Considered one of the greatest French actors, Alain Delon had a rich career in cinema. With nearly 90 films to his credit, his star has long shone in the cinematographic universe, attracting a constellation of filmmakers eager to enjoy the fame and appeal of the talented actor who managed to break sales records with millions of viewers. Despite the rich career, the aura that surrounded him gradually disappeared, lost its luster, the man finally closed in on himself.
Written almost poetically, Alain Delon’s new biography, In Chiaroscuro, signed by Laurent Galinon, lifts the veil on the career of one of the world’s most prolific actors while demystifying the character, who is now 87 years old.
Photo provided by Mareuil Edition
Delon in chiaroscuro, Laurent Galinon, Mareuil Editions, 224 pages
Obviously we knew little about the man and the author reveals to us the backlight of fame.
Even Delon’s childhood was not easy. When he was four years old, his parents divorced and he was placed in a foster family. Later, the actor will say that he never recovered from this injury. It’s no easier at school. He will be expelled from the facilities he visits six times. He had to work at his stepfather’s deli and ran away at 14 to try and get to Chicago. He will be arrested, then at 17 he will do his military service.
During this time, his rebellious side takes over. He is arrested for stealing a jeep. Even so, the army will have made him discover a passion for guns. This may have helped him in the cinema when choosing his roles, since we learn that he is said to have killed 27 people in his films as an actor, as hero or antihero.
As a young adult, he will start his career in cafes while flirting with the Marseille underworld world, multiplying romantic relationships, including that with Dalida. But it’s his relationship with actress Brigitte Auber that will change the game. She will invite him to the Cannes Film Festival and there her world will change. His handsome face will play in his favor, and after just a quick test with a director who catches his eye, we’ll immediately appreciate he has what it takes to project on the big screen.
The pretty boy
He will plunge headlong into this universe without ever having studied acting. In no time he was noticed by a famous producer and handed a nice seven-year contract to work in the United States. In the end he will stay in France.
Let’s put it this way, Alain Delon, who started his career in his early twenties, was physically spoiled. “A beautiful child”, as the French say. But his beauty alone was not enough to propel him to the top, it served him as a bargaining chip especially early in his career, then it was his talent that explained his success that led to him being dubbed the box office champion.
The Backlight of Glory
In the early 2000s, Delon lost its luster. At the age of 67 he suffers from severe depression. There will be commercial failures like the film Asterix at the Olympics where he plays Julius Caesar. Delon lives badly with bad reviews and his split from model Rosalie van Breemen, with whom he spent 14 years, was also difficult. Before her, Alain Delon had shared his life with the late actress Mireille Darc for 15 years.
Unfortunately, the man’s arrogance stands out. He will go so far as to say in an interview: “I hate this time, I’m throwing up, life doesn’t bring me much anymore. I have known everything, seen everything.
He will also say that he will leave this world with no regrets, most of his friends are dead and he still lives in a difficult relationship with his family.
He was disappointed in the women and he explains that even if there are several women around him, none really suits him to end his days.
Remember he is a father of three and still has a passion for dogs. He had more than 50.
Even if it is mainly from Alain Delon that we will remember his great cinematic career, including several action films, with 134 million viewers, it should nevertheless be pointed out that he also touched on several facets of the profession.
We could see his talent on the boards many times in the theater, he has also sung with Dalida and lent his image to Dior perfume Eau Sauvage, among others, he has also used his name to market cigarettes in the Asian market. He has also worked as a director and producer.
We will be reminded of the image of a cinema legend and also a man who feels misunderstood from this sensitive portrait.
In addition to many nominations for his films, he received, among others:
- 1963 Golden Globe for Melody in the Basement, for Best Foreign Language Film.
- 1985 the César as best actor for the film Notre histoire.
- In 2019, a palme d’honneur at the Cannes Film Festival for his entire career.
- He has also received several honors including:
- Officer of the Legion of Honor in France
- Officer of the National Order of Merit in France
▶ Laurent Galinon is a writer and director of documentaries.