Elvira Popescu

Elvira Popescu

Born: May 10, 1894
Died: December 11, 1993
in Bucarest, Romania
Elvira Popescu (10 May 1894 – 11 December 1993) was a Romanian-French stage and film actress and theatre director. During the 1930s and 1940s, she starred in a number of French comedy films.

Born in Bucharest, Popescu studied drama at the Music and Drama Conservatory in her native city, under the guidance of Constantin Nottara and Aristizza Romanescu. In 1911 Grigore Brezeanu was making the first Romanian films to deal with fiction. He employed Popesco as well as other leading actors like Nottara and Romanescu. The first two films were called "Fatal Love" and "Spin a Yarn". No copies are known of these films. Popesco made her debut at the National Theatre Bucharest at age 16. In 1912, she played herself in the movie Independența României, directed by Aristide Demetriade.

In 1919 she became artistic director of the Excelsior Theatre. In 1921, Popescu started Teatrul Mic, which she managed in parallel with the Excelsior. In 1923, she starred in the movie Ţigăncuşa de la iatac, directed by Alfred Halm.

At the urging of Louis Verneuil, the French playwright, Popescu moved in 1924 to Paris. Under Verneuil's direction, she played the leading role in Ma Cousine de Varsovie, at the Théâtre Michel (1923). She also played in Tovaritch (1933), La Machine infernale (1954), Nina (1949), and La Mamma (1957). Later on, she was director of Théâtre de Paris (1956–1965), and Théâtre Marigny (1965–1978).[5] At age 84, she played again in La Mamma.

Elvira Popescu also played in movies, such as La Présidente (Fernand Rivers, 1938), Tricoche et Cacolet (Pierre Colombier, 1938), Ils étaient neuf célibataires (Sacha Guitry, 1939), Paradis perdu (Abel Gance, 1940), Austerlitz (Abel Gance, 1960),[6] and Purple Noon (René Clément, 1960).

Shortly after her debut in 1910, Popescu married comedian Aurel Athanasescu and they had a daughter named Tatiana. After a few years, she divorced, and married Ion Manolescu-Strunga, Minister of Industry and Commerce (who was to die in Sighet prison in the 1950s). Her third husband was Count Maximilien Sébastien Foy (born in Paris on 17 April 1900, died in Neuilly-sur-Seine on 11 November 1967).

She died in Paris at age 99, and was interred at Père Lachaise Cemetery.

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

Movies for Elvira Popescu...

