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'''Corinne Calvet''' (April 30, 1925 – June 23, 2001), born '''Corinne Dibos''', was a French actress who appeared mostly in American films.
'''Corinne Calvet''' (April 30, 1925 – June 23, 2001), born '''Corinne Dibos''', was a French actress who appeared mostly in American films.
==Biography==

==Early life==
===Early life===
Calvet was born in [[Paris]]. Her mother was a scientist who played a part in the development of [[Pyrex]] glass.<ref name=g>{{cite news|last1=Bergan|first1=Ronald|title=Corinne Calvet|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/jul/05/guardianobituaries.filmnews|accessdate=21 June 2015|agency=The Guardian|date=July 5, 2001}}</ref> Calvet studied [[criminal law]] at the [[University of Paris|Sorbonne]].<ref name=lat/>
Calvet was born in [[Paris]]. Her mother was a scientist who played a part in the development of [[Pyrex]] glass.<ref name=g>{{cite news|last1=Bergan|first1=Ronald|title=Corinne Calvet|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/jul/05/guardianobituaries.filmnews|accessdate=21 June 2015|agency=The Guardian|date=July 5, 2001}}</ref> Calvet studied [[criminal law]] at the [[University of Paris|Sorbonne]].<ref name=lat/>


==Acting career==
===French Acting career===
Calvet made her debut in French radio, stage plays, and cinema in the 1940s, before being brought to [[Hollywood]] in the 1940s by producer [[Hal B. Wallis]]. He cast her in ''[[Rope of Sand]]'' (1949) opposite [[Burt Lancaster]] and [[Paul Henreid]].
Calvet made her debut in French radio, stage plays, and cinema in the 1940s. She appeared uncredited in the film ''[[La part de l'ombre]]'' (1945) and had a speaking part in ''[[Pétrus (film)|Petrus]]'' (1946) starring [[Fernandel]].


Calvet played a model in ''[[We Are Not Married]]'' (1946) and had a support role in ''[[Last Chance Castle]]'' (1947).
In the 1950s, Calvet appeared in a string of films, usually playing French characters, opposite such leading men as [[Danny Kaye]] (''[[On the Riviera]]''), [[Joseph Cotten]] (''[[Peking Express (film)|Peking Express]]''), [[Dan Dailey]] (''[[When Willie Comes Marching Home]]''), [[James Cagney]] (''[[What Price Glory? (1952 film)|What Price Glory?]]''), [[James Stewart]] (''[[The Far Country]]''), [[Alan Ladd]] (''[[Thunder in the East (1952 film)|Thunder in the East]]''), [[Tony Curtis]] (''[[So This Is Paris (1955 film)|So This Is Paris]]''), and twice with [[Dean Martin]] and [[Jerry Lewis]] (''[[My Friend Irma Goes West]]'', and ''[[Sailor Beware (1952 film)|Sailor Beware]]'').
===Hal Wallis===
Calvet was brought to [[Hollywood]] in the 1940s by producer [[Hal B. Wallis]]. He cast her in ''[[Rope of Sand]]'' (1949) opposite [[Burt Lancaster]] and [[Paul Henreid]].

She was given star billing in her second Hollywood film, ''[[When Willie Comes Marching Home]]'' (1950), starring [[Dan Dailey]] and directed by [[John Ford]] for [[20th Century Fox]].

Wallis put her in ''[[My Friend Irma Goes West]]'' (1950) a film best remembered for being the second movie released starring [[Martin and Lewis]]. At Paramount she did a film about the [[Lower Canada Rebellion]], ''[[Quebec (1951 film)|Quebec]]'' (1951) with [[John Drew Barrymore]].

20th Century Fox borrowed her to play [[Danny Kaye]]'s leading lady in ''[[On the Riviera]]'' (1951). Wallis co starred her with [[Joseph Cotten]] in ''[[Peking Express (film)|Peking Express]]'' (1951) and Martin and Lewis in ''[[Sailor Beware (1952 film)|Sailor Beware]]'' (1952).

John Ford reteamed her with Dailey in ''[[What Price Glory (1952 film)|What Price Glory]]'' (1952). Calvet began appearing on television shows like ''[[Lux Video Theatre]]''.


She made a rare television appearance on the ''[[Colgate Comedy Hour]]'' with [[Donald O'Connor]] on February 3, 1952, televised nationwide by [[NBC]]. She also appeared on the game show ''[[The Name's the Same]]'', in the "I'd Like to Be" segment, where she stumped the panel with her choice of [[Rocky Marciano]].
She made a rare television appearance on the ''[[Colgate Comedy Hour]]'' with [[Donald O'Connor]] on February 3, 1952, televised nationwide by [[NBC]]. She also appeared on the game show ''[[The Name's the Same]]'', in the "I'd Like to Be" segment, where she stumped the panel with her choice of [[Rocky Marciano]].

At Paramount she did ''[[Thunder in the East (1951 film)|Thunder in the East]]'' (1953) with [[Alan Ladd]], then at Fox was [[Rory Calhoun]]'s leading lady in a Western, ''[[Powder River (film)|Powder River]]'' (1953).

