Beginning in 1931, she appeared in more than 110 films. She was one of France's great movie stars and her eight-decade career was among the longest in film history. She turned 100 in May 2017.
Darrieux was born in Bordeaux, France during World War I to a physician who was serving in the French Army. Her father died when she was seven years old. Raised in Paris, she studied the cello at the Conservatoire de Musique. At 13, she won a part in the musical film Le Bal (1931). Her beauty combined with her singing and dancing ability led to numerous other offers, and the film Mayerling (1936) brought her to fame.
In 1935, Darrieux married director/screenwriter Henri Decoin, who encouraged her to try Hollywood. She signed with Universal Studios to star in The Rage of Paris (1938) opposite Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Afterwards, she elected to return to Paris.
Under the German occupation of France during World War II, she continued to perform, a decision that was severely criticized by her compatriots. However, it is reported that her brother had been threatened with deportation by Alfred Greven, the manager of the German run film production company in occupied France, Continental. She got a divorce and then fell in love with Porfirio Rubirosa, a Dominican Republic diplomat and notorious womanizer. They married in 1942. His anti-Nazi opinions resulted in his forced residence in Germany. In exchange for Rubirosa's freedom, Darrieux agreed to make a promotional trip in Berlin. The couple lived in Switzerland until the end of the war, and divorced in 1947. She married scriptwriter Georges Mitsikidès in 1948, and they lived together until his death in 1991.
She gave a good performance in the 1951 MGM musical Rich, Young and Pretty. Joseph L. Mankiewicz lured her back to Hollywood to star in 5 Fingers (1952) opposite James Mason. Upon returning to France, she appeared in Max Ophüls' The Earrings of Madame de... (1953) opposite Charles Boyer, and The Red and the Black (1954) opposite Gérard Philippe. The next year she starred in Lady Chatterley's Lover, whose theme of uninhibited sexuality led to its being proscribed by Catholic censors in the United States.
During the late 1950s, she played a supporting role in her last American film, United Artists' epic Alexander the Great (1956) starring Richard Burton and Claire Bloom. In 1961 she went to England at the request of director Lewis Gilbert to star in The Greengage Summer opposite Kenneth More. In 1963, she starred in the romantic comedy La Robe Mauve de Valentine at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris. The play was adapted from the novel by Françoise Sagan. Then, in 1966, she played a memorable supporting role in Jacques Demy's musical The Young Girls of Rochefort. She is notable for being the only principal actor in any of Demy's film-musicals to sing her own songs. (All other actors had a separate person voice their singing parts.) During the 1960s she also was a concert singer.
In 1970, Darrieux replaced Katharine Hepburn in the Broadway musical Coco, based on the life of Coco Chanel, but the play, essentially a showcase for Hepburn, soon folded without her. In 1971 and 1972 she also appeared in the short-lived productions of Ambassador. In 1982, she worked again with Demy for his film Une chambre en ville, an opera-like musical melodrama reminiscent of the director's earlier masterpiece The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Once again, Darrieux provided her own vocals for her songs.
For her long service to the motion picture industry, in 1985 she was given an Honorary César Award. She continued to work, her career spanning eight decades, most recently providing the voice of the protagonist's grandmother in the animated feature, Persepolis (2007), which deals with the impact of the Islamic revolution on a girl's life as she grows to adulthood in Iran.
Danielle Darreux died on 17 October 2017 aged 100.
She was paid homage in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds (2009): when Shosanna Dreyfus is preparing to take the Nazis down, her assistant calls her Danielle Darrieux.
Le Petit Moulin Tout Vermoulu
Danielle Darrieux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Où les oiseaux vocalisent
J'ai découvert un joli champ de blé
Et tournant parmi les épis dorés,
J'ai trouvé le petit moulin
Dont on parle d'un air malin
{Refrain:}
Le petit moulin tout vermoulu, tout vermoulu
Le petit moulin qui n'en peut plus, qui n'en peut plus
Tremble à vous donner le vertige
Mais c'est là que tous les amoureux
Vont deux par deux se conter fleurette
On s'y fait des serments délicieux
Tout parfumés de pâquerettes
C'est le vent qui chante
Et le faisant vibrer
Intention charmante,
Assourdit les baisers
Le petit moulin tout vermoulu, tout vermoulu
Petit moulin malin dont les ailes
Dans quelques jours ne tourneront plus
Pourra dire "J'en ai vu de belles!"
Le lendemain, en compagnie galante
J'ai repris la même sente
Les alouettes chantant dans les prés
Semblaient nous dire "Dépêchez-vous d'entrer!"