Clouzot : The Early Works
Title: Clouzot : The Early Works
Released: September 19, 2018
Type: Movie
A master of suspense admired even by Hitchcock, Henri-Georges Clouzot is famous for acid-tinged thrillers about cold-blooded murder and ugly politics, whether in a French town or a Latin American oil field. But his early writing career was quite different: he provided the scenarios and dialogue for ten years’ worth of clever farces and affecting melodramas, often with musical numbers. My Cousin from Warsaw, Dragnet Night, The Unknown Singer, I’ll Be Alone After Midnight, The Terror of Batignolles, Tell Me Tonight, Dream Castle
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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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La voyante
Title: La voyante
Character: Karma, la voyante
Released: February 21, 1972
Type: Movie
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La Mamma
Title: La Mamma
Character: Rosaria
Released: October 28, 1966
Type: Movie
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The Battle of Austerlitz
Title: The Battle of Austerlitz
Character: Lætitia Bonaparte
Released: June 17, 1960
Type: Movie
Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself emperor and fights the English, Austrians and Russians in 1802.
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Purple Noon
Title: Purple Noon
Character: Mrs. Popova
Released: March 10, 1960
Type: Movie
Tom Ripley is a talented mimic, moocher, forger and all-around criminal improviser; but there's more to Tom Ripley than even he can guess.
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Title: En direct de...
Character: self
Released: February 16, 1956
Type: TV
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Fou d'amour
Title: Fou d'amour
Character: Arabella
Released: June 16, 1943
Type: Movie
Claude, who temporarily replaces his father at the head of a department store, falls in love at first sight with a pretty female customer. He finds out that she is named Solange and that she is the goddaughter of Professor Hauteclerc, who runs a private psychiatric hospital. To come closer to the girl of his dreams, Claude has a crazy idea: he pretends to be mad so as to be placed in Hauteclerc's institution.
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Frédérica
Title: Frédérica
Character: Frédérica
Released: November 18, 1942
Type: Movie
Gilbert, poet and singer, is about to marry Lilette but deep inside himself he is not quite sure that she is the woman he needs. That is the reason why he has made up an imaginary woman, Frédérica" to whom he writes love letters, actual ones this time. When Lilette finds one of these, she sees red. Théodule, one of Gilbert's many friends, sets out the problem with the help of Claudine, his own girlfriend, posing as Frédérica. After Gilbert and "Frédérica" have played a phony breakup scene in front of Lilette, things seem to come right when... another Frédérica appears...
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The Blue Veil
Title: The Blue Veil
Character: Mona Lorenza
Released: November 18, 1942
Type: Movie
In 1914, in the first months of World War I, Louise Jarraud loses her husband, killed on the front. Shortly after, she gives birth to a baby, who soon dies. Devastated by this double misfortune, Louise decides to dedicate her life to caring for the children of others. She becomes a nurse with several employers, giving her affection to little boys or girls. A widower and another man propose to her but she refuses twice determined as she is to live only for the children in her charge.
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Mademoiselle Swing
Title: Mademoiselle Swing
Character: Sofia de Vinci
Released: June 12, 1942
Type: Movie
Stuck in Angoulême between her uncle, who composes classical music, and her aunt, who is a fan of contemporary music, young Irène finds life boring. Fortunately, there is swing music which illuminates her days. So when, one day, Raymond Serre and his swing orchestra come to Angoulême, she seizes the opportunity to slip the copy of a song she has written into the pocket of one of the musicians. The trouble is that while she is doing so, the train she has boarded pulls out.
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L'âge d'or
Title: L'âge d'or
Released: January 28, 1942
Type: Movie
Véra, a vivacious woman, and her alleged brother Boris, are both hired by the Dubelairs as their chambermaid and caretaker. But Dubelair has done bad business while his wife Juliette plays at the races and... loses ! So when it comes to paying their domestics wages, Dubelair gives them lottery tickets. Chance has it that one of them is winning...!
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Le valet maître
Title: Le valet maître
Released: October 30, 1941
Type: Movie
Some, like Ravier de l'Orne are born... masters, but ,like him, do not live up to their rank. Others, like Gustave Morillon, are... born masters, even if, like him, they are valets. Morillon will indeed prove better at bridge than his master and will eventually win the affection of Antonia, a lively foreigner Ravier also coveted.
