Victorien Sardou ( , ; 5 September 18318 November 1908) was a French

dramatist A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

. He is best remembered today for his development, along with

Eugène Scribe Augustin Eugène Scribe (; 24 December 179120 February 1861) was a French dramatist and librettist. He is known for writing "well-made plays" ("pièces bien faites"), a mainstay of popular theatre for over 100 years, and as the librettist of ma ...

, of the

well-made play The well-made play (french: la pièce bien faite, pronounced ) is a dramatic genre from nineteenth-century theatre, developed by the French dramatist Eugène Scribe. It is characterised by concise plotting, compelling narrative and a largely stan ...

. He also wrote several plays that were made into popular 19th-century operas such as '' La Tosca'' (1887) on which

Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Puccini ( Lucca, 22 December 1858Bruxelles, 29 November 1924) was an Italian composer known primarily for his operas. Regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi, he was descended from a long ...

's opera ''

Tosca ''Tosca'' is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900. The work, based on Victorien Sardou's 1887 French-language dramati ...

'' (1900) is based, and '' Fédora'' (1882) and '' Madame Sans-Gêne'' (1893) that provided the subjects for the lyrical dramas ''

Fedora A fedora () is a hat with a soft brim and indented crown.Kilgour, Ruth Edwards (1958). ''A Pageant of Hats Ancient and Modern''. R. M. McBride Company. It is typically creased lengthwise down the crown and "pinched" near the front on both side ...

'' (1898) and '' Madame Sans-Gêne'' (1915) by Umberto Giordano. His play ''Gismonda'', from 1894, was also adapted into an opera of the same name by Henry Février.

Early years

Plaque_Victorien_Sardou,_16_rue_Beautreillis,_Paris_4

Victorien Sardou was born at 16 rue Beautreillis (), Paris on 5 September 1831. The Sardous were settled at Le Cannet, a village near

Cannes Cannes ( , , ; oc, Canas) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The ...

, where they owned an estate, planted with olive trees. A night's frost killed all the trees and the family was ruined. Victorien's father, Antoine Léandre Sardou, came to Paris in search of employment. He was in succession a book-keeper at a commercial establishment, a professor of book-keeping, the head of a provincial school, then a private tutor and a schoolmaster in Paris, besides editing grammars, dictionaries and treatises on various subjects. With all these occupations, he hardly succeeded in making a livelihood, and when he retired to his native country, Victorien was left on his own resources. He had begun studying medicine, but had to desist for want of funds. He taught French to foreign pupils: he also gave lessons in Latin, history and mathematics to students, and wrote articles for cheap encyclopaedias.

Career

At the same time, he was trying to make headway in the literary world. His talents had been encouraged by an old , Mme de Bawl, who had published novels and enjoyed some reputation in the days of the Restoration, but she could do little for her protégé. Victorien Sardou made efforts to attract the attention of Mlle Rachel, and to win her support by submitting to her a drama, ''La Reine Ulfra'', founded on an old Swedish chronicle. A play of his, ''La Taverne des étudiants'', was produced at the Odéon on 1 April 1854, but met a stormy reception, owing to a rumour that the débutant had been instructed and commissioned by the government to insult the students. ''La Taverne'' was withdrawn after five nights. Another drama by Sardou, ''Bernard Palissy'', was accepted at the same theatre, but the arrangement was cancelled in consequence of a change in the management. A Canadian play, ''Fleur de Liane'', would have been produced at the

Ambigu Ambigu is an historical French vying game, composed of the characteristic elements of Whist, Bouillotte and Piquet. A Whist pack with the court cards removed is used, and from two to six persons may play. Each player is given an equal number of ...

but for the death of the manager. ''Le Bossu'', which he wrote for Charles Albert Fechter, did not satisfy the actor; and when the play was successfully produced, the nominal authorship, by some unfortunate arrangement, had been transferred to other men. Sardou submitted to Adolphe Lemoine, manager of the Gymnase, a play entitled ''Paris à l'envers'', which contained the love scene, afterwards so famous, in ''Nos Intimes''. Lemoine thought fit to consult

, who was revolted by the scene in question. In 1857, Sardou felt the pangs of actual want, and his misfortunes culminated in an attack of

typhoid Typhoid fever, also known as typhoid, is a disease caused by ''Salmonella'' serotype Typhi bacteria. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often there is a gradual onset of a high fever over several d ...

fever. He was living in poverty and was dying in his

garret A garret is a habitable attic, a living space at the top of a house or larger residential building, traditionally, small, dismal, and cramped, with sloping ceilings. In the days before elevators this was the least prestigious position in a bui ...

