Claude Mérelle (born Lise Henriette Marie Laurent; 17 May 1888 – 16 December 1976) was a
French
French may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France
** French people, a nation and ethnic group
** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices
Arts and media
* The French (band), ...
stage and film actress who appeared in numerous films during the
silent film
A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...
era of the early 1910s through the late 1920s.
Career
Claude Mérelle was born Lise Henriette Marie Laurent in
Colombes
Colombes () is a Communes of France, commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France, from the Kilometre zero, centre of Paris. In 2019, Colombes was the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, 53rd largest city in France. ...
, France in 1888, she made her film debut in the 1912 short ''Les noces siciliennes'', directed by
Louis Feuillade
Louis Feuillade (; 19 February 1873 – 25 February 1925) was a French filmmaker of the silent film, silent era. Between 1906 and 1924, he directed over 630 films. He is primarily known for the crime serial film, serials ''Fantômas (1913 ser ...
. She would go on to appear in numerous film serials throughout the 1910s under the name Lise Laurent and directed by filmmakers such as Feuillade,
Henri Pouctal
Henri Pouctal ( – 3 February 1922) was an early France, French silent film director, screenwriter, and actor of the stage and film. He is best known for his directorship on Silent film, silent films of the 1910s, notably ''Alsace (film), Alsace' ...
and
Henri Diamant-Berger
Henri Diamant-Berger (9 June 1895 – 7 May 1972) was a French film director, director, film producer, producer and screenwriter. In a career that lasted more than 50 years, he directed 48 films between 1913 in film, 1913 and 1959 in film, 1959, ...
before using the stage name Claude Mérelle beginning in 1918. Mérelle most often appeared in film serials throughout her career, such as 1924's ''Les aventures de Robinson Crusoé'', directed by Gaston Leprieur; 1924's ''Les amours de Rocambole'', directed by Charles Maudru; 1925's ''Jean Chouans'', 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' ...
; 1926's ''Le capitaine Rascasse'',
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' ...
and 1926's ''Le juif errant'', directed by Luitz-Morat. Her final film appearance was in the 1928 drama ''Rapa-Nui'' (also known as ''The Golden Abyss'') directed by
Mario Bonnard
Mario Bonnard (24 December 1889 – 22 March 1965) was an Italian actor and film director.
Career
Bonnard was born and died in Rome. He began his cinematic career as an actor becoming a popular romantic lead in numerous silent films made befo ...
and starring
André Roanne
André Roanne (born André Albert Louis Rahou; 22 September 1896, in Paris – 4 September 1959, in Cannes) was a French actor. He began his career playing in short films, and acted in 91 films in total, most notably those of Fernandel. Most of hi ...
.
Personal life
Claude Mérelle was married to stage and film actor Albert Decoeur from 1923 until his death in 1942. The two had appeared in several films together.Gaumont Pathé archives Retrieved 10 August 2016. She retired from films in 1928 and died in