MURAT, JEAN

(1888-1968)

Actor. Born in the picturesque town of Périguex, Jean Murat went on to become a matinee idol of the 1930s. He began his career near the end of the silent era, appearing in such films asJean Legrand'sSouvent femme varie(1923),Roger Lion's Portuguese filmOs Ohlos da Alma(1924), as well as Lion'sLa Fontaine des amours(1924),Les Fiançailles rouges(1926), andLa Nuit est à nous(1929),Henri Andréani'sL'Autre aile(1924), Maurice Champreux andLouis Feuillade'sLe Stigmate(1924),Jacque Catelain'sLa Galerie des montres(1924),Jacques Feyder'sCarmen(1926),René Clair'sLa Proie du vent(1927),Jacques de Baroncelli'sLe Duel(1928),Julien Duvivier'sLa Divine croisière(1929), andLouis Mercanton'sVenus(1929). He also appeared in a number of German-made films.

It was during the sound era, however, that Murat came into his own as an actor. He had little trouble transitioning to sound film, and he suddenly found himself cast as a lead actor rather than a supporting actor. Ironically, however, this had less to do with his voice than his looks. In 1930, he appeared inMarcel L'Herbier'sLa Femme d'une nuit(1930) along with Antonin Artaud. The following year, he appeared in René Barberis'sUn trou dans le mur(1931) and had starring roles in André-Paul Antoine'sLa Folle aventure(1931), Wilhelm Thiele'sDactylo(1931), and Hanns Schwarz and Max de Vaucorbeil'sLe Capitaine Craddock(1931).

Murat was a leading man from 1932 until well into the 1940s. He appeared in a variety of films ranging from avant-garde productions to mystery films to romantic comedies.He starred in such films as Baroncelli'sLe Dernier choc(1932), Kurt Gerron and Roger Le Bon'sStupéfiants(1932), André Berthomieu'sMademoiselle Josette,ma femme(1933),Jean Epstein'sL'Homme à l'hispano(1933) andLa Châtelaine du Liban(1934), Feyder'sLa Kermesse héroïque(1935),Christian-Jacque'sLa Sonnette d'alarme(1935), Anatole Litvak's L'Équipage(1935), Raymond Bernard'sAnne-Marie(1936) andJ'étais un aventurier(1937),Pierre Chenal'sLes Mutinés d'Elseneur(1936),Léon Mathot'sL'Homme à abattre(1937), Maurice de Canonge'sLe Capitaine Benoît(1938), Jean de Limur'sLe Père Lebonnard(1939), Richard Pottier'sMademoiselle Swing(1942), Jean Choux'sLa Femme perdue(1942),Jean Delannoy'sL'Éternel retour(1943), and Henri Calef'sBagarres(1948).

In the 1950s, Murat returned to supporting actor status. Nonetheless, he was able to find roles in several significant films. He appeared in Jean Stelli'sLa Nuit est à nous(1953), Jean-Devaivre'sAlerte au sud(1953),Jacqueline Audry'sHuis clos(1954),Sacha Guitry'sSi Versailles m'était conté(1954),Marc Allegret'sL'Amant de Lady Chatterly(1955),Jean-Paul Le Chanois'sLes Misérables(1958), and Denys de la Patillière'sLes Grandes familles(1958), among others. Murat had only a handful of roles in the 1960s. He appeared inPhilippe de BrocaandClaude Chabrol'sLes Sept péchés capitaux(1962), Andrew Marton'sIt Happened in Athens(1962), and two Italian films, Daniel d'Anza'sIPiaceri des sabato notte(1960) and Carlo Campogalliani and Piero Pierotti'sIl Ponte dei sospiri(1964). Murat retired from the screen in 1964. He was married to the actress Annabella.