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Jean Anouilh Biography (1910-1987)

Surname is pronounced "Ahn-wee"; full name, Jean Marie Lucien Pierre Anouilh;born June 23, 1910, in Bordeaux, France; died of a heart attack at Vaudois University Hospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland, October 3, 1987; son of Francois (a tailor) and Marie-Magdeleine (a musician; maiden name, Soulue) Anouilh; married Monelle Valentin (an actress; divorced); married Nicole Lancon, July 30, 1953; children: (first marriage) Catherine; (second marriage) Caroline, Nicolas, Marie-Colombe. EXCEPTION: of a heart attack at Vaudois UniversityHospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland, October 3, 1987.

Director Peter Brook, in the preface to Ring Around the Moon, said of Jean Anouilh: "{He} writes plays for performance rather than for paper.... His playsare recorded improvisations.... He is a poet, but not a poet of words: he isa poet of words-acted, of scenes-set, of players performing."

Several of the playwright's works have been adapted by others for film and television performances. Romeo and Jeannette was adapted and produced as Monsoon (United Artists, 1953); La Valse des toreadors became The Waltz of the Toreadors (Continental Distributing, 1962); and the 1963 Paramount film Becket was based on Lucienne Hill's translation of Becket, ou L'Honneur de Dieu. Television productions include "The Lark," 1956-57, and "Time Remembered," based on Patricia Moyes's translation of Leocadia, 1961, both on Hallmark Hall of Fame, CBS; "Traveler without Luggage," on NET Playhouse, PBS, 1971; "Antigone,"Playhouse New York, PBS, 1972; and The Young Man and the Lion, PBS, 1976.

