MONCA, GEORGES

(1888-1940)

Actor, director, and screenwriter. Georges Monca began his career in the theater. He was an established actor who went on to become the director of the Théâtre de la République. Monca was recruited byPathéin 1908 to act in and direct films for the studio; however, he quickly gave up screen acting to focus on directing. He made nearly three hundred films during the course of a career that spanned five decades. Nearly all of his films were done in the silent era, and although Monca is probably best remembered for his comedies, he directed a wide array of films.

Early in his directing career, Monca worked on the legendary Boireauburlesqueseries, when he codirectedLes Apprentisages de Boireau(1907) withAlbert Capellani. The film starred the legendary comic actorAndré Deed. This experience probably led Monca to try to resurrect theBoireauseries after Deed left Pathé for Italy. He directed three episodes,Boireau—deux vieux amis de collège(1908),Boireau—Consentement forcé(1908), andBoireau a mangé de l'ail(1908), all featuring Paul Berthot in the title role. However, the public was not receptive to the series without its star.

Monca was also responsible for the highly successfulRigadincomic series, which ran from 1909 until 1919, and which starred comic actorCharles Prince. There were more than one hundred films made in theRigadinseries, includingRigadin(1909),Rigadin et ses fils(1911),Rigadin a perdu son monocle(1911),Rigadin aux Balkans(1912),Rigadin et la poudre de l'amour(1912),Rigadin veut faire du cinéma(1913),Rigadin Napoléon(1913),Rigadin mauvais ouvrier(1914),La Nuit de noces de Rigadin(1914),Le Divorce de Rigadin(1915),Rigadin n'est pas un espion(1915),L'Or de Rigadin(1916),Rigadin,méefie-toi des femmes(1916),Les Deux Rigadins(1917),L'Épervier de Rigadin(1918),Rigadin a fait un riche mariage(1918),La Femme de Rigadin(1918), andRigadin dans les Alpes(1919).Monca also did a number of very successful films featuring French music-hall divaMistinguett. Monca's Mistinguett films includeAgence Alice ou la sécurité des ménages(1910),Le Clown et le pacha(1911),L'Abîme(1911),La Cabotine(1911),Le Coup de foudre(1912),Bal costumé(1912),La Vocation de Lolo(1912),Une bougie recalcitrante(1912), andLa Valse renversante(1914).

Other films Monca directed includeUn monsieur qui suit les dames(1908);Le Soulier trop petit(1909), starringMax Linder;Les Deux orphelines(1909);Jim Blackwood jockey(1909);Les Femmes collantes(1910);La Cigale et la fourmi(1910);Le Secret du passé(1911);La Fille des chiffonniers(1912), starringJean Kemm;Le Petit chose(1912);Trois femmes pour un mari(1913);La Goualeuse(1914), codirected with Alexandre Devarennes;En Famille(1915);Le Malheur qui passe(1915), starring Gabrielle Robinne;Le Mot de l'énigme(1916);La Mort du duc d'Enghien(1916);La Proie(1917);Les Feuilles tombent(1917);Chantelouve(1921);Judith(1921);Altemer le cynique(1924);L'Ironie du sort(1924); andAutour d'un berceau(1925) andLe Chemineau(1926), both codirected with Maurice Kéroul.

In addition to directing during the silent era, Monca also acted in several films, includingLucien Nonguet'sVictime de sa probité(1908) andLe Roman d'un malheureux(1908), Capellani'sRiquet à la houppe(1908), and his ownLe Sourire de Rigadin(1916). He also wrote the screenplays for a number of the films he directed.

Monca made only a handful of sound films. He was one of the masters of the silent film and found it difficult to adapt to the use of sound. His sound films includeLa Chanson du lin(1931),La Roche aux mouettes(1933),Une nuit de noces(1935), codirected with Kéroul,Trois jours de perm'(1936), andLe Choc en retour(1937), his final film, which was also codirected with Kéroul.