fact Lupin and that he is his natural child. But he is not the gentleman thief's only offspring! Lupin had indeed another son by a housemaid, Gérard Dagmar, a dancer, magician and - occasionally - burglar. Which complicates the task of François who, to respect the last wishes of the testator, has gone in search of the treasure of Poldavia. For he keeps finding Gérard on his way and his efforts are constantly thwarted by his half-brother. Will Gérard prevent François from becoming the worthy successor to their father or will the two young men decide to join forces? That is the question.
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The Nabob Affair
Title: The Nabob Affair
Released: November 16, 1960
Type: Movie
Serge, alias Count Fornari, is hired by a mysterious employer to try to steal the Nabob, an exceptionally valuable diamond that Jeannette, alias Aménita (Perrette Pradier), the companion of a billionaire, wears as a locket. She covets the diamond and steals it from the safe. About to be caught in the act, she keeps it hidden in a handkerchief in her hand and manages to conceal it in Serge's pocket during the hotel ball. When she rejoins the billionaire, he asks her to open her hand, but the diamond is gone. The result is a chase full of misunderstandings and twists and turns between the three protagonists.
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Drôles de phénomènes
Title: Drôles de phénomènes
Character: The Flying Grandmother
Released: March 4, 1959
Type: Movie
Since the day their mother Aline remarried, Patrice and Eric, a joyful pair of twins, have been very happy. Indeed, François Chantour, their stepfather, is very kind and behaves like a big brother to them. Even if they are not very rich, the four of them live a cheerful life in their charming house. The trouble is that, in Lyon, the family on the boys'father's side are worried, especially the twins' grandmother, who fears Patrice and Eric are given a bad education. She therefore brings them to her big house in the hope of their improving their manners. A very unfortunate decision indeed.
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Quelle sacrée soirée
Title: Quelle sacrée soirée
Character: Colonelle Dupont
Released: September 4, 1957
Type: Movie
Jean Duclos has extraordinary adventures after taking the train and mistakenly taking the luggage of a young dancer, Lola Wanda. An oil tycoon appoints him as a proxy for his future company, and then he marries his beautiful cousin, Suzy.
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Law of the Streets
Title: Law of the Streets
Character: Madame Blain
Released: April 25, 1956
Type: Movie
Yves Tréguier, a young orphan, escapes from a reform school in Brittany to join "Dédé la Glace" in Paris, an old-timer with whom he has a sincere friendship. The love of Zette, a young girl he has met, and the benevolent friendship of Father Blain, the bistro owner, give him the desire for regular work. "Jo le Grec", a pimp jealous of Dédé's friendship with Yves, seduces Wanda, a prostitute he loves, and shoots Dédé dead. Blain prevents him from doing the same to Yves, and shoots him in turn. Yves can live an honest life with Zette and the baby she's expecting.
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Sister Angele's Secret
Title: Sister Angele's Secret
Released: March 21, 1956
Type: Movie
A poor wop entrusts his savings to an antique dealer's care. Bad idea. When he comes back to claim his dough,the villain acts as if they've never met. And the poor Italian immigrant kills him.
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Maid in Paris
Title: Maid in Paris
Character: Mme. Bernemal
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... !
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Les hommes en blanc
Title: Les hommes en blanc
Character: Mme. Ledragon
Released: May 9, 1955
Type: Movie
Jean Nerac completes his medical studies, sure of a successful career, but less sure of his attempts with fellow student Marianne, who refuses to accept him. Nerac leaves for the Auvergne. An old doctor will soon die, but replacing him will be difficult, as one of Jean's colleagues has failed. However, with patience, skill, modesty and friendship, Jean Nerac overcame the mistrust of his patients. He settled in these austere mountains, and Marianne, convinced of the young man's worth, helped him with her presence.
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Royal Affairs in Versailles
Title: Royal Affairs in Versailles
Character: Mme de Maintenon
Released: February 10, 1954
Type: Movie
Witty narration follows the history of Versailles Palace; founded by Louis XIII, enlarged by autocratic Louis XIV, whose personal affairs and amours, and those of his two successors, are followed in more detail to the start of the Revolution, after which the story is brought rapidly up to date. A huge cast plays mainly historical persons who appear briefly.
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Midnight... Quai de Bercy
Title: Midnight... Quai de Bercy
Character: La vieille Madame Vignot
Released: May 21, 1953
Type: Movie
Having recently moved into her new apartment, Irène Cazenave, the widow of a well-known police officer, is forced by one of her husband's colleagues to take part in an investigation. The building's provocative concierge has been found murdered. We watch a parade of suspects, only to learn at the end that Irène killed the janitor under blackmail. She kills herself.