Nationality

French

Gender

Male

Birth Details

June 23, 1910

Bordeaux, France

Death Details

October 3, 1987

Lausanne, Switzerland

Famous Works

• Credits; PRINCIPAL FILM WORK
• Director, Le Voyageur sans bagage, 1943, released in the United States asIdentity Unknown, Republic Pictures, 1945.
• Deux sous de violettes, France, 1951.
• Writings;PLAYS
• (With Jean Aurenche) Humulus le muet, published by Editions Francaises Nouvelles, c. 1929.
• L'Hermine, Theatre de l'Oeuvre, Paris, France, 1932, published in Les Oeuvres libres, No. 151, 1934, translation by Miriam John published as The Ermine in Plays of the Year, Vol. 13, Ungar, 1956.
• Mandarine, Theatre de l'Athenee, Paris, 1933.
• Y'avait un prisonnier (title means "There Was a Prisoner"), Theatre des Ambassadeurs, Paris, 1935, published in La Petite illustration, May 18, 1935.
• Le Voyageur sans bagage, Theatre des Mathurins, Paris, 1937, published inLa Petite illustration, April 10, 1937, translation by John Whiting published as Traveller without Luggage, Methuen, 1959, produced at Arts Theatre, London, U.K., 1959, translation by Lucienne Hill produced at American National Theatre Academy (ANTA) Playhouse, New York City, 1964.
• La Sauvage, Theatre des Mathurins, 1938, published in Les Oeuvres libres,No. 201, 1938, translation by Lucienne Hill published as Restless Heart, Methuen, 1957, produced at St. James Theatre, London, 1957.
• Le Bal des voleurs, Theatre des Arts, Paris, 1938, Theatre des Quatre Saisons, New York City, 1938, published in Les Oeuvres libres, No.
• 209, 1938, and by Editions Francaises Nouvelles, 1945, translation by Lucienne Hill published as Thieves' Carnival, Methuen, 1952, and by Samuel French, Inc., 1952, produced at Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City, 1955.
• Rendez-vous de Senlis, Theatre de l'Atelier, Paris, 1938, published by Editions de la Table Ronde, 1958, translation by Edwin O. Marsh published as Dinner with the Family, Methuen, 1958, produced at New Theatre, London, 1957, Gramercy Arts Theatre, New York City, 1961.
• Leocadia, Theatre de l'Atelier, 1939, translation by Patricia Moyes published as Time Remembered, Methuen, 1955, and Coward, 1958, produced at MoroscoTheatre, New York City, 1957.
• Eurydice, Theatre de l'Atelier, 1941, translation by Mel Ferrer producedat the Coronet Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 1948, translation by Kitty Black published as Point of Departure, Samuel French, Inc., 1951, produced at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London, 1950, Mannhard't Theatre Foundation, New York City, 1967, also published as Legend of Lovers, Coward, 1952, produced at Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 1951.
• Antigone, Theatre de l'Atelier, 1944, published by Editions de la Table Ronde, 1946, translation by Lewis Galantiere published under the same title, Random House, 1946, produced at the Cort Theatre, New York City, 1946.
• Romeo et Jeannette, Theatre de l'Atelier, 1946, adaptation by Donagh MacDonagh produced as Fading Mansion, Duchess Theatre, London, 1949, translationby Miriam John produced as Jeannette, Maidman Playhouse, New York City, 1960.
• L'Invitation au chateau, Theatre de l'Atelier, 1947, published by Editions de la Table Ronde, 1948, and by Cambridge University Press, 1962, translation by Christopher Fry published as Ring Around the Moon, Oxford University Press, 1950, produced at Martin Beck Theatre, New York City, 1950, adaptation by Clifford Bax published in London as The Pleasure of Your Company.
• Ardele, ou La Marguerite, Comedie des Champs-Elysees, Paris, 1948, adaptation by Cecil Robson produced as Cry of the Peacock, Mansfield Theatre, New York City, 1950, translation by Lucienne Hill published as Ardele, Methuen, 1951, produced at Cricket Theatre, New York City, 1958.
• Episode de la vie d'un auteur, Comedie des Champs-Elysees, 1948, published in Cahiers de la compagnie Madeleine Renaud--Jean-Louis Barrault, Julliard,1959, translation produced as Episode in the Life of an Author, Studio Arena, Buffalo, NY, 1969, later Off- Broadway.
• Cecile, ou L'Ecole des peres, Comedie des Champs-Elysees, 1949, publishedby Editions de la Table Ronde, 1954, translation by Luce Klein and Arthur Klein published as Cecile, or the School for Fathers, in From the Modern Repertoire, 3rd series, Indiana University Press, 1958.