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Parade in 7 Nights
Title: Parade in 7 Nights
Character: Madame Fanny
Released: September 24, 1941
Type: Movie
In the pound, Pipo the dog recounts his adventures to his fellow inmates.
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The Mondesir Heir
Title: The Mondesir Heir
Character: Erika, l'aventurière
Released: May 7, 1940
Type: Movie
Bienaimé, a modest postman, in love with Janine, the village postmistress, does not know that he is the illegitimate son of the old Baron de Mondésir. The Baron dies and in happy amazement, Bienaimé finds he is the sole heir to the deceased's estate. But he should be careful, for two crooks, Waldemar and Erika, are after his newly-acquired wealth.
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Sacred Woods
Title: Sacred Woods
Character: Francine Margerie
Released: November 26, 1939
Type: Movie
Despite her success, writer Francine Margerie is let down to see that she is not nominated for the Legion of Honor award. One solution could be to sleep with Champmorel, the Director of Fine Arts and one of the judges for the awarding of the coveted medal.
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Paradis perdu
Title: Paradis perdu
Character: Sonia Vorochine
Released: October 27, 1939
Type: Movie
In pre-World Ward I in Paris, a budding artist, Pierre LeBlanc, falls in love and marries Janine, a dressmaker's assistant. Pierre has a flair for designing clothes, and he and his bride live in a blissful paradise, until the war breaks out and he becomes a soldier. Janine dies in childbirth and, no longer desiring to live, Pierre volunteers for a dangerous patrol behind German lines. While recuperating in the hospital from a wound he received on the mission, Pierre spends his time drawing sketches of dresses. He becomes rich and famous after the war. Years later, after devoting himself to his daughter, Pierre seeks a marriage with a girl no older than his daughter. A conflict develops and to ensure his daughter's happiness, Pierre sacrifices his own plans.
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Nine Bachelors
Title: Nine Bachelors
Character: Comtesse Stacia Batchefskaïa
Released: September 29, 1939
Type: Movie
Nine Bachelors is a 1939 French comedy film directed by Sacha Guitry and starring Guitry, Max Dearly and Elvire Popesco.[1] An opportunist dreams up a new scheme to make money when the French government passes a law forbidding foreigners from living in France. It's French title is Ils étaient neuf célibataires.
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The Fatted Calf
Title: The Fatted Calf
Character: Princess Dorothée
Released: April 12, 1939
Type: Movie
Jules Vachon, a pharmacist, has two sons, Gabriel, a steady-minded young man dedicated to his job in the pharmacy, and Gaston, a good for nothing whose only talent is to seduce rich women and take money from their pockets. But it is Gaston who is hailed as a great man when he returns to his native village thanks to his deep pockets.
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Behind the Facade
Title: Behind the Facade
Character: Mme Rameau, épouse d'un industriel et maîtresse d'Alfrédo
Released: March 14, 1939
Type: Movie
In the elevator of two large Parisian buildings, a telegraph operator discovers the body of an elderly woman, Madame Mathieu, the owner of both buildings. Boucheron (Lucien Baroux), the local superintendent, is dispatched to investigate, along with his rival, Inspector Lambert of the "Sûreté" (Jacques Baumer). To solve the enigma, they scour staircases and corridors, visiting every floor of both buildings, courtyard and facade. Their gruff rivalry allows them to complement each other in discovering who committed the crime among a gallery of characters, humble or rich, who all have something to be ashamed of... A rare, fast-paced, picturesque comedy set against the backdrop of a police mystery.
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Deputy Eusèbe
Title: Deputy Eusèbe
Character: Mariska
Released: March 9, 1939
Type: Movie
Eusèbe Bonbonneau, a solicitor's clerk, learns one day that a candidate bearing his name runs for election as a member of parliament. In fact Frazier, a crooked businessman, has urged an accomplice to impersonate Eusèbe, in order to obtain, through this straw man, authorizations for the creation of a casino in Sanceau-les-Nains and to make big money out of it. Eusébe decides to go to Paris to investigate. In the capital he meets Mariska, an exuberant actress who encourages him to try to get elected. As a result, thanks to her the true Bonbonneau becomes a member of parliament and the crook's accomplice is arrested. But Frazier is not impressed and, changing tactics, he starts manipulating Eusèbe.
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Mon curé chez les riches
Title: Mon curé chez les riches
Character: Lisette Cousinet
Released: December 21, 1938
Type: Movie
