Victor Francen (born Victor Franssens, 5 August 1888 – 18 November 1977) was a Belgian-born actor with a long career in

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

cinema and in Hollywood.

Biography

Francen was born in 1888 in Tienen, the son of a chief of police. According to Russian sources, he attended opera classes in Odessa before 1914. Was already well known in Russian empire before 1914. Postcards with his portraits were printed and sold. He worked in trade in Belgium before settling in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

where he trained in dramatic art under Paul Mounet. His stage career in the 1920s included appearances in plays by Henri Bernstein,

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and

Edmond Rostand Edmond Eugène Alexis Rostand (, , ; 1 April 1868 – 2 December 1918) was a French poet and dramatist. He is associated with neo-romanticism and is known best for his 1897 play '' Cyrano de Bergerac''. Rostand's romantic plays contrasted with ...

which took him all over the world. After three appearances in silent films, he played the Prophet in

Abel Gance Abel Gance (; born Abel Eugène Alexandre Péréthon; 25 October 188910 November 1981) was a French film director and producer, writer and actor. A pioneer in the theory and practice of montage, he is best known for three major silent films: ''J ...

's film '' La Fin du monde'' (''The End of the World'') (1931) and established his career as a leading man in French films. In 1940, he was introduced to American films by

Charles Boyer Charles Boyer (; 28 August 1899 – 26 August 1978) was a French-American actor who appeared in more than 80 films between 1920 and 1976. After receiving an education in drama, Boyer started on the stage, but he found his success in American fi ...

and appeared in '' Hold Back the Dawn'' (1941), '' The Tuttles of Tahiti'' (1942), ''

Ten Gentlemen from West Point ''Ten Gentlemen from West Point'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring George Montgomery, Maureen O'Hara and John Sutton. Its cinematography was nominated for an Academy Award in 1943. George Montgomery replac ...

'' (1942), ''

Tales of Manhattan ''Tales of Manhattan'' is a 1942 American anthology film directed by Julien Duvivier. Thirteen writers, including Ben Hecht, Alan Campbell, Ferenc Molnár, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Donald Ogden Stewart, worked on the six stories in this film. Ba ...

'' (1942), '' Mission to Moscow'' (1943), '' Madame Curie'' (1943), '' The Desert Song'' (1943), ''

In Our Time In Our Time may refer to: * ''In Our Time'' (1944 film), a film starring Ida Lupino and Paul Henreid * ''In Our Time'' (1982 film), a Taiwanese anthology film featuring director Edward Yang; considered the beginning of the "New Taiwan Cinema" * ''In ...

'' (1944), '' Passage to Marseille'' (1944), ''

The Mask of Dimitrios ''The Mask of Dimitrios'' is a 1944 American film noir directed by Jean Negulesco and written by Frank Gruber, based on the 1939 novel of the same title written by Eric Ambler (in the United States, it was published as ''A Coffin for Dimitrios'' ...

'' (1944), '' The Conspirators'' (1944), ''

Confidential Agent ''Confidential Agent'' is a 1945 American spy film starring Charles Boyer and Lauren Bacall which was a Warner Brothers production. The movie was directed by Herman Shumlin and produced by Robert Buckner with Jack L. Warner as executive producer. ...

'' (1945), ''

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_ ...

'' (1945), '' Devotion'' (1946), '' Night and Day'' (1946), '' The Beast with Five Fingers'' (1946), '' The Beginning or the End'' (1947), '' To the Victor'' (1948), '' Hell and High Water'' (1954). He was married three times, his last marriage to the actress Mary Marquet. He died in 1977 in Saint-Cannat,

Bouches-du-Rhône Bouches-du-Rhône ( , , ; oc, Bocas de Ròse ; "Mouths of the Rhône") is a department in Southern France. It borders Vaucluse to the north, Gard to the west and Var to the east. The Mediterranean Sea lies to the south. Its prefecture and ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Complete filmography