, surrounded by his rejected manuscripts. A lady who was living in the same house unexpectedly came to his assistance. Her name was Mlle de Brécourt. She had theatrical connections and was a special favourite of Mlle Déjazet. She nursed him, cured him, and, when he was well again, introduced him to her friend. Déjazet had just established the theatre named after her, and every show after ''La Taverne'' was put on at this theatre. Fortune began to smile on the author. It is true that ''Candide'', the first play he wrote for Mlle Déjazet, was stopped by the censor, but ''Les Premières Armes de Figaro'', ''Monsieur Garat'', and ''Les Prés Saint Gervais'', produced almost in succession, had a splendid run. ''Garat'' and ''Gervais'' were done at Theatre des Varlétés and in English at

Criterion Theatre The Criterion Theatre is a West End theatre at Piccadilly Circus in the City of Westminster, and is a Grade II* listed building. It has a seating capacity of 588. Building the theatre In 1870, the caterers Spiers and Pond began develop ...

in London. ''Les Pattes de mouche'' (1860, afterwards anglicized as ''A Scrap of Paper'') obtained a similar success at the Gymnase. Sarah Bernhardt as Theodora by Nadar

'' Fédora'' (1882), a work that popularized the fedora hat as well, was written expressly for

Sarah Bernhardt Sarah Bernhardt (; born Henriette-Rosine Bernard; 22 or 23 October 1844 – 26 March 1923) was a French stage actress who starred in some of the most popular French plays of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including ''La Dame Aux Cameli ...

, as were many of his later plays. This was later adapted by Umberto Giordano, and he made an opera entitled ''Fedora''. The play dealt with

nihilism Nihilism (; ) is a philosophy, or family of views within philosophy, that rejects generally accepted or fundamental aspects of human existence, such as objective truth, knowledge, morality, values, or meaning. The term was popularized by I ...

, which was coined from '' Fathers and Sons'' by

Ivan Turgenev Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev (; rus, links=no, Ива́н Серге́евич Турге́невIn Turgenev's day, his name was written ., p=ɪˈvan sʲɪrˈɡʲe(j)ɪvʲɪtɕ tʊrˈɡʲenʲɪf; 9 November 1818 – 3 September 1883 (Old Style dat ...

. He struck a new vein by introducing a strong historic element in some of his dramatic romances. Thus he borrowed '' Théodora '' (1884) from

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...

annals (which was also adapted into an opera by

Xavier Leroux Xavier Henry Napoleón Leroux (11 October 1863 – 2 February 1919) was a French composer and a teacher at the Paris Conservatory. He was married to the famous soprano Meyrianne Héglon (1867–1942). Life Born in Italy at Velletri, 30 ...

), ''

La Haine ''La Haine'' (, ; released in the United States as ''Hate'') is a 1995 French crime drama film written, co-edited, and directed by Mathieu Kassovitz. Starring Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé and Saïd Taghmaoui, the film chronicles a day and ni ...

'' (1874) from Italian chronicles, ''La Duchesse d'Athénes'' from the forgotten records of medieval Greece. ''Patrie!'' (1869) is founded on the rising of the Dutch

Geuzen Geuzen (; ; french: Les Gueux) was a name assumed by the confederacy of Calvinist Dutch nobles, who from 1566 opposed Spanish rule in the Netherlands. The most successful group of them operated at sea, and so were called Watergeuzen (; ; frenc ...

at the end of the 16th century, and was made into a popular opera by Emile Paladilhe in 1886. The scene of ''La Sorcière'' (1904) was laid in Spain in the 16th century. The

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...

furnished him three plays, ''Les Merveilleuses'', '' Thermidor'' (1891) and ''Robespierre'' (1899). His play ''Gismonda'' (1894) was adapted into an opera by

Henry Février Henry Février (2 October 18756 July 1957) was a French composer. Biography Henry Février was born in Paris, France, on 2 October 1875. He married and had a son, the pianist Jacques Février. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire, where his ...

. The last named was written expressly for Sir Henry Irving, and produced at the Lyceum theatre in London, as was ''Dante'' (1903). The

Napoleonic era The Napoleonic era is a period in the history of France and Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, the first being the National Assembly, the second being the Legislativ ...

was revived in '' La Tosca'' (1887). Sardou Grave

'' Madame Sans-Gêne'' (1893) was written specifically for

Gabrielle Réjane Gabrielle Réjane (), ''née'' Gabrielle Charlotte Réju (6 June 1856 – 14 June 1920), was a French actress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The daughter of a former actor, Réjane studied at the Paris Conservatoire and made her stage ...

as the unreserved, good-hearted wife of Marshal Lefevre. It was translated into English and starred Irving and

Ellen Terry Dame Alice Ellen Terry, (27 February 184721 July 1928), was a leading English actress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born into a family of actors, Terry began performing as a child, acting in Shakespeare plays in London, and tour ...

at the Lyceum Theatre. Later plays were ''La Pisie'' (1905) and '' The Affair of the Poisons'' (1907). In many of these plays, however, it was too obvious that a thin varnish of historic learning, acquired for the purpose, had been artificially laid on to cover modern thoughts and feelings. But a few — ''Patrie!'' and ''La Haine'' (1874), for instance — exhibit a true insight into the strong passions of past ages. ''L'Affaire des Poisons'' (1907) was running at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin and was very successful at the time of his death. The play involved the poisoning

camarilla A camarilla is a group of courtiers or favourites who surround a king or ruler. Usually, they do not hold any office or have any official authority at the royal court but influence their ruler behind the scenes. Consequently, they also escape havi ...

under

Louis XIV of France , house = Bourbon , father = Louis XIII , mother = Anne of Austria , birth_date = , birth_place = Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France , death_date = , death_place = Palace of ...