En nous disant des mots câlins
On est entrés dans le moulin
{au Refrain}
The song "Le Petit Moulin Tout Vermoulu" by Danielle Darrieux tells the story of a charming little windmill with rusty blades that still manage to turn miraculously. The singer discovers the windmill while walking through a fragrant flower path, surrounded by the melodious songs of birds. The windmill is situated in a beautiful wheat field where couples often visit to whisper sweet nothings, make promises, and get lost in the fragrance of daisies. The song highlights the magical moments of love in a picturesque countryside setting.
The windmill becomes an instrument of love as the wind blowing through it creates a delightful sound that conceals the secret conversations between couples. However, the rustiness of the blades diminishes the sound of kisses exchanged inside, making it difficult to hear. The song signifies the transient nature of love and life itself, as the windmill will soon stop turning, and its fate will be just a simple memory. The imagery of the song creates a romantic and nostalgic ambiance, allowing us to revel in the idyllic charm of small-town life.
Line by Line Meaning
Près d'un sentier parfumé de cytise
Near a fragrant path of broom bushes
Où les oiseaux vocalisent
Where the birds sing their songs
J'ai découvert un joli champ de blé
I discovered a beautiful field of wheat
Et tournant parmi les épis dorés,
And turning among the golden ears of wheat
J'ai trouvé le petit moulin
I found the little mill
Dont on parle d'un air malin
Of which people speak with a sly smile
{Refrain:}
Refers to the chorus lyrics
Le petit moulin tout vermoulu, tout vermoulu
The little mill all rotten, all rotten
Dont les ailes tournent par prodige
Whose wings turn by miracle
Le petit moulin qui n'en peut plus, qui n'en peut plus
The little mill that can't take it anymore, that can't take it anymore
Tremble à vous donner le vertige
Trembles enough to make you dizzy
Mais c'est là que tous les amoureux
But it's there that all the lovers
Vont deux par deux se conter fleurette
Go two by two to flirt with each other
On s'y fait des serments délicieux
There we make delicious promises
Tout parfumés de pâquerettes
All perfumed with daisies
C'est le vent qui chante
It's the wind that sings
Et le faisant vibrer
And makes it vibrate
Intention charmante,
Charming intention
Assourdit les baisers
Drowns out the kisses
Le petit moulin tout vermoulu, tout vermoulu
The little mill all rotten, all rotten
Petit moulin malin dont les ailes
Cunning little mill, whose wings
Dans quelques jours ne tourneront plus
Won't turn anymore in a few days
Pourra dire "J'en ai vu de belles!"
Can say "I've seen some beautiful things!"
Le lendemain, en compagnie galante
The next day, in the company of a gallant
J'ai repris la même sente
I took the same path again
Les alouettes chantant dans les prés
The larks singing in the meadows
Semblaient nous dire "Dépêchez-vous d'entrer!"
Seemed to be telling us "Hurry up and come inside!"
En nous disant des mots câlins
While whispering affectionate words to each other
On est entrés dans le moulin
We entered the mill
{au Refrain}
Refers to the chorus lyrics
Contributed by James T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Vieux Disques
Adorable! Je connaissais pas cette chanson de Darrieux et Mingand, mais c'est magnifique. surtout avec l'accompagnement de Wal-Berg. Surement chez Polydor. Merci!
Danielle
@LYSGAUTYVIDEO Vraiment un très beau duo! J'ai écouté "Le moulin qui jase", c'est une bien jolie chanson. Merci Fabrice!
Shhh! I'm Watching Silent Films.
Magnifique! Merci.
Danielle
@gfks11 A very pretty song, indeed - in the video, poscards of the two performers.Thank you so much dear Judie! Have a good sunday.... amitiés, Danielle
Danielle
@zaza90100 Davvero una bellissima canzone e un bel duetto! Grazie mille Francesco!
Francesco Biondolillo
fantastico... bellissima canzone.... splendide foto... complimenti Danielle, francesco.-
Danielle
@camille885 Adorable en effet, cette chanson fait un peu penser à Mireille et Jean Nohain.... Elle est bien enregistrée sur disque Polydor. Merci David!
Danielle
@robertbuk100 I am delighted to have you discover this song, sweet but little-known. Thanks!
Danielle
@PlayIt4MeAgainSam Je suis ravie que vous aimiez! Merci!
Danielle
@terryclary I'm glad you like it dear Terry - Danielle Darrieux, a legendary actress beautiful and graceful with a lovely voice too. She is still alive. I wish you a nice sunday...... Danielle