• La Repetition, ou L'Amour puni, Theatre Marigny, Paris, 1950, and Ziegfeld Theatre, New York City, 1952, translation by Pamela Hansford Johnson and Kitty Black published as The Rehearsal, Coward, 1961, produced at Royale Theatre, New York City, 1963.
• Colombe, Theatre de l'Atelier, 1951, published by Livres de Poche, 1963,adaptation by Denis Cannan published under the same title, Coward, 1954, produced at the Longacre Theatre, New York City, 1954.
• Monsieur Vincent, Bayerisch Scheulbuch-Verlag, 1951.
• La Valse des Toreadors, published by Editions de la Table Ronde, 1952, translation by Lucienne Hill published as The Waltz of the Toreadors, Elek, 1956, and Coward, 1957, produced at Coronet Theatre, New York City, 1957.
• L'Alouette, Theatre Montparnasse, Paris, 1953, published by Editions de la Table Ronde, 1953, Methuen, 1956, and Appleton, 1957, translation by Christopher Fry published as The Lark, Methuen, 1955, and Oxford University Press,1956, translation by Lucienne Hill, originally titled "Joan" published as TheLark, Random House, 1956, adaptation by Lillian Hellman produced as The Lark, Longacre Theatre, New York City, 1955.
• Medee, Theatre de l'Atelier, 1953, published by Editions de la Table Ronde, 1953, translation by Lothian Small published as Medea in Plays of the Year, 1956, Vol. 15, Ungar, 1957.
• Ornifle, ou Le Courant d'air, Comedie des Champs-Elysees, 1955, publishedby Editions de la Table Ronde, 1955, translation by Lucienne Hill publishedas Ornifle: A Play, Hill & Wang, 1970.
• Pauvre Bitos, ou Le Diner de tetes, Theatre Montparnasse, 1956, publishedby Editions de la Table Ronde, 1958, and by Harrap, 1958, translation by Lucienne Hill published as Poor Bitos, Coward, 1964, produced by Classic Stage Company, New York City, 1969.
• Hurluberlu, ou Le Reactionnaire amoureux, Comedie des Champs- Elysees, 1959, published by Editions de la Table Ronde, 1959, adaptation by Lucienne Hill published as The Fighting Cock, Coward, produced at ANTA Playhouse, New York City, 1959.
• Madame De ..., translation by John Whiting, published by Samuel French, Inc., c. 1959, produced on the same bill with Traveller without Luggage, ArtsTheatre, London, 1959.
• Becket, ou L'Honneur de Dieu, Theatre Montparnasse, 1959, published by Editions de la Table Ronde, 1959, translation by Lucienne Hill published as Becket, or the Honor of God, Coward, 1960, produced as Becket, St. James Theatre, New York City, 1960.
• (with Roland Laudenback), La Petite Moliere, Theatre Festival of Bordeaux, France, 1960, published in L'Avant Scene, December 15, 1959.
• La Grotte, Theatre Montparnasse, 1961, published by Editions de la TableRonde, 1961, translation by Lucienne Hill published as The Cavern, Hill &Wang, 1966, produced at Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati, OH, 1967, and byClassic Stage Company, New York City, 1968.
• La Songe du critique, published by Lensing (Dortmund, Germany), 1963.
• La Foire d' Empoigne, produced in Paris, 1962, published by Editions de la Table Ronde, 1961.
• L'Orchestre, produced in Paris, 1962, published in L'Avant Scene, November 15, 1962, translation produced as The Orchestra, Studio Arena Buffalo, NY,1969, and Off-Broadway.
• (translator) Richard III, Theatre Montparnasse, 1964.
• Cher Antoine, ou l'Amour rate, Comedie des Champs-Elysees, 1969, published by Editions de la Table Ronde, 1969, translation by Lucienne Hill, published as Dear Antoine, or The Love That Failed, by Hill & Wang, 1971, produced at Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, U.K., 1971, and Loeb Drama Center, Harvard University, 1973.
• Le Boulanger, la boulangere et le petit mitron, Comedie des Champs- Elysees, 1968, published by Editions de la Table Ronde, 1969, translation by Lucienne Hill produced as The Baker, the Baker's Wife, and the Baker's Boy, University Theatre, Newcastle, U.K., 1972.
• Le Theatre, ou La Vie comme elle est (title means "Theatre, or Life as ItIs"), Comedie des Champs-Elysees, 1970.
• Ne reveillez pas Madame (title means "Don't Wake Up Madame"), Comedie desChamps-Elysees, 1970, published by Editions de la Table Ronde, 1970.
• Les Poissons rouges, ou Mon Pere, ce heros, (title means "The Goldfish" or "The Red Fish"), Theatre de l'Oeuvre, 1970.
• Tu etais si gentil quand tu etais petit, (title means "You Were So Nice When You Were Little"), Theatre Antoine, Paris, 1972, published by Editions dela Table Ronde, 1972.
• Le Directeur de l'Opera, published by Editions de la Table Ronde, 1972.
• Also, The Navel, 1981.