Paramount put her in a low budget thriller, ''[[Flight to Tangier]]'' (1953), and she appeared on ''[[The Ford Television Theatre]]''.

Calvert made two films at Universal: ''[[The Far Country]]'' (1954) with James Stewart, and ''[[So This Is Paris]]'' (1954) with [[Tony Curtis]].
===Return to Europe===
Calvet returned to France to star in ''[[One Step to Eternity]]'' (1955) then went to Italy to appear in ''[[Le ragazze di San Frediano]]'' (1955) and ''[[Sins of Casanova]]'' (1955). She stayed in that country to make ''[[Operazione notte]]'' (1957).

Calvet went back to Hollywood to appear in episodes of ''[[Climax!]]'', ''[[Studio One in Hollywood]]'', and ''[[Richard Diamond, Private Detective]]''. She had the lead in a low budge Western, ''[[Plunderers of Painted Flats]]'' (1959) and supported [[George Sanders]] in ''[[Bluebeards Ten Honeymoons]]'' (1960).


Upset with her treatment in Hollywood, in 1960, Calvet "decided to return to France to make her headquarters".<ref>{{cite news|title=Corinne Makes H'Wood Exit|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2660043/sunday_gazettemail/|agency=Sunday Gazette-Mail|date=May 1, 1960|page=53|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = June 21, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref>
Upset with her treatment in Hollywood, in 1960, Calvet "decided to return to France to make her headquarters".<ref>{{cite news|title=Corinne Makes H'Wood Exit|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2660043/sunday_gazettemail/|agency=Sunday Gazette-Mail|date=May 1, 1960|page=53|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = June 21, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref>


She did continue to work in the US, appearing in ''[[Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man]]'' (1962) and ''[[Apache Uprising]]'' (1965) (with Calhoun), as well as episodes of ''[[The DuPont Show of the Week]]'', ''[[Burke's Law (1963 TV series)|Burke's Law]]'', and ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]''.
She continued to act in Italian and French productions, as well as making appearances on American television series (''[[Hart to Hart]]'' and ''[[General Hospital]]''), with occasional roles in films. Her last film was ''[[The Sword and the Sorcerer]]'' in 1982.
===Later Career===
Calvet's later appearances include ''[[Pound (film)|Pound]]'' (1970) by [[Robert Downey Sr]], ''[[The Phantom of Hollywood]]'' (1974), an episode of ''[[Police Story (1973 TV series)|Police Story]]'', ''[[She's Too Hot to Handle]]'' (1977), ''[[The French Atlantic Affair]]'', an episode of ''[[Starsky and Hutch]]'', and ''[[She's Dressed to Kill]]'' (1979).

Her last appearances were in ''[[Hart to Hart]]'', ''[[Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype]]'' (1980), ''[[The Sword and the Sorcerer]]'' (1982), and ''[[Side Roads]]'' (1988).


In her memoir, entitled ''Has Corinne Been a Good Girl?'' (1983), she stated that the roles she played for Hollywood studios never challenged her acting ability. In 1958, referring to being cast as a French temptress, she told an interviewer, "If I had come to Hollywood as a dramatic actress, I never would have been Corinne Calvet, and you never would have been sitting here talking to me."<ref>{{cite news|title=(untitled brief)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2659988/the_tipton_daily_tribune/|agency=The Tipton Daily Tribune|date=January 27, 1958|page=2|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = June 21, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref>
In her memoir, entitled ''Has Corinne Been a Good Girl?'' (1983), she stated that the roles she played for Hollywood studios never challenged her acting ability. In 1958, referring to being cast as a French temptress, she told an interviewer, "If I had come to Hollywood as a dramatic actress, I never would have been Corinne Calvet, and you never would have been sitting here talking to me."<ref>{{cite news|title=(untitled brief)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2659988/the_tipton_daily_tribune/|agency=The Tipton Daily Tribune|date=January 27, 1958|page=2|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = June 21, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref>

Revision as of 06:29, 10 March 2019

Corinne Calvet
Calvet on the August 1953 cover of Epoca
Born
Corinne Dibos

(1925-04-30)April 30, 1925
Paris, France
DiedJune 23, 2001(2001-06-23) (aged 76)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1945-1982
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1948⁠–⁠1954)​
(divorced)
​
(m. 1955⁠–⁠1960)​
(divorced) 1 child
Robert J. Wirt
​
(m. 1968⁠–⁠1971)​
(filed for divorce)
ChildrenRobin Stone (b. 1956)[1]

Corinne Calvet (April 30, 1925 – June 23, 2001), born Corinne Dibos, was a French actress who appeared mostly in American films.

Biography

Early life

Calvet was born in Paris. Her mother was a scientist who played a part in the development of Pyrex glass.[2] Calvet studied criminal law at the Sorbonne.[3]

French Acting career

Calvet made her debut in French radio, stage plays, and cinema in the 1940s. She appeared uncredited in the film La part de l'ombre (1945) and had a speaking part in Petrus (1946) starring Fernandel.

Calvet played a model in We Are Not Married (1946) and had a support role in Last Chance Castle (1947).