In the village of Sableuse, the local manor has been bought out by a nouveau riche, Emile Cousinet. When his wife Lisette, a former music hall actress, flees to Paris with young Pierre de Sableuse, Cousinet asks Father Pellegrin, the village vicar, to bring the lost sheep back home.
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Bargekeepers Daughter
Title: Bargekeepers Daughter
Character: The Queen of Silistrie
Released: October 11, 1938
Type: Movie
Prince Sacha studies in Paris and cares more for Marianne than about Silistrie, the country his family was exiled from. But Chautard, a French financier, who has business there (the country is rich in oil), wouldn't mind a little political stability. So why not restore the ancient royal family to the throne? But is Prince Sacha up to his role ? And will Marianne make a suitable princess?
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Tricoche and Cacolet
Title: Tricoche and Cacolet
Character: Bernardine Van der Pouf
Released: September 6, 1938
Type: Movie
Two friends, Tricoche and Cacolet, are partners in a detective agency. Chance has it that Cacolet is hired by Van der Pouf, a rich banker who wants him to watch over his wife Bernardine while the latter, on her part, seeks the services of Thicoche.
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La Présidente
Title: La Présidente
Character: Vérotcha
Released: May 24, 1938
Type: Movie
Vérotchka, a vivacious theater actress touring in a provincial town, is turned out of her hotel by orders of Monsieur Tricointe, the stern president of the local law court. In a rage, the actress knocks at Tricointe's door with a view to protesting against the treatment she is given. She goes about it so well that she ends up being accommodated by the president himself. This is the moment Jean-Pierre Gaudet, the Minister of Justice, chooses to pay an unannounced visit to his friend Tricointe. There he mistakes Vérotchka for Madame Tricointe and the president does not dare to contradict Gaudet. A lot of absurd situations ensue.
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In Venice, One Night
Title: In Venice, One Night
Character: Nadia Mortal
Released: November 19, 1937
Type: Movie
Mortal is ready to do anything to obtain a divorce from his wife Nadia. To compromise her, he needs to find her a lover. He thinks he has found the ideal candidate in the person of a manly private detective by the name of Robert Arnaud. But the experience gets out of Mortal's control as, on the one hand, Robert and Nadia fall in love for good, and, on the other hand, Robert, assisted by resourceful young Toto, manages to expose Mortal as the jewel thief he is.
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The Green Dress
Title: The Green Dress
Character: La duchesse de Maulévrier
Released: October 27, 1937
Type: Movie
Count Hubert de Latour Latour is the lover of the Duchess de Maulévrier. The day he is surprised by the Duke in the company of his wife and... in a rather compromising situation, Hubert resorts to a subterfuge, claiming that he has come to see the Duchess to seek support to be elected at the Institut de France, whose chairman is precisely her husband. The latter takes him at his word and Hubert becomes... a member of the French Academy! Which just shows that everything leads to everything.
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Le Club des Aristocrates
Title: Le Club des Aristocrates
Character: La comtesse Irène Waldapowska
Released: September 2, 1937
Type: Movie
Serge loves living it up but painting the town red has a price... too high for him! What to do then? Alfred, his servant and former pickpocket, has the solution : steal of course! No sooner said than done ! Or rather: No sooner said than tried... For when Serge, assisted by his mistress Gloriane acting as bait, he tries to rob a jeweler on the Place Vendôme of a precious diamond bracelet, he realizes that a gang of thieves have preceded him. Later on, he will learn that the boss of the gang is a Polish noblewoman, Countess Waldapowska.
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The House Across the Street
Title: The House Across the Street
Character: Madame Anna
Released: January 29, 1937
Type: Movie
A man of integrity, Monsieur Pic is the accountant beyond reproach of the Banque Universelle. He would not dream of doing anything wrong and everybody knows it. He is therefore justly indignant when a wealthy woman offers him the position of administrator in the whorehouse she is opening soon. But only fools never change their minds and if Monsieur Pic finally accepts the position in the house across the Banque Universelle, he has three good reasons for that: first he does not get the promotion he deserved ; second, his son Albert is hired by Madame Anna as a decorator ; third, Hortense, his daughter has expressed the wish to "work" there too. The good point is that, once in the place, Pic will be rewarded for what he is worth. Even more important, the unfortunate father will be able there to keep a close eye on his two wayward children and protect them from temptation.
