Jean-Paul Belmondo became one of the actors in world cinema who radically turned the audience's usual ideas about the appearance of the protagonist. He was far from handsome, but the undoubted charm and charisma of the "bad guy" did their job, and he became the favorite of millions. Films with the participation of Jean-Paul Belmondo instantly became successful, he was equally appreciated by critics and ordinary viewers. Leaving a bright mark in the culture of the twentieth century, he retired, occasionally appearing in public.
Early years
Jean-Paul Belmondo was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, in 1933. The future star of French cinema was lucky to be born into a bohemian family, which largely determined his future fate. His father, Paul Belmondo, was a famous sculptor. Madeleine's mother was known as a good artist and had extensive connections in the theatrical environment.
According toeyewitnesses, as a child, little Jean was a charming child, his father even sculpted sculptures of angels from him. However, in fact, behind the appearance of the cherub was a real imp. He spent all his free time in the yard, chasing a soccer ball and breaking windows for neighbors. A caring mother tried to change her son's inclinations and often took him to the performances of the Comedie Francaise.
Nevertheless, despite all the efforts of the mother, the biography of Jean-Paul Belmondo could have turned out differently, he was seriously involved in sports and achieved some success in his youth. At first he was fond of football, then he had a burning desire to become a boxer and even won the Paris welterweight championship.
Choosing a path and studying
Tumbling with doubts about what to do next, Jean-Paul Belmondo decided to serve in the army, where he caught a mild form of tuberculosis. Restoring his he alth in a small village, he made his final choice of further profession and decided to become an actor.
For this purpose, he comes to Paris and enters the Higher National Conservatory of Dramatic Art, where Pierre Dux and Rene Girard became his teachers. Boxing left its mark on Jean Paul's appearance, and the teachers were skeptical about his prospects on stage and on the screen.
Throughout his studies, Belmondo experienced serious problems with discipline, he was a notorious brawler and truant, only a clear dramatic talent saved the dissolute student from final expulsion.
In parallel with his studies, he achieved a place in the theater and regularly went out to play on stage. By the end of his studies, Jean-Paul Belmondo became one of the best students on the course, and only a scandalous reputation prevented him from receiving a special Best Actor award.
First works
In 1956, the sculptor's son graduated from the conservatory and began to storm the heights of cinema. The first of the films of Jean-Paul Belmondo was the short film "Molière", where the debutant played a small role. However, fans of the actor will look in vain for their favorite when viewing this old picture, since during editing all the scenes with Jean-Paul were cut.
Nevertheless, the talent of the young actor was obvious, and he was often invited to shoot. He received his first significant role in the film "Be beautiful and keep quiet." Curiously, this picture became the launching pad for another future idol of French women - Alain Delon.
So different from each other, but equally bright, they became friends on the set, which did not prevent them from subsequently fiercely competing for the title of the best actor in the country.
In addition, from the early films of Jean-Paul Belmondo, one can note the psychological drama "A Double Turn of the Key", the comedy "Mademoiselle Angel", where Romy Schneider became his partner, the melodrama "The Only Angel on Earth".
Breakthrough
The youth of the actor successfully coincided with the creative flowering of the directors of the new wave of European cinema, whorevolutionized an ossified genre. One of them was the French master Jean-Luc Godard. One of the best films of Jean-Paul Belmondo is the first picture of the master "Breathless".
Here Jean-Paul plays the role of Michel Poicart's negative character. Unlike the usual stereotypes, the hero, openly spitting on the norms of society and openly rebelling against it, wins the hearts of the audience and makes them take care of themselves with excitement.
The film itself was filmed in an innovative manner, the director did not have a specific script, there were only general outlines of scenes, improvisation on the set decided a lot. Some episodes, including the famous walk along the Champs Elysees, were filmed with a hidden camera.
"Breathless" was a real gift for the actor Jean-Paul Belmondo, it was after the release of this film that the young actor fell truly world-famous. According to the movie star, his phone was bursting with calls, all directors dreamed of seeing him in their films.
Riding the wave of success
Becoming the idol of millions, Jean-Paul could forget about supporting roles in passing films. From now on, he could only be the main character. For several years, the filmography of Jean-Paul Belmondo has replenished with such films as "Monkey in Winter", "Leon Morin", "Informer", "Banana Peel". Together with the charming Claudia Cardinale, the actor starred in the historical adventure film Cartouche, which was very popular in the USSR.
Still up to a pointJean-Paul Belmondo did not want to become a member of commercial projects alone, from time to time paying attention to serious copyright projects. One of them was the new painting by Jean-Luc Godard "Mad Pierrot". Here, the audience is presented not at all with the charming adventurer to whom they are so accustomed. Belmondo plays the role of a desperate, deceived person and does it very penetratingly and convincingly. The film received a well-deserved portion of praise and was nominated for the main award of the Venice Film Festival.
Golden Years
Over the years, the popularity of Jean-Paul Belmondo did not decrease, he focused on working in commercially successful tapes and in the seventies and eighties confidently took his place among the main movie stars. Among the main successes of the actor is the film "Is Paris Burning", where he played a member of the Resistance, Yves Morand.
In the gangster action movie "Borsalino" Jean-Paul Belmondo once again met on the same set with his friend-rival Alain Delon. According to witnesses of those days, Jean-Paul was furious that Delon's name was in front of his name on the movie posters.
The film "Magnificent" was very popular in the USSR, where the great actor played two whole roles - the notorious writer Franus Merlin and the hero of his books, spy Bob Sinclair, who became an obvious parody of James Bond.
In 1981, one of the most important films by Jean-Paul Belmondo, The Professional, was released. The role of special agent Josselin Beaumont became the mosta real hallmark of the actor, for many the image of the actor and his hero merged into a single whole.
The closing shots of The Professional by Jean-Paul Belmondo have become classics of world cinema, and the same can be said about the music for the film, composed by Ennio Morricone.
Withdrawal from active work
After "Professional" followed by a number of successful works of the great French actor, among which are "Robbery", "Solo", "Outlaw". However, at some point, Jean-Paul Belmondo got tired of the busy filming schedule and decided to return to the theater stage, where he had not been seen for almost thirty years. In the production of "Kin, or Genius and Debauchery", the legendary actor played a mad genius, doing an excellent job as always.
Belmondo even thought about finally saying goodbye to the cinema, but succumbed to the persuasion of Claude Lelouch and starred in his film "The Minion of Fate". Nevertheless, shortly before his sixtieth birthday, he publicly announced that he was no longer playing the roles in which he was used to being seen - policemen, bandits, adventurers.
According to him, he is not going to make a fool of himself anymore and turn into the “flying grandfather” of French cinema.
Recent years
In 2001, Jean-Paul Belmondo suffered a stroke and took a long time to recover from it. All these years he could only walk with a cane. However, the actor has yet to say his lastwords - in 2008 he reappeared on the screens in the film "Man and Dog". The character of Belmondo in this picture was not at all like his former heroes. Before the audience, he appeared in the form of a sick, infirm old man who was left without a home, whose only companion was his dog.
According to the actor, he was happy to take on a new challenge and turn the stereotypes around him. The film caused a storm of discussions, not everyone liked to see their idol in such a state, but this role was included in the list of the best works of the actor.
Belmondo today
The last few years the Frenchman has not acted in films, but continues to appear frequently in public. During his active career, he was not spoiled by academic awards, but in 2016 they decided to correct this injustice. At the Venice Film Festival, Jean-Paul Belmondo received a special award - the "Golden Lion" for his outstanding contribution to world cinema.
