Yves Montand

Yves MONTAND Actor, Artist, Singer, and Musician (Italian).

The French love "big mouths" but... likable ones! This image was (according to everything that has been written about it) confirmed by his role in Cesar and Rosalie. Yves Montand loved women, and he had his adventures.

But the almost mythical couple he formed with Simone Signoret was considered (as the Americans say) a "French paradox".

His real name was Ivo Livi, and he was born on October 13, 1921, in Tuscany in the small village of Monsummano. He died on November 9, 1991 (at the age of 70) in Senlis, Oise, from a myocardial infarction.

Father: Giovanni Livi, a communist activist (fled the Italian fascist regime in 1921).

Mother: Giuseppina Livi Country of welcome: France (Marseille)

Sister: Lydia Livi (1915)

Brother: Giuliano (1917)

1929: The Livi family obtained French nationality.

Lydia and Giuliano were taken out of school very early to go to work. Ivo's father pinned all his hopes on him regarding education. Unfortunately, he did not like school.

After his father's business (a modest broom manufacturer) went bankrupt, the entire family depended on Lydia's salary, who was a hairdresser. Giuliano, for his part, was a waiter.

At 14, Ico left school, went to work in a factory, and then worked in Lydia's hair salon, which was doing very well. He passed his hairdressing vocational qualification successfully.

March 1951: Returns to the Theatre de l'Etoile for his first complete "one-man show." His performance of 22 songs and two poems (following an extremely polished staging) ensures him immense success. He has found his true calling as a stage performer. But he still dreams of making it in the cinema.

In 1952, Henri-Georges Clouzot gives him a real chance with a film titled "The Wages of Fear." Montand's dramatic force is affirmed, and the film receives the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival the following year.

October 1952: Returns to singing on the stage of the Theatre de l'Etoile. The evening's program opens with an unpublished poem by Jacques Prevert. The last song is "A Paris" (written by Francis Lemarque). "Les Feuilles mortes" is used for the encore. This series of recitals, planned for a duration of 3 weeks, actually lasts 6 months! And this recital will be followed by its recording on disk.

In 1954, he and his wife Simone Signoret buy a property in Normandy at Autheuil-Anthouillet. It becomes the meeting place for all their friends: Serge Reggiani, Pierre Brasseur, the director Luis Bunuel, the writer Jorge Semprun, etc.

"Les Feuilles Mortes" (Autumn Leaves)
- This is one of Yves Montand's most famous songs, originally a French song with music by Joseph Kosma and lyrics by Jacques Prévert. The English version, "Autumn Leaves," has become a jazz standard.
The melancholic melody and poetic lyrics about the passing of time and lost love have resonated with audiences worldwide. Montand's rendition is particularly celebrated for its emotive delivery.

"A Paris"
- Written by Francis Lemarque, "A Paris" is a song that celebrates the city of Paris, touching on its beauty, vibrancy, and the joie de vivre of its inhabitants.
The song showcases Montand's ability to capture the essence of Parisian life, making listeners feel a deep connection to the city through his performance. It's a testament to his skill in conveying the spirit of a place through music.

"Battling Joe"
- This song is less internationally known but is part of Montand's repertoire that showcases his versatility as a singer. The song's narrative style and Montand's delivery bring the character of Joe to life.
"Battling Joe" exemplifies Montand's talent for storytelling through song, engaging listeners with the tale of a fighter's life and struggles.

"Les Grands Boulevards"
- Another song that celebrates Paris, focusing on the bustling life of its grand boulevards. The song, with its lively tempo and vivid lyrics, paints a picture of the lively atmosphere of Parisian streets.
It's a celebration of Parisian culture and the city's energy, showcasing Montand's love for Paris and his ability to evoke a sense of place through his music.

These songs, particularly "Les Feuilles Mortes," have contributed to Yves Montand's lasting legacy in the world of music. His ability to convey deep emotion, whether it be the melancholy of lost love or the vibrant life of Paris, has made these songs beloved classics. Montand's interpretations are celebrated for their emotional depth, clear diction, and the unique timbre of his voice, which have helped these songs transcend their original contexts to become timeless pieces of music.

Passionate about cinema, Fred Astaire and his tap dance routines fascinated him.

Despite being shy, he accepted a music hall manager's offer in 1938. This manager was looking for someone to "warm up the audience." After weeks of intense rehearsals and changing his name to Yves Montand (As a child playing in the street, his mother would call out from the window asking him in Italian to come up: "Ivo! Monta!"), his success on stage was immediate: the audience applauded thunderously: Yves Montand was born.

June 21, 1939: First stage appearance in Marseille at the Alcazar (first original song "In the Plains of the Far West"). When World War II broke out, Yves Montand found himself working as a laborer at the Chantiers de Provence.

1941: Restart of his career which continued until his death. Berlingot (the one who had hired him the first time) organized a tour in the region for him. Yves Montand took dance lessons. Change of manager, he would perform in more galas and accumulate female conquests.

January 1944: He escapes the militias looking for him to send him to the STO (Service du Travail Obligatoire, or Compulsory Work Service). Moves to Paris and makes his first appearance at the ABC in front of a Parisian audience. Bet won.

Then follow Bobino, the Folies Bellevilles, and the Moulin Rouge: success! (He opens for Edith Piaf and it's love at first sight between them). She helps him become the stage persona that would lead to his success and also helps him to cultivate himself (poetry, novels, etc.). They then go on tour.