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The Man of the Day
Title: The Man of the Day
Character: Mona Thalia
Released: January 2, 1937
Type: Movie
Alfred Boulard, a good-natured electrician, gives his blood to save Mona Thalia, a great theater actress. Mona Thalia survives and Boulard becomes the man of the hour. Grateful to him, Mona helps Alfred to become a singing star. But his fame will be short-lived.
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The King
Title: The King
Character: Thérèse Marnix
Released: October 29, 1936
Type: Movie
King John IV of Cerdania, who knows monarchs are a vanishing race but who plays his royalty role in state council or boudoir to the hilt, is in Paris to sign a treaty, and becomes enmeshed in intrigue with an actress, Therese Mannix and involved in a bit of cuckoldry with YouYou Bourdier, the ex-seamstress wife of a French senator, who is un-awed by money, power or the King's kisses. For his part, her husband, Senator Bourdier, is glad to use his wealth, wife and collectivist ideals for social position, in spite of his democratic posing.
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L'Amant de Madame Vidal
Title: L'Amant de Madame Vidal
Released: October 1, 1936
Type: Movie
Catherine Vidal is a featherbrained wife who imagines that her husband cheats on her. To wash away the alleged stigma, Catherine hires a young man who will pose as her lover. The (double) trouble is that not only is Catherine's husband innocent but that Catherine and her "employee" fall in love for good as well.
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Dora Nelson
Title: Dora Nelson
Released: November 8, 1935
Type: Movie
Dora Nelson, a famous actress, leaves both her husband Philippe de Moreuil and the role she was playing in a movie directed by Nivert, to follow her lover Santini in Italy. But she soon realizes that Santini deceives her with a girl named Elsa. In vexation she decides to return to her husband and to her career. Unfortunately for her, Suzanne Verdier, a little working girl, has in the meantime replaced her not only in the film she had left unfinished but in her husband's heart as well. Dora eventually understands she must step aside.
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Une femme chipée
Title: Une femme chipée
Character: Hélène Larsonnier
Released: October 12, 1934
Type: Movie
Hélène, married to Larsonnier, has developed a crush for Germont, her neighbor. One night, she is abducted and she discovers that her kidnapper is none other than Germont. But, to her dismay, he does not act out of love for her : his only motivation is money, which he proves by asking her husband a five-Million-franc ransom. After a long hesitation, Larsonnier finally pays the sum and Hélène returns to him. As for Germont, chased by the police, he goes on the loose... Some time later, Hélène is kidnapped one more time, and again by Germont! But this time around, this the elopement of her dreams.
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Sa meilleure cliente
Title: Sa meilleure cliente
Character: Edwige
Released: December 16, 1932
Type: Movie
It is one thing to open a beauty salon (which Edwige and her young lover Gaston have just done) but it is another to keep it on its feet.To best promote their speciality, fountain-of-youth treatments, Edwige decides to apply to the letter the old slogan "It pays to advertise" by posing as... Gaston's mother, a sixty-year-old woman, miraculously grown younger.
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My Cousin From Warsaw
Title: My Cousin From Warsaw
Character: Sonia Varilovna
Released: April 10, 1931
Type: Movie
Archibald Burel, a banker, has had enough of his wife cheating on him, and with his best friend Hubert into the bargain! One day he has (at least that is what he thinks!) a bright idea : he asks Sonia, his cousin living in Poland but staying in Paris at the moment, to seduce Hubert. In these conditions, how could Lucienne not fall into his arms again? Unfortunately for Archibald, things do not go (at all!) according to plan : he himself falls for Sonia while Hubert manages to reconquer Lucienne! Dispirited, Sonia decides to return to Warsaw.
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The stranger
Title: The stranger
Character: Dora Clarkson
Released: February 6, 1931
Type: Movie
In a luxury hotel, a gathering of foreign high society people attend a wedding lunch. By the end of the feast a dramatic turn of events occurs : on the time of leaving the groom realizes that his newly married wife has... disappeared ! One morning, some time later, he meets her again at the Bois de Boulogne. She tells him everything about her strange attitude: she needed to be married to be able to have access to her husband's money. With this money, she managed to avenge her mother.
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Tigancusa de la iatac
Title: Tigancusa de la iatac
Character: Maria Tortusanu - Vasil's fiancée
Released: December 30, 1923
Type: Movie