Chevalier was born in Paris. He made his name as a star of musical comedy, appearing in public as a singer and dancer at an early age before working in four menial jobs as a teenager. In 1909, he became the partner of the biggest female star in France at the time, Fréhel. Although their relationship was brief, she secured him his first major engagement, as a mimic and a singer in l'Alcazar in Marseille, for which he received critical acclaim by French theatre critics. In 1917, he discovered jazz and ragtime and went to London, where he found new success at the Palace Theatre.
After this, he toured the United States, where he met the American composers George Gershwin and Irving Berlin and brought Dédé to Broadway in 1922. He also developed an interest in acting, and had success in the operetta Dédé. When talkies arrived, he went to Hollywood in 1928, where he played his first American role in Innocents of Paris. In 1930, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his roles in The Love Parade (1929) and The Big Pond (1930), which secured his first big American hit, Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight.
In 1957, he appeared in Love in the Afternoon, which was his first Hollywood film in more than 20 years. In the early 1960s, he made eight films, including Can-Can in 1960 and Fanny the following year. In 1970 he made his final contribution to the film industry where he sang the title song of the Disney film The Aristocats. He died in Paris, on January 1, 1972, aged 83.
He was born in Paris, France in 1888. His father was a house painter. His mother was of Belgian descent. Maurice made his name as a star of musical comedy, appearing in public as a singer and dancer at an early age.
It was in 1901 that he first began in show business at the age of 13. He was singing at a cafe for free when a well-known member of the theatre saw him and suggested that he try out for a local musical. He did so, and got the part. Chevalier got a name as an imitator and singer. His act in l' Alcazar in Marseille was so succesful he made a triumphant rearrival in Paris.
In 1909 he became the partner of the biggest female star in France at the time, Fréhel. However, due to her alcohol and drug addiction their liason ended in 1911. Chevalier then started a relationship with the 23 year old Mistinguett at the Folies Bergére; they would eventually play out a very public romance.
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World War I
Chevalier fulfilled his army service in 1913 and therefore couldn't escape the draft when in 1914 World War I broke out. He was shot in the back in the first weeks of combat and taken as war prisoner in Germany for two years. In 1916 he managed to escape due to Minstinguett's numerous relations.
In 1917 he became a star in le Casino de Paris and played before a public of English soldiers and Americans. He discovered jazz and ragtime and started thinking about touring in the United States. In prison camp he studied English and therefore had a certain advantage, compared with other French artists. He went to London where he met a new succes, even if he still sang in French.
Hollywood
After the war Chevalier went back to Paris and created several famous songs who are still known this day, such as "Valentine" (1924). He played in a few pictures and made a huge impression in the operette, "Dédé". Here he met the American composers George Gerschwin and Irving Berlin and brought "Dédé" to Broadway in 1922. It was not a succes due to a mental breakdown. A sad Chevalier returned to France where he tried to commit suicide in 1924, because of this failure. The same year he met Yvonne Vallée, a young dancer, who became his wife in 1927.
When sound made it's entree in the film world, Chevalier returned to Hollywood in 1928 and this time he became very succesful. He signed a contract with Paramount and played his first American role in "Innocents of Paris". In 1930 Chevalier was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, for two roles: The Love Parade and The Big Pond. He collaborated much with film director Ernst Lubitsch.
In 1934 he played in the operette La Veuve Joyeuse, one of his most well known films. He became one of the several big stars in Hollywood, very rare for French artists in these days. In 1935 he signed for MGM and returned to France later that year.
In 1937 he divorced from his wife and married with the dancer Nita Raya. He encountered several other succesful performances such as his revue "Paris en Joie" in the Casino de Paris. A year later he performed in "Amours de Paris]]. His songs remained big hits, such as "Prosper" (1935), "Ma Pomme" (1936) and "Ça fait d'excellents français" (1939)
World War II
During World War I Chevalier kept performing for audiences, even German militaries. He admired Henri Pètain, who led the collaborating Vichy regime during the war. (It must be stated that many Frenchmen at that time admired Pétain for his victories in World War I.) He moved to Cannes where he and his jewish wife, Nita Raya, lived and from where he kept giving several performances.
In 1941 he performed a new revue in the Casino de Paris: "Bonjour Paris", which was another smash succes. Songs like "Ça sent si bon la France" and "La Chanson du maçon" became other new hits. The nazis asked Chevalier if he wanted to perform in Berlin and sing for the collaborating radio station Radio-Paris. He refused, but did give several performances in front of prisoners of war in Germany where he succeded in liberating 10 people in exchange.
In 1942 he returned to Bocca, near Cannes, but returned to the French capital city in september. In 1944 when the Allied forces freed France, Chevalier was accused of collaboration. Even though these claims were disputed and he was formally acquitted of these charges, the English speaking press remained very hostile and even refused to give him a visa for several years.