Yves Montand's fame grows along with his success in music halls. In 1945, he headlines at the Theatre de l'Etoile in Paris (singing "Battling Joe" and "Les Grands Boulevards"). In 1946, Edith Piaf leaves Yves Montand without a real reason. But that's how she is: unpredictable. He tries his hand at cinema, without much success.

In 1947, he returned to the Theatre de l'Etoile for six weeks. His meeting with Bob Castella (pianist) is decisive. Until the end of Yves Montand's career, Bob Castella will remain his dedicated musician.

1948: Meets Jacques Prevert in Saint-Paul-de-Vence in Provence. Yves Montand admires him enormously. In his new singing tour will feature the song from the film "Les Portes de la nuit" (1945), namely "Les Feuilles Mortes" (music by Joseph Kosma, lyrics by Jacques Prevert).

August 1949: Meets Simone Signoret in Saint-Paul-de Vence, an actress (who will divorce in 1950 from her husband, the director Marc Allegret, with whom she has a daughter, Catherine). Moves in with Yves Montand in Paris (Place Dauphine), and they marry in 1951. The legendary couple of the French entertainment world is born.

May 1950: Yves Montand signs the "Stockholm Appeal" against the use of atomic weapons (a campaign led by the Soviet Union). Simone Signoret and Yves Montand are labeled "fellow travelers of the French Communist Party".

Also in 1954, the couple performs in the play by writer Arthur Miller, "The Crucible." The success is such that the performances last until Christmas 1955.

End of 1956, Montand plans to go on a singing tour in the USSR.

October 24, 1956: Russian tanks invade Budapest, Hungary. Crisis of conscience. He is not yet ready for a political break with his family of heart and ideas. He goes to the USSR. Meets Khrushchev and asks for explanations. The exchange turns into a "duel" and lasts four hours. He leaves Moscow more or less appeased.

Early 1957: he goes to Poland, then throughout Eastern Europe. Upon his return to France, he distances himself from his political commitments.

June 1958: He acts in a film by Jules Dassin "La Loi" (with Marcello Mastroianni and Pierre Brasseur). The film is released in January 1959 but is not a success. Yves Montand remains, however, obsessed with a cinematic career.

October 58 - March 59: Back to the music hall (Theatre de l'Etoile - 16 new titles).

1959: Solicited by an American agent to give recitals in New York. Premiere September 21, 59. Triumph. Yves Montand and Simone Signoret meet Arthur Miller and his wife Marilyn Monroe.

Yves Montand then heads to Hollywood and San Francisco. Returns to France at the end of the year and leaves for Japan for a series of recitals in Tokyo and Osaka. Having become an international star, he is sure of achieving his goal: to make movies.

Hollywood offers him a role in a film with Marilyn Monroe, "Let's Make Love". Early 60, filming begins. A romantic relationship develops between them. The international press immediately seizes upon the "affair". With the film finished, Yves Montand returns to France, aware that he has shaken the foundations of the relationship he has with Simone Signoret.

October 61: Returns to the United States. (8 weeks at the Golden Theatre on Broadway in New York). The following tour takes him to Japan and then England. He is one of the most well-known music hall artists on the planet.

1962: Makes his comeback in Paris at the Theatre de l'Etoile. The recital lasts until '63. But cinema does not give him any rest.

1964: "The Sleeping Car Murder" by Costa Gavras (this collaboration marks a turning point in his career). His priorities now shift to the 7th Art. Following are: "La Guerre Est Finie" by Alain Resnais (66), "Is Paris Burning?" by René Clément (67), and "Z" by Costa Gavras (68).

September 1968: Returns to the stage. 6 weeks in Paris at the Olympia. He is not indifferent to the events of May 68 but maintains a certain distance from them. He also breaks with the communist party.

October 1968: The death of his father. April 1970: The film "The Confession" by Costa Gavras, in which he plays the role of Arthur London, is released. His tremendous talent is finally recognized.

From 1970 to 1980, he acts in both serious films and comedies ("Delusions of Grandeur" by Gérard Oury with Louis de Funès in 1971. He works with great French directors like Claude Sautet for "Cesar and Rosalie" in 72).

1974: Yves Montand gives a recital to benefit the victims of the dictatorial regime in Chile.

October 7, 1981 - January 3, 1982: Returns to the stage at the Olympia. Triumphs. Under pressure, he performs again from July 20 to August 14, 1982. From success to success in all the world capitals, from Rio de Janeiro to New York, Yves Montand savors his success.

1980: Becomes a human rights activist.

December 1981: Signs an appeal in support of the Polish union Solidarność.

1983: Along with Simone Signoret and other artists, he denounces the rise of the French far-right party, the National Front. He gradually becomes a public, and even political, figure.

September 85: Simone Signoret, the companion of his life, passes away at the age of 64.

Yves Montand has an affair with his assistant, Carole Amiel, who was hired for the 1982 tour.

During the filming of "Manon des Sources" (directed by Claude Berri, based on the novel by writer Marcel Pagnol), he becomes a father for the first time in his life. On December 31, 1988, the young Valentin Montand is born.

From that moment on, he lives quietly with his family in Autheuil. He thinks about returning to the stage at the Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy. He will not have the time: he succumbs to a myocardial infarction on November 9, 91, in Senlis, Oise.

On November 9, 1991, Yves Montand passed away forever. Yet, in these pages, it is indeed he who speaks, his words that carry us away. An unpublished collection of forty confessions, interviews, and statements, Montand by Montand tells the story of fifty years of an incredible career, from his first steps on stage in Marseille to his final role and his last battles.