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Lettre ouverte
Title: Lettre ouverte
Character: Laurence, the mother-in-law
Released: March 11, 1953
Type: Movie
Martial, Colette 's husband, is madly jealous. One day, he catches his wife writing a letter and he does want to know what this message contains, to no avail.
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Piédalu fait des miracles
Title: Piédalu fait des miracles
Released: October 10, 1952
Type: Movie
The inhabitants of Marboue-Chambourcy want a swimming pool, and the difficulties in realizing this expensive dream divide the village into two clans: on one side the women, on the other the men. Piedalu, whom this conflict desolates, discovers by chance, as part of a found bicycle, a fortune in gold coins.
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Drôle de noce
Title: Drôle de noce
Character: Madame Aglaé
Released: September 10, 1952
Type: Movie
Mr and Mrs Barbezat,Concierges are to marry their only daughter to a butcher's boy. Both the in-laws and the groom have an obsession: come what may, they are keen on honoring their engagements: promises are made to be kept is their motto. And when, on the wedding day, the unfortunate parents cannot provide the newly weds with...the "Mérinos" mattress which is part of the bride's Trousseau ,they are desperate. The husband will spend the whole wedding festivities trying to keep his word.
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Foyer perdu
Title: Foyer perdu
Character: Madame Barbentin mother
Released: June 13, 1952
Type: Movie
A brave and talkative wine merchant, Eugène Barbentin drives his son Pierrot out of the family home, because he has given birth to his girlfriend. His wife then reveals to him that he is not Pierrot's father and she flees with her lover. Abandoned, Eugene will be saved by his mother who will restore the situation with energy and determination.
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Un jour avec vous
Title: Un jour avec vous
Character: Estelle de Marsans
Released: March 14, 1952
Type: Movie
The young Mathilde de Marsan, believes she is in love with a singer, Philippe Mazières, and steals his photo. This one, who had written a song start, searches for this photo as far as the castle of Geoffroy and Estelle de Marsan, where Mathilde's uncle and aunt take him for the husband of one of their guests, Claude Cartier. and will finally marry her while Georges, Claude's ex-fiancé will fall in love with his hosts' niece, Mathilde.
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Le 84 prend des vacances
Title: Le 84 prend des vacances
Character: Madame de la Chambrière
Released: February 22, 1950
Type: Movie
Gaston Bernod is a Parisian bus driver. Honest, upright and hard-working, he is held in high esteem by his superiors. Gaston has always pampered "his" bus, going as far as to equip it with a fuel-saving device of his invention. Very close to his vehicle, he may have somewhat neglected his wife Paulette, who lets herself got round by the smooth words of Pierrot. The gigolo has indeed managed to persuade her to follow him to the Mont Saint-Michel, "a wonderful nest for their burgeoning love" as he says. The trouble is that Gaston, while driving his dear 84, catches sight of the car, and suddenly aware of his misfortune, sees red. He immediately sets off in pursuit of the culprits, involving his load of helpless passengers in the chase.
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Forbidden to the Public
Title: Forbidden to the Public
Character: Gabrielle Tristan
Released: December 2, 1949
Type: Movie
Hervé Montagne, a famous but awfully self-satisfied playwright, is furious when he learns that the actress signed to lead in his latest play will not be able to play the part on account of pregnancy. All the more as no other great actress is available. Well, in fact there IS one, Gabrielle Tristan, a great name of the French stage. The only trouble is that she is Hervé's ex-wife and that they have not been on speaking terms for ten tears.
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Sapho
Title: Sapho
Character: Fanny Legrand
Released: April 7, 1934
Type: Movie
During a transvestite ball, a young provincial meets Fanny Legrand. A great love is born between them. Later, the young man learns that Fanny was a great coquette. He leaves her, he comes back, he forgives. But when he embarks for America, Fanny does not follow him.
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The Clairvoyant
Title: The Clairvoyant
Character: Madame Detaille
Released: October 31, 1924
Type: Movie
Jean is thrown out of the house by his father, a remarried politician, out of jealousy for his friendship with his mother-in-law. He finds refuge at an artist's apartment. In the same building lives a famous fortune teller that the mother-in-law just happens to consult. With her help, Jean will be able to marry his young sweetheart and his father will solve his political troubles.
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De Medeminaars
Title: De Medeminaars
Character: Kaatje
Released: June 19, 1913
Type: Movie
Two brothers - fishermen - fall for the same girl. So one decides to kill the other. But the attempt fails.