Danielle Darrieux singing "Berger d'autrefois", 1942

Berger d'autrefois (Shepherd of the Old Days) du Film „La fausse maîtresse" (Twisted Mistress) (Maurice Yvain -- Louis Poterat) -- Danielle Darrieux avec accompagnement d'orchestre sous la direction de M. Vandevalde, Polydor 1942 (France) NOTE: This film was based on the story "La fausse maîtresse" published in 1841 by Honoré de Balzac, about Mlle Clementine - an impoverished descendant of a rich and noble family who marries Count Adam Laginski - a prosperous Polish immigrant. She falls in love with his handsome young friend, Thadde who has, however, a secret lover Malaga performing as acrobat in a circus. The plot of the 1942 movie directed by André Cayatte focuses on the circus affair. Danielle Darrieux plays a circus owner's daughter, who dances on a rope, sings two songs and falls in love with local rugby player. Danielle DARRIEUX (b. in 1917) is one of France's great movie stars and her eight-decade career is among the longest in film history. She was born in Bordeaux, France during World War I to a physician who was serving in the French Army. Her father died when she was seven. Raised in Paris, she studied the cello at the Conservatoire de Musique. At 13, she won a part in the musical film Le Bal (1931). Her beauty combined with her singing and dancing ability led to numerous other offers, and the film Mayerling (1936) brought her to fame. In 1935, Darrieux married director/screenwriter Henri Decoin, who encouraged her to try Hollywood. She signed with Universal Studios to star in The Rage of Paris (1938) opposite Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Afterwards, she elected to return to Paris. Under the German occupation of France during World War II, she continued to perform, a decision that was severely criticized by her compatriots. In 1943 Darrieux agreed to make a promotional trip in Berlin. After 1945, she moved out to Switzerland and stayed out of France for several years. In 1953 she began performing again in the movies, in 1953 in Max Ophüls' "The Earrings of Madame de..." opposite Charles Boyer, in 1954 she acted in "The Red and the Black" opposite Gérard Philippe and the next year she starred in "Lady Chatterley's Lover", whose theme of uninhibited sexuality led to its being proscribed by censors in the United States. Approaching 40, she played a supporting role in her last American film to date, United Artists' epic "Alexander the Great "(1956) starring Richard Burton and Claire Bloom. In 1961 she went to England at the request of director Lewis Gilbert to star in "The Greengage Summer" opposite Kenneth More. In 1963, she starred in the romantic comedy "La Robe Mauve de Valentine" at Théâtre Châtelet in Paris. The play was adapted from the novel by Françoise Sagan. During the 1960s she also was a concert singer. In 1970, Darrieux replaced Katharine Hepburn in the Broadway musical, Coco, based on the life of Coco Chanel, but the play, essentially a showcase for Hepburn, soon folded without her. For her long service to the motion picture industry, in 1985 she was given an Honorary César Award. See also the flip side of this record, which is a lovely French tango "Les Fleus sont des Mots d'Amour" (Flowers Are The Words Of Love) sung also by Danielle Darrieux http://youtu.be/DW7CuJ3qyKQ