• COLLECTIONS; FRENCH-LANGUAGE; ALL PUBLISHED BY EDITIONS DE LA TABLE RONDE,UNLESS INDICATED Pieces roses, contains Le Bal des voleurs, Le Rendez-vous de Senlis, and Leocadia, Editions Balzac, 1942, second edition, adding Humulusle muet, Editions de la Table Ronde, 1958.
• Pieces noires, contains L'Hermine, La Sauvage, Le Voyageur sans bagage, and Eurydice, Editions Balzac, 1942.
• Nouvelles pieces noires, contains Jezebel, Antigone, Romeo et Jeannette,and Medee, 1946.
• Pieces brillantes, contains L'Invitation au chateau, Colombe, La Repetition ou L'Amour puni, and Cecile, ou L'Ecole des peres, 1951.
• Pieces grincantes, includes Ardele, ou La Marguerite, La Valse des toreadors, Ornifle, ou Le Courant d'air, and Pauvre Bitos, ou Le Diner de tetes, 1956.
• Pieces costumees, includes L'Alouette, Becket, ou L'Honneur de Dieu, andLa Foire d'Empoigne, 1960.
• Pieces grincantes, contains L'Hurluberlu, ou Le Reactionnaire amoureux, La Grotte, L'Orchestre, Le Boulanger, la Boulangere, et le petit mitron, and Les Poissons rouges, our Mon Pere, ce heros, 1970.
• ENGLISH-LANGUAGE Collected plays in three volumes published by Hill &Wang: Vol.I published as Five Plays, contains Antigone, Eurydice, The Ermine, The Rehearsal, and Romeo and Jeannette, 1958, Vol. II published as Five Plays, contains Restless Heart, Time Remembered, Ardele, Mademoiselle Colombe, and The Lark, 1959, Vol. III published as Seven Plays, contains Thieves' Carnival, Medea, Cecile, or the School for Fathers, Traveler without Luggage, TheOrchestra, Episode in the Life of an Author, and Catch as Catch Can, 1967.
• The Collected Plays, Methuen, Vol. I contains The Ermine, Thieves' Carnival, Restless Heart, Traveller without Luggage, and Dinner with the Family, 1966, Vol. II contains Time Remembered, Point of Departure, Antigone, Romeo andJeanette, and Medea, 1967.
• Plays are widely represented in anthologies.
• Writings;OTHER STAGE WRITINGS
• (Editor and translator) Trois Comedies: As You Like It, The Winter's Tale, Twelfth Night, Editions de la Table Ronde, 1952.
• (with Pierre Imbourg and Andre Warnod) Michel-Marie Poulain, Braun, 1953.
• (with Nicole Anouilh) L'Amant complaisant, a translation of Graham Greene's The Complaisant Lover, Laffont, 1962.
• (adaptor) Roger Vitrac's Victor, in L'Avant Scene, November 15, 1962.
• (translator) Il est important d'etre aime, a translation of Oscar Wilde'sThe Importance of Being Earnest, in L'Avant-Scene, No. 101.
• Also co-author, with Leon Thoorens, Le Dossier Moliere, 1964; and translator and adaptator of Desire Under the Elms; also wrote Attile le magnifique,1930; Le Petit bonheur, 1935; L'Incertain, 1938.
• Writings;SCREENPLAYS
• (Author of dialogue, with Jean Aurenche) Les Degourdis de la onzieme, 1936.
• (dialogue, with Jean Aurenche) Vous n'avez rien a declarer, 1937.
• (dialogue, with Aurenche) Les Otages, 1939.
• (scenarist and author of dialogue, with Aurenche) Le Voyageur sans bagage, 1943, released in the United States as Identity Unknown, Republic Pictures,1945.
• (adaptor and author of dialogue, with J; Duvivier and G; Morgan) Anna Karenina, 1947.
• (scenarist and author of dialogue, with J; Bernard-Luc), Monsieur Vincent, Lopert, 1949.
• (scenarist, adaptor, and author of dialogue, with Bernard-Luc) Pattes Blanches, 1948.
• (adaptor and author of dialogue) Un Caprice de Caroline cherie, 1950.
• (adaptor and author of dialogue, with Monelle Valentin) Deux sous de violettes, 1951.
• (adaptor, scenarist, and author of dialogue) Le Rideau rouge (ce soir joue Macbeth), 1952.
• (adaptor and author of dialogue) Le Chevalier de la nuit, 1953.
• The End of Belle, released as The Passion of Slow Fire, Trans-Lux Distributing, 1962.
• La Ronde, 1964.
• La Grain de beaute, 1969.
• Waterloo, Paramount, 1971.
• Time for Loving, 1972.
• A Room in Paris.
• Also author of The Vicountess of Eristal Has Not Received Her MechanicalCarpet Sweeper (autobiography), 1987; and of scenarios for the ballets Les Demoiselles de la nuit and Le Loup.

Further Reference

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

• Leon Cabell Pronko, The World of Jean Anouilh, University of CaliforniaPress, 1961.
• John Harvey, Anouilh: A Study in Theatrics, Yale University Press, 1964.
• A.M. della Fazia, Jean Anouilh, Twayne, 1969.
• K.W. Kelly, Jean Anouilh: An Annotated Bibliography, Scarecrow, 1973.
• Contemporary Authors, First Revision Series, Vol. 17-20, Gale, 1976.
• H.G. McIntyre, The Theatre of Jean Anouilh, Barnes and Nobel Imports, 1981.
• Variety, October 17, 1987.