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After the War
In his own country, however, he was still very popular. In 1946 he divorced from Nita Raya and starting writing his memoires, who would be further completed over the years. He started to paint and collect things and acted in Le Silence est d' Or (1946) by René Clair. He still toured throughout the United States and other parts of the world and returned to France in 1948.
In 1949 he performed in Stockholm on a communist benefit against nuclear arms. (In 1944 he had already participated to a communist defilé in Paris). Anti-communist witch hunts in the US made him therefore persona non grata in this country during the early fifties.
In 1952 he bought a large proporty in Marnes-La-Coquette, Paris and named it "La Louque", as a hommage to his mother's nickname. He started a new relationship in 1952 with Janie Michels, a young divorced mother with three children. Being a painter herself she encouraged Chevalier's artistic hobby.
In 1954 Chevalier was welcomed back in the United States. His American success reappeared thanks to the film Ariane (1957) with Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper, by Billy Wilder. He rediscovered his popularity with new audiences, appearing in the movie musical, Gigi (1958) with Leslie Caron and Hermione Gingold, with whom he shared the song "I Remember It Well", and several Walt Disney films. The great success of Gigi prompted Hollywood to give him an Honorary Academy Award that same year for his lifetime achievements in the field of entertainment.
After this he continued to perform in public and met celebrities such as Brigitte Bardot and Dwight Eisenhower.
Final Years
Chevalier continued to work up until very old age with impressive energy and enthusiasm. In the early sixties he toured thru the United States and between 1960 and 1963 he made eight films. When he returned to France he was invited by president Charles de Gaulle for a meal.
In 1965, at the age of 77 he made another world tour and visited again the US and other countries like South Africa. In 1967 he toured in Latin America, again the US, Europe and Canada.
In 1968, on October 1st, he announced his official farewell tour. Tired but nonetheless still able to entertain people he stopped twenty days later.
In 1970, he sang the title song of the Disney film The Aristocats. During a tour in the US he decided to stay there. However in December 1971 he got ill and had to be brought to the hospital.
Maurice Chevalier died on January 1, 1972, aged 83, and was interred in the cemetery of Marnes la Coquette in Hauts-de-Seine, France.
Les Aristochats
Maurice Chevalier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quels "beaux minets" ont l' plus long pedigree?
Quels "chouchous" dans la soie se prélassent?
Naturellement, les aristochats!
Quels doux "mimis" ont des profils de Joconde?
Quels "chats trésors" savent se t'nir dans le grand monde?
Très gourmets, refusant les ersatz?
Mais naturellement, les aristochats!
Aristochats ils sont toujours,
Même quand ils font un petit tour.
Toujours précieux, là où ils vont,
Ils sont fiers d'leur éducation.
Dédaignant les ruelles,
Ils préfèrent les bars aux poubelles
Dont se contentent, trop vulgaires,
Les chats de gouttières ...
Oh, Pouah!
Quels "miaous" réprouvent les gros mots?
Quels "chats chouchous" s'estiment sans défaut?
Et d'vant qui les autres chats tirent leur chapeau?
Mais naturellement, les aristochats!
Aristocats ils sont toujours,
Même quand ils font un petit tour.
Toujours précieux, là où ils vont,
Ils sont fiers d'leur éducation.
Dédaignant les ruelles,
Ils préfèrent les bars aux poubelles
Dont se contentent, trop vulgaires,
Les chats de gouttières ...
Oh, Pouah!
Quels "miaous" réprouvent les gros mots?
Quels "chats chouchous" s'estiment sans défaut?
Et d'vant qui les autres chats tirent leur chapeau?
Mais naturellement,
Mais naturellement, voyons!
Oh, mais naturellement, les aristochats!
The French song “Les Aristochats” translates to “The Aristocats” in English, and it is the theme song of the Disney movie with the same name. The song is performed by Maurice Chevalier, and it describes the aristocratic nature of cats that live in high society. The main theme of the song is to celebrate the elegance, refinement, and sophistication of cats that belong to the upper class. The lyrics are a reflection of the golden age of aristocracy in France, where refined manners, etiquette, and class were highly valued.
The first verse of the song asks who are the cats that inhabit the grand neighborhoods and who are the beautiful ones with the longest pedigree. The answer is, of course, the Aristocats. The next verse describes the elegance of the cats and how they lounge in silk. The chorus repeats the central message of the song, stating that the Aristocats are always aristocratic and proud of their education, and they reject the alleys and the bins preferred by common cats. The last verse talks about how the Aristocats disapprove of swearing and are flawless, and they command respect from other cats.
Line by Line Meaning
Quels sont les chats qui habitent les grands quartiers?
Which cats live in the grand neighborhoods?
Quels "beaux minets" ont l' plus long pedigree?
Which "beautiful cats" have the longest pedigree?
Quels "chouchous" dans la soie se prélassent?
Which "favorites" in silk lounge around?
Naturellement, les aristochats!