* ''Le doute'' (1921) – Le jeune écrivain Pierre Aubry * ''Crépuscule d'épouvante'' (1921) – Michel Fortin * ''La neige sur les pas'' (1923) – Marc Romenay * ''La Fin du monde'' ('' End of the World'') (1931) – Martial Novalic * ''L'aiglon'' ('' The Eaglet'') (1931) – Flambeau * ''Après l'amour'' ('' When Love Is Over'') (1931) – Pierre Meyran * '' Ariane, jeune fille russe'' (1932) – Constantin * ''Mélo'' (''The Dreamy Mouth'') (1932) – Marcel, l'amant * ''Les ailes brisées'' (1933) – Fabrège * ''Le velour'' (1933) – Richard Voisin * '' L'Aventurier'' (1934) – Étienne Ranson * ''Le chemineau'' (1935) – Le chemineau / The Vagabond * '' Veille d'armes'' (1935) – Captain de Corlaix * ''La porte du large'' (1936) – Commandant Villette * ''Le roi'' ('' The King'') (1936) – Le roi Jean IV de Cerdagne – en visite à Paris * ''Nuits de feu'' ('' Nights of Fire'') (1937) – Fedor Andreiev * ''L'appel de la vie'' ('' The Call of Life'') (1937) – Le professeur Rougeon * ''Double crime sur la ligne Maginot'' (''Double Crime in the Maginot Line'') (1937) – Capitaine Bruchot * ''Feu!'' (1937) – André Frémiet * ''Forfaiture'' ('' The Cheat'') (1937) – Pierre Moret * '' J'accuse!'' (1938) – Jean Diaz * ''Tamara la complaisante'' (1938) – Grigory * ''La vierge folle'' (''The Foolish Virgin'') (1938) – Marcel Armaury * ''La fin du jour'' (''

The End of the Day ''The End of the Day'' (french: La fin du jour) is a 1939 French drama film directed by Julien Duvivier and starring Victor Francen, Michel Simon and Louis Jouvet. It was shot at the Epinay Studios in Paris and on location around the city as wel ...

'') (1939) – Marny * '' Entente cordiale'' (1939) – Le roi Édouard VII * ''L'homme du Niger'' (''

The Man from Niger ''The Man from Niger'' or ''Forbidden Love'' (French: ''L'homme du Niger'') is a 1940 French drama film directed by Jacques de Baroncelli and starring Victor Francen, Jacques Dumesnil and Annie Ducaux. It is set in the French colonial empire.K ...

'') (1940) – Le commandant Bréval * '' Hold Back the Dawn'' (1941) – Van Den Luecken * '' The Tuttles of Tahiti'' (1942) – Dr. Blondin * ''

'' (1942) – Florimond Massey * ''

'' (1942) – Arturo Bellini * '' Mission to Moscow'' (1943) – Vyshinsky, chief trial prosecutor * '' Madame Curie'' (1943) – President of University * '' The Desert Song'' (1943) – Caid Yousseff * ''

'' (1944) – Count Pawel Orwid * '' Passage to Marseille'' (1944) – Capt. Patain Malo * ''

'' (1944) – Wladislaw Grudek * '' The Conspirators'' (1944) – Hugo Von Mohr * '' Hollywood Canteen'' (1944) – Victor Francen * ''

'' (1945) – Licata * ''

'' (1945) – Legare * '' Devotion'' (1946) – Constantin Heger * '' Night and Day'' (1946) – Anatole Giron * '' The Beast with Five Fingers'' (1946) – Francis Ingram * '' The Beginning or the End'' (1947) – Dr. Marré * '' To the Victor'' (1948) – Police Inspector Beauvais * ''La Révoltée'' (1948) – Henri Dumières * ''La nuit s'achève'' (1950) – Dr. Coudray (Thiriot) * ''

Adventures of Captain Fabian ''Adventures of Captain Fabian'' or ''Adventure in New Orleans'' is a 1951 American adventure film directed by William Marshall and starring Errol Flynn, Micheline Presle, Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead and Victor Francen. Plot George Brissac ...

'' (1951) – Henri Brissac * '' Hell and High Water'' (1954) – Prof. Montel * '' Bedevilled'' (1955) – Father Du Rocher * ''

A Farewell to Arms ''A Farewell to Arms'' is a novel by American writer Ernest Hemingway, set during the Italian campaign of World War I. First published in 1929, it is a first-person account of an American, Frederic Henry, serving as a lieutenant () in the a ...

'' (1957) – Colonel Valentini * '' The Indian Tomb'' (1959) – Penitent (uncredited) * ''Journey to the Lost City'' (1960) * '' Fanny'' (1961) – Panisse's Elder Brother * ''The Big Scare'' (1964) – Docteur Chabert * ''Top Crack'' (1966) – (final film role)

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Francen, Victor 1888 births 1977 deaths 20th-century Belgian male actors Belgian expatriates in France Belgian expatriates in the United States Belgian male film actors Belgian male silent film actors Belgian male stage actors Expatriate male actors in the United States People from Tienen