. Toward the end of his life, Sardou made several recordings of himself reading passages from his works, including a scene from ''Patrie!''. Victorien Sardou, Vanity Fair, 1891-05-02

Victorien Sardou, Vanity Fair, 1891-05-02

Personal life and death

Sardou married his benefactress, Mlle de Brécourt, but eight years later he became a widower, and soon after the Revolution of 1870 was married a second time, to Mlle Soulié on 17 June 1872, the daughter of the erudite Eudore Soulié, who for many years superintended the Musée de

Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, ...

. He was elected to the

Académie française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...

in the room of the poet Joseph Autran (1813–1877), and took his seat on 22 May 1878. He lived at

Château de Marly The Château de Marly was a French royal residence located in what is now Marly-le-Roi, the commune on the northern edge of the royal park. This was situated west of the palace and garden complex at Versailles. Marly-le-Roi is the town that develo ...

for some time. He obtained the

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

in 1863 and was elected a member of the Académie française in 1877. Sardou died on 8 November 1908 in Paris. He had been ill for a long time. Official cause of death was pulmonary congestion. Victorien Sardou in 1901

Writing style

Sardou modelled his work after

. It was reported in Stephen Sadler Stanton's intro to ''Camille and Other Plays'' that Sardou would read the first act of one of Scribe's plays, rewrite the rest, and then compare the two. One of his first goals when writing was to devise a central conflict followed by a powerful climax. From there, he would work backwards to establish the action leading up to it. He believed conflict was the key to drama. He was ranked with the two undisputed leaders of dramatic art at that time, Augier and Dumas. He lacked the powerful humour, the eloquence and moral vigour of the former, the passionate conviction and pungent wit of the latter, but he was a master of clever and easy flowing dialogue. He adhered to Scribe's constructive methods, which combined the three old kinds of comedy —the comedy of character, of manners and of intrigue— with the ''drame bourgeois'', and blended the heterogeneous elements into a compact body and living unity. He was no less dexterous in handling his materials than his master had been before him, and at the same time opened a wider field to social satire. He ridiculed the vulgar and selfish middle-class person in ''Nos Intimes'' (1861: anglicized as ''Peril''), the gay old bachelors in ''Les Vieux Garçons'' (1865), the modern Tartufes in ''Seraphine'' (1868), the rural element in ''Nos Bons Villageois'' (1866), old-fashioned customs and antiquated political beliefs in ''Les Ganaches'' (1862), the revolutionary spirit and those who thrive on it in ''Rabagas'' (1872) and ''Le Roi Carotte'' (1872), the then threatened divorce laws in ''Divorçons'' (1880).

Legacy

Irish playwright and critic

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from ...

said of ''La Tosca'': "Such an empty-headed ghost of a shocker... Oh, if it had but been an opera!". He also came up with the dismissive term " Sardoodledom" in a review of Sardou plays (''The Saturday Review'', 1 June 1895). Shaw believed that Sardou's contrived dramatic machinery was creaky and that his plays were empty of ideas. Sardou's advice to young playwrights on how to be successful was to "Torture the women!" as part of any play construction. After producer

Sir Squire Bancroft Sir Squire Bancroft (14 May 1841 – 19 April 1926), born Squire White Butterfield, was an English actor-manager. He changed his name to Squire Bancroft Bancroft by deed poll just before his marriage. He and his wife Effie Bancroft are consid ...

saw the dress rehearsal for ''Fedora'', he said in his memoirs "In five minutes the audience was under a spell which did not once abate throughout the whole four acts. Never was treatment of a strange and dangerous subject more masterly, never was acting more superb than Sarah showed that day." William Winter said of ''Fedora'' that "the distinguishing characteristic of this drama is carnality." Sardou is mentioned in part two, chapter two of

Proust Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust (; ; 10 July 1871 – 18 November 1922) was a French novelist, critic, and essayist who wrote the monumental novel '' In Search of Lost Time'' (''À la recherche du temps perdu''; with the previous ...

's ''The Guermantes Way'', the third volume of ''

In Search of Lost Time ''In Search of Lost Time'' (french: À la recherche du temps perdu), first translated into English as ''Remembrance of Things Past'', and sometimes referred to in French as ''La Recherche'' (''The Search''), is a novel in seven volumes by French ...

