Acting
Maximilienne
FR, EN cinema · 70 credits
Born
28 November 1884
Died
28 August 1978 (aged 93)
Birthplace
Paris, France
Also known as Maximilienne Max · Henriette Genty · Henriette Adeline Genty
In his sketches, popular French comedian'Fernand Raynaud' was often bullied by a self-righteous sharp-tongued spinster called Mademoiselle Lelongbec, the parish organist. Tall, lean and unattractive, Maximilenne (born Henriette Genty in 1884) seemed born to play the part and she WAS the obvious choice for director Robert Darène when, in 1958, he prepared to film a Fernand Raynaud's vehicle entitled "Houla Houla". Donning the attire of Mlle Lelongbec Maximilenne had the distinguished opportunity to nag poor Fernand, on the big screen this time around. A role that epitomizes a long screen career, spanning the three decades between the advent of the sound period and the birth of the French New Wave. During this time, she embodied innumerable female authority figures such as a mother superior ("La route enchantée"), a school mistress ("Simplet"), the headmistress of a reform school("Prison sans barreaux"), a Salvation Army general ("L'armoire volante") or a princess ("Le disque 1413"). She was rarely married in her films, most of the time she was the narrow-minded old maid. She was at her best as such in the role of one of the boarding house guests in Henri-Georges Clouzot's 1942 masterpiece "L'assassin habite au 21". And when she had indeed married in a movie, she was usually a widow: her late husband had chosen to leave life prematurely to escape her! Occasionally one of the old maids and aunts she was given to play were affectionate, notably in Fritz Lang's "Liliom " (1933). But whether her characters were good or bad, Maximilienne had been one of those colorful character actors and actresses the French cinema of the classic era could not do without. And she will be fondly remembered for that. - IMDb mini biography by: Guy Bellinger
Known for
Filmography
The Enigma of the Folies-Bergère
as Mrs. Rosenthal
Houla-Houla
as Mlle Lelongbec
Premier mai
as Nun (uncredited)
Fric-frac en dentelles
as Madame Mouilletu
La Cage aux souris
as Miss Frador aka 'Cul-de-poule'
The Congress of Mother-in-Laws
as Madame Moucaille
Trois vieilles filles en folie
as Pervenche
Drôle de noce
as Cornil's Widow
Dans la vie tout s'arrange
as Madame Bleubois
Adhémar or the Toy of Destiny
as La soeur du Marquis
Musique en tête
as The personnel manager
Pardon My French
as Madame Bleubois
No More Vacation for the Good Lord
as Aunt Faguet
Tête blonde
as Madame Rabichou
The Treasure of Cantenac
as Blandine
Last Hour, Special Edition
as Mademoiselle Thomasson
The Cupboard Was Bare
as Salvation Army commander
Scandals of Clochemerle
as Justine Putet
Monsieur Vincent
as Une dévote à l'église (uncredited)
Song of the Clouds
as Mademoiselle Anaïs
Rooster Heart
as Mme Estelle
The Ménard Collection
as Young lady Ménard
Picpus
as Madame Bertaud (uncredited)
Shop Girls of Paris
as Madame Cabin
Simple-Minded
as Mademoiselle Aimée, teacher
The Murderer Lives at Number 21
as Miss Cuq
Cartacalha, reine des gitans
as Machanalli
Parade in 7 Nights
as Ardouin's governess
Marseille mes amours
as Aunt Églantine
Cavalcade of Love
as Old comedienne
Un meurtre a été commis
as Madame Phalempin
The Enchanted Road
as Mother superior
The Baker's Wife
as Melle Angèle
Mon curé chez les riches
as Patroness
Prison Without Bars
as Madame Appel
My Aunts and I
as Tante Julie
The Man from Nowhere
as La tante Scholastique
Disk 413
as Princess
Lovers and Thieves
as Mrs. Doizeau
Incognito
1934
Incognito
as Deaf lady
The Daughters of the Concierge
as Mme Fallempin
Midnight, Place Pigalle
as Louise
Tartarin of Tarascon
as Mme Ladevèze
Maria Chapdelaine
as Azelma Larouche
Liliom
as Mme. Menoux
Mountain Man
as Mme Malten
600,000 francs per month
as Madame Brochet
Étienne
as Aunt Valérie
July 14
as La locataire (uncredited)
For One Cent's Worth of Love
as Mathilde
À Nous la Liberté
as Une invitée au diner