Mercanton, Louis

(1879, Switzerland-April 29, 1932, Paris, France)

   After being an actor in South Africa in 1904 and then a theater administrator in London, he was artistic director of the French-British production company Eclipse. The first movie he directed was also the first of Sarah Bernhardt's film appearances. He soon became the favorite director of the great tragedi­enne. He often worked with foreign film stars like Ivor Novello (1920 L'Appel du Sang; Miarka, la Fille à l'Ourse). Other credit (as screenwriter): 1920 Gosse de Riche (Charles Burguet).

 Filmography

        ◘ L'Assassinat d'Henri III (short; co-director with Henri Desfontaines)

        ◘ Adrienne Lecouvreur / USA: An Actress's Ro­mance (short; co-director with Henri Desfon­taines; also screenwriter, adapter)

        ◘ La Reine Elisabeth / USA: Queen Elizabeth (short; co-director with Henri Desfontaines, Gaston Roudès)

1913 ◘ Anne de Boleyn / USA: Anne Boleyn (short; co-director with Henri Desfontaines)

        ◘ Shylock, le Marchand de Venise (short; co-director with Henri Desfontaines; also screenwriter, adapter)

        ◘ Le Spectre du Passé (short; co-director with René Hervil)

1914 ◘ La Remplaçante (co-director with René Hervil)

        ◘ Vendetta (co-director with René Hervil; also screenwriter, adapter)

        ◘ Sadounah

        ◘ Jeanne Doré (co-director with René Hervil)

        ◘ Le Lotus d'Or

        ◘ Suzanne (co-director with René Hervil; also screenwriter)

        ◘ Suzanne, Professeur de Flirt (co-director with René Hervil)

1917 ◘ Le Tournant (co-director with René Hervil)

        ◘ Mères françaises (co-director with René Hervil)

        ◘ Manuella (co-director with René Hervil; also co-screenwriter)

        ◘ Oh! Ce Baiser / USA: Oh, That Kiss! (co-director with René Hervil)

        ◘ Midinettes (co-director with René Hervil)

        ◘ La P'tite du Sixième (co-director with René Hervil)

        ◘ Le Tablier blanc (co-director with René Hervil; also co-screenwriter)

        ◘ Le Torrent (co-director with René Hervil)

1918 ◘ Bouclette / L'Ange de Minuit (co-director with René Hervil)

        ◘ Un Roman d'Amour et d'Aventures (co-director with René Hervil)

1920 ◘ L'Appel du Sang / USA: The Call of the Blood (also screenwriter, adapter, producer)

        ◘ Miarka, la Fille à l'Ourse / USA: Gypsy Passion / Miarka, the Girl with the She-Bear (also producer)

        ◘ Phroso / UK: Possession (also producer)

        ◘ Sarati le Terrible

        ◘ Aux Jardins de Murcie (co-director with René Hervil; also producer)

1924 ◘ La Voyante

        ◘ Les Deux Gosses (eight episodes: "Premier Mensonge", "Zéphyrine, la Limace et Cie", "Infernale Vengeance", "Fanfan et Claudinet", "Le Retour de Kerlor", "La Fuite de Fanfan", "Maman chérie", "La Mort d'un Gosse"; also screenwriter, adapter)

        ◘ Monte-Carlo / USA: Prodigals of Monte Carlo

        ◘ La Petite Bonne du Palace / Cinders (also co-screenwriter, co-adapter, producer)

        ◘ Croquette ou Une Histoire de Cirque / La Môme du Cirque / UK: Monkeynuts (also co-screenwriter, co-adapter, producer)

        ◘ Vénus (also producer)

        ◘ Le Mystère de la Villa Rose (French version of Leslie Hiscott's At the Villa Rose / USA: Mystery at the Villa Rose; co-director with René Hervil)

        ◘ La Lettre Chérie

        ◘ Bon Appétit, Messieurs (short)

        ◘ Quelques Chansons (short)

        ◘ The Nipper / USA: The Brat (UK)

1931 ◘ Marions-nous (French version of Frank Tuttle's Wedding Night; also Spanish version: Su noche de bodas; USA)

        ◘ A Man of Mayfair (UK)

        ◘ These Charming People (UK)

        ◘ Le Bouif au Salon (short)

        ◘ La Brigade du Bruit (short)

        ◘ Le Collier de Perles (short)

        ◘ Conférence sur la beauté (short)

        ◘ La Danse nouvelle (short)

        ◘ La Disparue (short)

        ◘ En Zinc sec (short)

        ◘ Le Garçon de Café (short)

        ◘ La Girouette sur le Toit (short)

        ◘ La Malle (short)

        ◘ Le Meeting (short)

        ◘ Octave (short)

        ◘ Ohé! Ohé! (short)

        ◘ Lar T.S.F. / T.S.F. (short)

        ◘ Las d'Histoires (short)

        ◘ Lopaul veut dormir (short)

        ◘ Les Rois Mages (short)

        ◘ Sa Nuit de Noces (short)

        ◘ Sur le Tas de Sable (short)

        ◘ Une Idée de Génie (short)

        ◘ Un Joli Succès (short)

        ◘ Voici le Printemps (short)

1932 ◘ Il est charmant / USA: He Is Charming (also Swedish version: Stutender i Paris; France / Sweden)

        ◘ Cognasse (also co-screenwriter, co-adapter)

        ◘ La Femme Poisson (short)

        ◘ Passionnément (René Guissart completed the film after Louis Mercanton's death)