''. In New Orleans, during the period when much of its upper class still spoke French, Antoine Alciatore, founder of the famous old restaurant

Antoine's Antoine's is a Louisiana Creole cuisine restaurant located at 713 rue St. Louis (St. Louis Street) in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. It is one of the oldest family-run restaurants in the United States, having been established in ...

, invented a dish called Eggs Sardou in honor of the playwright's visit to the city. The Rue Victorien Sardou and Square Victorien Sardou near the Parc Sainte-Périne in Paris are named after him. There are also streets named rue Victorien Sardou in

Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of ...

and

Saint-Omer Saint-Omer (; vls, Sint-Omaars) is a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department in France. It is west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais, and is located in the Artois province. The town is named after Saint Audoma ...

Works

Stage works

*''La Taverne des étudiants'' (1854) *''Les Premières Armes de Figaro (1859), with Emile Vanderbuch *''Les Gens nerveux'' (1859), with

Théodore Barrière Théodore Barrière (1823 – 16 October 1877), French playwright, was born in Paris. He belonged to a family of map engravers which had long been connected with the war department, and spent nine years in that service himself. The success of ...

*''Les Pattes de mouche'' (''A Scrap of Paper''; 1860) *''Monsieur Garat'' (1860) *''Les Femmes fortes'' (1860) *''L'écureuil'' (1861) *''L'Homme aux pigeons'' (1861), as Jules Pélissié *''Onze Jours de siège'' (1861) *''Piccolino'' (1861), comedy in 3 acts with songs *''Nos Intimes!'' (1861) *''Chez Bonvalet'' (1861), as Jules Pélissié with Henri Lefebvre *''La Papillonne'' (1862) *''La Perle Noire'' ('' The Black Pearl''; 1862) *''Les Prés Saint-Gervais'' (1862), with Philippe Gille and music by

Charles Lecocq Alexandre Charles Lecocq (3 June 183224 October 1918) was a French composer, known for his opérettes and opéras comiques. He became the most prominent successor to Jacques Offenbach in this sphere, and enjoyed considerable success in the 187 ...

*''Les Ganaches'' (1862) *''Bataille d'amour'' (1863), with Karl Daclin and music by Auguste Vaucorbeil *''Les Diables noirs'' (1863) *''Le Dégel'' (1864) *''Don Quichotte'' (1864), rearranged by Sardou and Charles-Louis-Etienne Nuitter and music by Maurice Renaud *''Les Pommes du voisin'' (1864) *''Le Capitaine Henriot'' (1864), by Sardou and Gustave Vaez, music by

François-Auguste Gevaert François-Auguste Gevaert (31 July 1828 in Huysse, near Oudenaarde – 24 December 1908 in Brussels) was a Belgian musicologist and composer.N. Slonimsky, Ed., ''Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians'', 8th ed., Schirmer Books, NY Li ...

*''Les Vieux Garçons'' (1865) *''Les Ondines au Champagne'' (1865), as Jules Pélissié with Henri Lefebvre, music by Charles Lecocq *''La Famille Benoîton'' (1865) *''Les Cinq Francs d'un bourgeois de Paris'' (1866), with Dunan Mousseux and Jules Pélissié *''Nos Bons Villageois'' (1866) *''Maison neuve'' (1866) *''Séraphine'' (1868) *''Patrie!'' (''Fatherland'') (1869), adapted by Sardou in 1886 into a grand opera with music by Emile Paladilhe *''Fernande'' (1870) *'' Le roi Carotte'' (1872), music by

Jacques Offenbach Jacques Offenbach (, also , , ; 20 June 18195 October 1880) was a German-born French composer, cellist and impresario of the Romantic period. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s to the 1870s, and his uncompleted opera ' ...

*''Les Vieilles Filles'' (1872), with

Charles de Courcy Charles Henry Charlot de Courcy (22 August 1834 – 12 December 1917 La Haine ''La Haine'' (, ; released in the United States as ''Hate'') is a 1995 French crime drama film written, co-edited, and directed by Mathieu Kassovitz. Starring Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé and Saïd Taghmaoui, the film chronicles a day and ni ...

'' (''Hatred''; 1874), music by Jacques Offenbach *''Ferréol'' (1875) * ''Piccolino'' (1876), 3-act

opéra-comique The Opéra-Comique is a Paris opera company which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with – and for a time took the name of – its chief rival, the Comédie-Italienne ...

, with Charles-Louis-Etienne Nuitter and with music by Ernest Guiraud *''L'Hôtel Godelot'' (1876), with

Henri Crisafulli Henri Xavier François Pierre Crisafulli (29 June 1827, Naples – 5 March 1900, Paris age 62) was a 19th-century French playwright and novelist. Crisafulli studied at collège Charlemagne in Paris. He made his theatre debut in 1855. In addition ...