Naturally, the aristocats!
Quels doux "mimis" ont des profils de Joconde?
Which sweet "kitties" have Mona Lisa profiles?
Quels "chats trésors" savent se t'nir dans le grand monde?
Which "treasure cats" know how to behave in high society?
Très gourmets, refusant les ersatz?
Very gourmet, refusing substitutes?
Mais naturellement, les aristochats!
But naturally, the aristocats!
Aristochats ils sont toujours,
They are always aristocats
Même quand ils font un petit tour.
Even when they take a little walk.
Toujours précieux, là où ils vont,
Always precious wherever they go,
Ils sont fiers d'leur éducation.
They are proud of their education.
Dédaignant les ruelles,
Disdaining the alleyways,
Ils préfèrent les bars aux poubelles
They prefer bars to garbage cans
Dont se contentent, trop vulgaires,
Which are too vulgar for them,
Les chats de gouttières ...
The alley cats...
Oh, Pouah!
Oh, Yuck!
Quels "miaous" réprouvent les gros mots?
Which "meows" disapprove of swear words?
Quels "chats chouchous" s'estiment sans défaut?
Which "favorite cats" consider themselves faultless?
Et d'vant qui les autres chats tirent leur chapeau?
And in front of whom do other cats tip their hat?
Mais naturellement, les aristochats!
But naturally, the aristocats!
Mais naturellement, voyons!
But naturally, of course!
Oh, mais naturellement, les aristochats!
Oh, but naturally, the aristocats!
Contributed by Gianna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@fannyp900
Quels sont les chats qui habitent les grands quartiers?
Quels beaux minets ont l'plus long pedigree?
Quels chouchous dans la soie se prélassent?
Naturellement les aristocats
Quels doux mimis ont des profils de Joconde
Quels chats trésor savent se tenir dans le grand monde?
Très gourmets refusant les erzats
Et naturellement les aristocats
Aristocats,
Il sont toujours même quand ils font un petit tour
Toujours précieux là où ils vont
Et sont fiers d'leur éducation
Dédaignant les ruelles
Ils préfèrent les marres aux poubelles
Dont se contentent trop vulgaires les chats de gouttière
Quel miaou réprouve les gros mots?
Quels chat chouchou s'estime sans défaut
Et devant qui les autres tirent leur chapeau?
Mais naturellement les aristocats
Aristocats,
Il sont toujours même quand ils font un petit tour
Toujours précieux là où ils vont
Et sont fiers d'leur éducation
Dédaignant les ruelles
Ils préfèrent les marres aux poubelles
Dont se contentent trop vulgaires les chats de gouttière
Quel miaou réprouve les gros mots?
Quels chat chouchou s'estime sans défaut
Et devant qui les autres tirent leur chapeau?
Mais naturellement
Mais naturellement voyons
Les aristocats!
@jediskunk67
Ending translation
Aristocats they are always there even when they go for a walk,
always precious where they go, they are proud of their education.
Cleaning the alleys, they prevent the bar, don't settle for too vulgar gutter cats
oh ugh!
What do you mean by bad words?
Which "darling cat" considers themselves flawless?
And before whom do the other cats take their hat off?
But naturally, but naturally, we'll see. Oh but naturally, the Aristocats.
@csoupaux
Les aristochats... Ce dessin animé que j'ai dû regarder au moins 300 fois ! Je ne m'en lasse pas même si je connaît par coeur ! Quand jetait petite et que je rentrai de l'école je metrait ma cassette dans la toute petite télé qui etait dans ma chambre ! ♡♡♡
@paplopikacho1345
j'ai pourri les vacances d'adultes avec la cassette audio et le lecteur fisher price à pile, la b.o des aristochats reste gravé.
@benjaminbenhamu3316
Ce dessin animé qui m'a fait appris à aimer les chats
@Disneylover181
It's pretty cool that they had the same man do the French version of the opening.
@eythorarnason3416
Man? Maurice = Sinatra
@hetaliaheart5201
Disneylover181 yeah he speaks both English and french
@mabel8880
Well, Maurice Chevalier is French.
@sarahh6
Yeah! Well, it makes a lot of sense. He was bilingual after all!
@sarahh6
Oh! His name was Maurice Chevalier, he was a veteran of the First World War and a French Actor, cabaret singer, and entertainer. Singing this song was his last contribution to the film industry (1970,) before he passed away.
Also, the Producer and Director of this film, Wolfgang Reitherman, was one of Disney's Nine Old Men. Read his filmography on wikipedia if you want! It's amazing! He was also the Producer and Directir of Disney's Robin Hood! Co-producer of The Fox and the Hound.
His children also contributed to the films he worked on with their voice roles, his son Bruce Reitherman voiced Mowgli in the Jungle Book, for example.
@mabel8880
Merci beaucoup pour le version français! It's so good to hear the song in its native language, plus, I think French is a very beautiful language. 🇫🇷