Born Today January 31: André Antoine

1858-1943

French actor and director of both stage and film Léonard-André Antoine was born on this day in Limoges, France. Antoine got his start in theater at an early on doing odd jobs (supporting himself in at least one other job as a secretary/clerk). He worked his way up to production the hard way, namely by proposing his staging a work by Zola, that offerwas rejected by the theater.  Undeterred, he decided that he would just build his own theater instead. In 1887, at the age of 29, he founded the Théâtre Libre ("Free Theater") in Paris. His idea, which led to it's name, was that his theater would specialize in the staging of new plays and works adapted for the stage that had never been presented before. The production house managed to stay in business for nearly 10 years, closing in 1896. His approach to novel material eventually led him to advance a style of direction known to us today as Mise-en-scène, of which his considered to be complete founder of, despite it's use in and very close association with German expressionist cinema. He is considered the "father" of modern stage directing--which stemmed from his obsession with presenting realism on the stage. Antoine undertook his stage and film direction in the same manner--with a high focus on visuals, bolstered by presentation of realism roght down to the plants and costumes.  This naturalistic philosophical approach to acting/directing/production, also lead Antoine into the world of theater criticism.  His list of theater productions is so vast, I wouldn't dare attempt any detail of them here (!), so I will jump straight to his much smaller list of films that he directed. (See the for yourself here)  His film directorial debut came much later in his career in 1917, at the age of 59 in his filming of Dumas' The Corsican Brothers (Antoine had made an appearance as himself--and was one of the subjects of--the anti-German documentary Those of Our Land two years prior).  Between the years 1917 and 1924, he directed nine films in all; with two in 1921--Mademoiselle de La Seiglière & La terre-- that he personally adapted from works of literature.  The last film that he directed was from an original screenplay by playwright Gustave Grillet  L'Hirondelle et la Mésange (The Swallow and the Titmouse) in 1924. At 66, his career in his field was far from over. In 1928, Antoine published two important memoir works on his time in theaters that he both created and managed. He subsequently periodically published works of criticisms in various theatrical journals into the 1930's.  Around the age of 75, he seems to have retired to the coast to Loire-Atlantique, where he died ten years later on the 23rd of October (some sources list his death on the 19th) in 1943--he was 85. With all of his behind-the-scenes work from building/managing theaters, adapting works for both stage & screen, and writing important memoirs & works of criticism, it is easy to forget that Antoine was also a very accomplished actor as well.  I can find no information as to the location of his interment. 

Still from La terre (The Earth) 1921

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