*''Dora'' (1877) *''Les Exilés'' (1877), with Gregorij Lubomirski and Eugène Nus *''Les Bourgeois de Pont-Arcy'' (1878) *''Les Noces de Fernande'' (1878), with

Émile de Najac Comte Émile de Najac (December 1828 – 11 April 1889) was a French librettist. He was a prolific writer during the Second Empire and early part of the Third Republic, supplying plays and opéra comique librettos, many in one act. Biography É ...

and music by Louis-Pierre Deffès *''Daniel Rochat'' (1880) *''Divorçons!'' (''Let's Get a Divorce''; 1880), with

*'' Odette'' (1881) *'' Fédora '' (1882) *''Théodora'' (1884), later revised in 1907 with

Paul Ferrier Paul Ferrier (29 March 1843 - September 1920) was a French dramatist, who also provided libretti for several composers, especially Varney and Serpette. Ferrier was born in Montpellier. He had already produced several comedies when in 1873 he ...

and music by

*''Georgette'' (1885) *''Le Crocodile'' (1886), with music by

Jules Massenet Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (; 12 May 1842 – 13 August 1912) was a French composer of the Romantic era best known for his operas, of which he wrote more than thirty. The two most frequently staged are '' Manon'' (1884) and '' Werther ...

*'' La Tosca'' (1887), with music by Louis Pister *''Marquise'' (1889) *''Belle-Maman'' (1889), with Raymond Deslandes *''Cléopâtre'' (1890), with Émile Moreau and music by Xavier Leroux"THE LATEST 'CLEOPATRA
In: ''The New York Times'', 24 October 1890. *'' Thermidor'' (1891) *'' Madame Sans-Gêne'' (1893), with Émile Moreau *''

Gismonda ''Gismonda'' is a Greek-set melodrama in four acts by Victorien Sardou that premiered in 1894 at the Théâtre de la Renaissance. In 1918, the play was adapted for the now lost film ''Love's Conquest.'' In 1918/1919, it was adapted into the ope ...

'' (1894) *''Marcelle'' (1895) *''Spiritisme'' (1897) *''Paméla'' (1898) *''Robespierre'' (1899) with music by Georges Jacobi *''La Fille de Tabarin'' (1901), with Paul and music by Gabriel Pierné *'' Les Barbares'' (1901), opera libretto with Pierre-Barthélemy Gheusi, music by

Camille Saint-Saëns Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (; 9 October 183516 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic music, Romantic era. His best-known works include Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (1863), the Piano C ...

*''Dante'' (1903), with Émile Moreau *''La Sorcière'' (''The Sorceress''; 1903) *''Fiorella'' (1905), with Pierre-Barthélemy Gheusi and music by Amherst Webber *''L'Espionne'' (1906) *''La Pisie'' (1906) *'' The Affair of the Poisons'' (1907), as Jules Pélissié

Books

*''Rabàgas'' (1872) *''Daniel Rochet'' (1880)

Adapted works

Translations of plays

*''Nos Intimes!'' (1862), translated by Horace Wigan into ''Friends or Foes?'' *''La Papillonne'' (1864), translated by

Augustin Daly John Augustin Daly (July 20, 1838June 7, 1899) was one of the most influential men in American theatre during his lifetime. Drama critic, theatre manager, playwright, and adapter, he became the first recognized stage director in America. He exer ...

into ''Taming of a Butterfly'' *''Le Degel'' (1864), translated by Vincent Amcotts into ''Adonis Vanquished'' *''Les Ganaches'' (1869) translated and adapted by Thomas William Robertson into ''Progress'' *''Nos Intimes!'' (1872), translated by George March into ''Our Friends'' *''Les Pres Saint-Gervais'' (1875), translated and adapted by Robert Reece *''Dora'' (1877), translated and adapted into ''

Diplomacy Diplomacy comprises spoken or written communication by representatives of states (such as leaders and diplomats) intended to influence events in the international system.Ronald Peter Barston, ''Modern diplomacy'', Pearson Education, 2006, p. ...

'' *''Divorçons!'' (1882), translated into ''Cyprienne'' *''Robespierre'', translated by Laurence Irving

Operas and musicals

*''

Patrie! ''Patrie!'' is an 1886 French-language opera in five acts by Émile Paladilhe with a libretto by Victorien Sardou and Louis Gallet based on the play by Sardou about a 16th-century revolt of Flemish nobles in Brussels. The opera was Paladilhe's gr ...

'' (1886) an opera with music by Emile Paladihle and libretto by Sardou and Louis Gallet *''

'' (1898) an opera by Umberto Giordano *''

'' (1900) an opera by

*''Les Merveilleuses'' (1907), adapted by Basil Hood as the musical play '' The Merveilleuses'' *''Théodora'' (1907) an opera by

*'' Madame Sans-Gêne'' (1915) an opera by Umberto Giordano *''

'' (1919) an opera by

Film adaptations

*''La Tosca'', directed by Andre Calmettes (1908, based on the play ''La Tosca''), starring

*''

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler.She was also a ...