Hal Wallis

Calvet was brought to Hollywood in the 1940s by producer Hal B. Wallis. He cast her in Rope of Sand (1949) opposite Burt Lancaster and Paul Henreid.

She was given star billing in her second Hollywood film, When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950), starring Dan Dailey and directed by John Ford for 20th Century Fox.

Wallis put her in My Friend Irma Goes West (1950) a film best remembered for being the second movie released starring Martin and Lewis. At Paramount she did a film about the Lower Canada Rebellion, Quebec (1951) with John Drew Barrymore.

20th Century Fox borrowed her to play Danny Kaye's leading lady in On the Riviera (1951). Wallis co starred her with Joseph Cotten in Peking Express (1951) and Martin and Lewis in Sailor Beware (1952).

John Ford reteamed her with Dailey in What Price Glory (1952). Calvet began appearing on television shows like Lux Video Theatre.

She made a rare television appearance on the Colgate Comedy Hour with Donald O'Connor on February 3, 1952, televised nationwide by NBC. She also appeared on the game show The Name's the Same, in the "I'd Like to Be" segment, where she stumped the panel with her choice of Rocky Marciano.

At Paramount she did Thunder in the East (1953) with Alan Ladd, then at Fox was Rory Calhoun's leading lady in a Western, Powder River (1953).

Paramount put her in a low budget thriller, Flight to Tangier (1953), and she appeared on The Ford Television Theatre.

Calvert made two films at Universal: The Far Country (1954) with James Stewart, and So This Is Paris (1954) with Tony Curtis.

Return to Europe

Calvet returned to France to star in One Step to Eternity (1955) then went to Italy to appear in Le ragazze di San Frediano (1955) and Sins of Casanova (1955). She stayed in that country to make Operazione notte (1957).

Calvet went back to Hollywood to appear in episodes of Climax!, Studio One in Hollywood, and Richard Diamond, Private Detective. She had the lead in a low budge Western, Plunderers of Painted Flats (1959) and supported George Sanders in Bluebeards Ten Honeymoons (1960).

Upset with her treatment in Hollywood, in 1960, Calvet "decided to return to France to make her headquarters".[4]

She did continue to work in the US, appearing in Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man (1962) and Apache Uprising (1965) (with Calhoun), as well as episodes of The DuPont Show of the Week, Burke's Law, and Batman.

Later Career

Calvet's later appearances include Pound (1970) by Robert Downey Sr, The Phantom of Hollywood (1974), an episode of Police Story, She's Too Hot to Handle (1977), The French Atlantic Affair, an episode of Starsky and Hutch, and She's Dressed to Kill (1979).

Her last appearances were in Hart to Hart, Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype (1980), The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982), and Side Roads (1988).

In her memoir, entitled Has Corinne Been a Good Girl? (1983), she stated that the roles she played for Hollywood studios never challenged her acting ability. In 1958, referring to being cast as a French temptress, she told an interviewer, "If I had come to Hollywood as a dramatic actress, I never would have been Corinne Calvet, and you never would have been sitting here talking to me."[5]

Personal life

Calvet was married three times. Her first marriage was to actor John Bromfield (1948 – 17 March 1954), who had co-starred with her in Rope of Sand and whom she claimed had been ordered to marry her by his studio. She then married Jeffrey Stone (1955–1960)[1] and Robert J. Wirt (1968 – October 1971). All three marriages ended in divorce. She had a son with Jeffrey Stone.

In 1952, Calvet sued actress Zsa Zsa Gabor for $1 million, accusing her of slander after Gabor was quoted as saying that Calvet was not really French, but was "a cockney English girl who coldn't even speak French a few years ago".[6] An obituary noted: "Gabor countered that Calvet's suit was without merit. The court apparently agreed because the legal wrangle quickly disappeared from the media."[3]

Death

Calvet died June 23, 2001, in Los Angeles of a cerebral hemorrhage. She was survived by a son, Michael.[3]

Selected filmography

Radio appearances

Year Program Episode/source
1953 Broadway Playhouse Candle Light[7]

Bibliography

  • Calvet, Corinne (1983). Has Corinne Been A Good Girl? : The Intimate Memoirs of a French Actress in Hollywood. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-36405-9.

Tributes

In her collection "Ariege", fashion designer Marcela Calvet named one of her most sought-after handbags "Corinne", in her honor.

References

  1. ^ a b "Corinne Calvet Wins Divorce". Ocala Star-Banner. March 29, 1960. p. 22. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  2. ^ Bergan, Ronald (July 5, 2001). "Corinne Calvet". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Thurber, Jon (June 27, 2001). "Corinne Calvet; French Actress". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Corinne Makes H'Wood Exit". Sunday Gazette-Mail. May 1, 1960. p. 53. Retrieved June 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "(untitled brief)". The Tipton Daily Tribune. January 27, 1958. p. 2. Retrieved June 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ "Corinne Calvet Sues Zsa Zsa For $1 Million". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. August 13, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved June 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ Kirby, Walter (January 18, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 40. Retrieved June 20, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Corinne Calvet.
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