Antoine, André

(Léonard André Antoine / Jan­uary 31, 1858, Limoges, Haute-Vienne, France - Octo­ber 19, 1943, Le Pouliguen, Loire-Atlantique, France)

   A former gas company employee, he dedicated his life to the stage from 1887, the year he created with a few amateur friends the Théâtre-Libre (known as Théâtre Antoine since 1897). An adept of a naturalist aesthetic, he broke many dramatic conventions and totally re­newed contemporary theater, influencing the greatest French stage directors of the twentieth century (Firmin Gémier, Charles Dullin, Sacha Pitoëff, Jacques Copeau, Jean Vilar) and such filmmakers as Jacques Feyder, Jean Renoir, Marcel Pagnol, and Jean Grémillon. In 1914, he entered films as an assistant director to Albert Capel-lani, who was his collaborator onstage. He appeared as himself in Ceux de chez nous / USA: Those of Our Land (Sacha Guitry, 1915). His son, André-Paul Antoine (1892-1982), was a playwright and a screenwriter.

 Filmography

1917 ◘ Les Frères corses (also screenwriter, adapter; shot in 1915)

        ◘ Pe Coupable (also screenwriter, adapter)

        ◘ Les Travailleurs de la Mer (six episodes; also screenwriter, adapter)

        ◘ Israël (Italy)

        ◘ L'Hirondelle et la Mésange

        ◘ Quatre-Vingt-Treize (Albert Capellani started shooting the film in 1914 before leaving for the USA, then André Antoine completed and edited it in 1917. Banned during the war, the movie was finally released in 1921)

        ◘ Mademoiselle de la Seiglière (also screenwriter, adapter)

        ◘ La Terre (also screenwriter, adapter)

1922 ◘ L' Arlésienne / USA: The Girl From Arles (also screenwriter, adapter)