'', directed by (1912, based on the play ''Cléopâtre'') *', directed by Frank Powell (1915, based on the play ''Fédora'') *'' The Song of Hate'', directed by J. Gordon Edwards (1915, based on the play ''La Tosca'') *', directed by

Baldassarre Negroni Baldassarre Negroni (21 January 1877 – 18 July 1948) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 89 films between 1912 and 1936. He directed the 1932 film '' Due cuori felici'', which starred Vittorio De Sica. Selected film ...

(Italy, 1915, based on the play ''Marcelle'') *'' Odette'', directed by Giuseppe de Liguoro (Italy, 1916, based on the play ''Odette'') *'' The Witch'', directed by Frank Powell (1916, based on the play ''La Sorcière'') *''

'', directed by Sidney Olcott (1916, based on the play ''Dora'') *''Váljunk el!'' (Austria-Hungary, 1916, based on the play ''Divorçons'') *'' The Chalice of Sorrow'', directed by Rex Ingram (1916, based on the play ''La Tosca'' - uncredited) *''Ferréol'', directed by Edoardo Bencivenga (Italy, 1916, based on the play ''Ferréol'') *'' Madame Guillotine'', directed by Enrico Guazzoni and Mario Caserini (Italy, 1916, based on the play ''Madame Tallien'') *', directed by

Gustavo Serena Gustavo Serena (5 October 1881 – 16 April 1970) was an Italian actor and film director. He appeared in 107 films between 1909 and 1961. He also directed 33 films between 1912 and 1932. He was born in Naples and died in Rome. Selected f ...

(Italy, 1916, based on the play ''Fédora'') *''

White Nights White night, White Night, or White Nights may refer to: * White night (astronomy), a night in which it never gets completely dark, at high latitudes outside the Arctic and Antarctic Circles * White Night festivals, all-night arts festivals held ...

'', directed by

Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; hu, Korda Sándor; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)Patrie'', directed by

Albert Capellani Albert Capellani (23 August 1874 – 26 September 1931) was a French film director and screenwriter of the silent era. He directed films between 1905 and 1922. One of his brothers was the actor-sculptor Paul Capellani, and another, film dir ...

(France, 1917, based on the play ''Patrie'') *''Andreina'', directed by Gustavo Serena (Italy, 1917, based on the play ''Andréa'') *''Fernanda'', directed by Gustavo Serena (Italy, 1917, based on the play ''Fernande'') *''

'', directed by J. Gordon Edwards (1917, based on the play ''Cléopâtre'', and other sources) *''Az anyaszív'', directed by Sándor Góth (Austria-Hungary, 1917, based on the play ''Odette'') *', directed by (Italy, 1918, based on the play ''La Tosca'') *'' La Tosca'', directed by

Edward José Edward José (5 July 1865 – 18 December 1930) was a Belgian film director and actor of the silent era. He directed 42 films between 1915 and 1925. He also performed in 12 films between 1910 and 1916.Let's Get a Divorce ''Let's Get a Divorce'' is a 1918 American silent comedy film starring Billie Burke and written for the screen by husband and wife team John Emerson and Anita Loos. The film was produced by the Famous Players-Lasky company and distributed through ...

'', directed by

Charles Giblyn Charles Giblyn (September 6, 1871 – March 14, 1934) was an American film director and actor of the silent era. He directed nearly 100 films between 1912 and 1927. He also appeared in 23 films between 1914 and 1934. He was one of the found ...

(1918, based on the play ''Divorçons'') *'' Love's Conquest'', directed by Edward José (1918, based on the play ''Gismonda'') *''

'', directed by Edward José (1918, based on the play ''Fédora'') *'' The Burden of Proof'', directed by

John G. Adolfi John Gustav Adolfi (February 19, 1888 – May 11, 1933) was an American silent film director, actor, and screenwriter who was involved in more than 100 productions throughout his career. An early acting credit was in the recently restored 1912 f ...

and (1918, based on the play ''Dora'') *''I nostri buoni villici'', directed by Camillo De Riso (Italy, 1918, based on the play ''Nos Bons Villageois'') *''Spiritismo'', directed by Camillo De Riso (Italy, 1919, based on the play ''Spiritisme'') *''Dora o Le spie'', directed by Roberto Roberti (Italy, 1919, based on the play ''Dora'') *''Three Green Eyes'', directed by

Dell Henderson George Delbert "Dell" Henderson (July 5, 1877 – December 2, 1956) was a Canadian-American actor, director, and writer. He began his long and prolific film career in the early days of silent film. Biography Born in the Southwestern Ontario cit ...

(1919, based on the play ''Les Pattes de mouche'') *''Giorgina'', directed by and Giuseppe Forti (Italy, 1919, based on the play ''Georgette'') *''Ferréol'', directed by Franz Hofer (Germany, 1920, based on the play ''Ferréol'') *', directed by (Italy, 1920, based on the play ''Les Bourgeois de Pont-Arcy'') *''

Napoleon and the Little Washerwoman ''Napoleon and the Little Washerwoman'' (German: ''Napoleon und die kleine Wäscherin'') is a 1920 German silent historical comedy film directed by Adolf Gärtner and starring Ellen Richter, Rudolf Lettinger and Georg John.Bachmann p.251 It is ...

'', directed by

Adolf Gärtner Adolf Gärtner (1879–1958) was a German film director of the silent era.Cresswell & Dixon p.174 Selected filmography * '' The Night Talk'' (1917) * '' Sadja'' (1918) * '' The Lady in the Car'' (1919) * '' Between Two Worlds'' (1919) * '' Napole ...

(Germany, 1920, based on the play ''Madame Sans-Gêne'') *'' Theodora'', directed by (Italy, 1921, based on the play ''Théodora'') *''Rabagas'', directed by Gaston Ravel (Italy, 1922, based on the novel ''Rabàgas'') *', directed by

Henri Desfontaines Henri Desfontaines (12 November 1876, Paris – 7 January 1931, Paris) was a French film director, actor, and scriptwriter. Filmography As director * 1908 : ''Hamlet'' * 1909 : '' Le Puits et le pendule'' * 1910 : '' Un invité gênant'' * ...

(France, 1923, based on the play ''L'Espionne'') *'' Madame Sans-Gêne'', directed by Léonce Perret (1925, based on the play ''Madame Sans-Gêne'') *'' Kiss Me Again'', directed by

Ernst Lubitsch Ernst Lubitsch (; January 29, 1892November 30, 1947) was a German-born American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as ...

(1925, based on the play ''Divorçons'') *''

'', directed by

Jean Manoussi Jean Manoussi (14 November 1868 - 21 December 1929) was a French dramatist, film director and screenwriter. Jean Manoussi has written several theatre plays in collaboration with playwrights such as Paul Armont, Marcel Gerbidon or Gabriel Timmo ...

(Germany, 1926, based on the play ''Fédora'') *''

'', directed by

Marshall Neilan Marshall Ambrose "Mickey" Neilan (April 11, 1891 – October 27, 1958) was an American actor. Early life Born in San Bernardino, California, Neilan was known by most as "Mickey." Following the death of his father, the eleven-year-old Mickey ...

(1926, based on the play ''Dora'') *'' Don't Tell the Wife'', directed by Paul L. Stein (1927, based on the play ''Divorçons'') *'' Odette'', directed by

Luitz-Morat Luitz-Morat (1884–1929) was a French actor, screenwriter and film director.Oscherwitz p.35 Selected filmography * '' A Roman Orgy'' (1911) * '' The City Destroyed'' (1924) * '' Surcouf'' (1925) * '' Jean Chouan'' (1926) * '' The Chocolate Girl' ...

(Germany, 1928, based on the play ''Odette'') *'' A Night of Mystery'', directed by

Lothar Mendes Lothar Mendes (19 May 1894 – 24 February 1974) was a German-born screenwriter and film director. His two best known films are '' Jew Süss'' (1934) and '' The Man Who Could Work Miracles'' (1936), both productions for British studios. Career B ...

(1928, based on the play ''Ferréol'') *'' The Woman from Moscow'', directed by

Ludwig Berger Ludwig Berger may refer to: * Ludwig Berger (composer) (1777–1839), German composer * Ludwig Berger (director) Ludwig Berger (born Ludwig Bamberger; 6 January 1892 – 18 May 1969) was a German-Jewish film director, screenwriter and thea ...

(1928, based on the play ''Fédora'') *''L'Évadée'', directed by Henri Ménessier (France, 1929, based on the play ''Le Secret de Délia'') *', directed by Louis J. Gasnier (France, 1934, based on the play ''Fédora'') *'' Odette'', directed by

Jacques Houssin Jacques Houssin (19 Septembre 1902 – 8 May 1979) was a French film director and screenwriter. Filmography Director * 1933 : '' Plein aux as'' * 1935 : ''Odette'' * 1937 : '' Rendez-vous Champs-Élysées'' * 1938 : ''Les Deux Combinard ...

and Giorgio Zambon (France/Italy, 1934, based on the play ''Odette'') *', directed by Jean Grémillon (France, 1936, based on the play ''Les Pattes de mouche'') *', directed by Guido Brignone (Italy, 1937, based on the play ''Marcelle'') *''

'', directed by Carl Koch and

Jean Renoir Jean Renoir (; 15 September 1894 – 12 February 1979) was a French film director, screenwriter, actor, producer and author. As a film director and actor, he made more than forty films from the silent era to the end of the 1960s. His films '' ...

(Italy, 1941, based on the opera ''Tosca'') *'' That Uncertain Feeling'', directed by

(1941, based on the play ''Divorçons'') *', directed by Roger Richebé (France, 1941, based on the play ''Madame Sans-Gêne'') *''

'', directed by

Camillo Mastrocinque Camillo Mastrocinque (11 May 1901 – 23 April 1969) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed more than 60 films between 1937 and 1968, and is known to horror film fans for directing '' Terror in the Crypt'' (1964) starring ...

(Italy, 1942, based on the opera ''Fedora'') *', directed by

Raffaello Matarazzo Raffaello Matarazzo (17 August 1909 – 17 May 1966) was an Italian filmmaker. Life Matarazzo started writing film reviews for the Roman newspaper ''Il Tevere'' before re-editing scripts for the Italian film company Cines. His first films w ...

(Italy, 1943, based on the play ''Dora'') *', directed by

Luis César Amadori Luis César Amadori (28 May 1902 in Pescara, Abruzzi, Italy – 5 June 1977 in Buenos Aires) was an Italian - Argentine film director and screenwriter and one of the most influential directors in the Cinema of Argentina of the classic era. ...

(Argentina, 1945, based on the play ''Madame Sans-Gêne'') *'' Pamela'', directed by Pierre de Hérain (France, 1945, based on the play ''Paméla'') *', directed by

Carlos Hugo Christensen Carlos Hugo Christensen (Santiago del Estero, 15 December 1914 – Rio de Janeiro, 30 November 1999) was an Argentina, Argentine film director, screenwriter and film producer. He was of Danes, Danish descent through his paternal side. Christensen ...

(Argentina, 1945, based on the play ''Divorçons'') *''En tiempos de la inquisición'', directed by

Juan Bustillo Oro Juan Bustillo Oro (2 June 1904 – 10 June 1989) was a Mexican film director, screenwriter and producer, whose career spanned over 38 years. Among his works there are '' In the Times of Don Porfirio'', '' Here's the Point'', '' Arm in Arm Down t ...

(Mexico, 1946, based on the play ''La Sorcière'') *'' Patrie'', directed by

Louis Daquin Louis Daquin (20 May 1908 – 2 October 1980) was a French film director, screenwriter and actor. He directed 14 films between 1938 and 1963. He also appeared in 11 films between 1937 and 1979. Selected filmography * '' The Man from Nowhere ...

(France, 1946, based on the play ''Patrie'') *'' Distress'', directed by (France, 1946, based on the play ''Odette'') *', directed by

Adelqui Migliar Adelqui Migliar (5 August 1891 – 6 August 1956), also known as Adelqui Millar, was a Chilean film actor, director, writer and producer. He appeared in 31 silent films between 1916 and 1928. He also directed 24 films between 1922 and 1954. ...

(Argentina, 1947, based on the play ''Fédora'') * '' The Affair of the Poisons'', directed by

Henri Decoin Henri Decoin (18 March 1890 – 4 July 1969) was a French film director and screenwriter, who directed more than 50 films between 1933 and 1964. He was also a swimmer who won the national title in 1911 and held the national record in the 500 ...

(1955, based on the play '' The Affair of the Poisons'') *''

'', directed by

Carmine Gallone Carmine Gallone (10 September 1885 – 11 March 1973) was an early Italian film director, screenwriter, and film producer, who was also controversial for his works of pro-Fascist propaganda and historical revisionism. Considered one of Itali ...

(Italy, 1956, based on the opera ''Tosca'') *', directed by

(Brazil, 1960, based on the play ''Divorçons'') *'' Madame'', directed by

Christian-Jaque Christian-Jaque (byname of Christian Maudet; 4 September 1904 – 8 July 1994) was a French filmmaker. From 1954 to 1959, he was married to actress Martine Carol, who starred in several of his films, including ''Lucrèce Borgia'' (1953), ''M ...

(France/Italy, 1961, based on the play ''Madame Sans-Gêne'') *'' La Tosca'', directed by Luigi Magni (Italy, 1973, based on the play ''La Tosca'') *''

'', directed by

Benoît Jacquot Benoît Jacquot (; born 5 February 1947) is a French film director and screenwriter who has had a varied career in European cinema. Life and career Born in Paris, Jacquot began his career as assistant director of Marguerite Duras films, inclu ...

(France, 2001, based on the opera ''Tosca'')

References

External links

* *
youthful portrait
archived) {{DEFAULTSORT:Sardou, Victorien 1831 births 1908 deaths Writers from Paris 19th-century French dramatists and playwrights 20th-century French dramatists and playwrights Members of the Académie Française 19th-century French male writers 20th-century French male writers

Early years

Career

Personal life and death

Writing style

Legacy

Works

Stage works

Books

Adapted works

Translations of plays

Operas and musicals

Film adaptations

References

Further reading

External links