'Charm is the ability to make others forget that you look as you do.'
Jean-Paul Belmondo
With his striking good looks, I'm guessing for French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo, being charming, was just icing on the cake! Over the years, I've featured many French actors, and when researching them, Belmondo's name continued to come up. It's long over due that Belmondo appeared on the site! The French movie star frequently played heroic, brave, and virile characters, which made him popular with a wide audience both in France and abroad.
Belmondo he was called the French counterpart of actors such as James Dean, Marlon Brando and Humphrey Bogart. Even with these comparisons, and despite being heavily courted by Hollywood, I really respect that Belmondo refused to appear in English-language films. He was loyal to his country, language and the film industry in France and Europe.
Thanks to xyzpdq, (Scenes from Male Skin), I was able to check out Belmondo's one and only nude scene in 1959's A Double Tour. (see below) Before putting together this post, I wanted however, to watch at least one of Belmondo's full films. I was going to start with Breathless, the 1960 French film that inspired the 1983 remake with Richard Gere. When I was researching Belmondo's credits though, another film kept coming up and seemed to be a favorite.
1964's L'homme de Rio, (That Man From Rio) is one of Belmondo's most popular and successful films. It's also a beautiful showcase for his beauty and charm. Belmondo would have made a great James Bond. If you check out the first image in this piece, you'll see Belmondo ascending from the sea. The shot reminded me a bit of Daniel Craig coming out of the water in Casino Royale.
Although he doesn't play a spy in The Man From Rio, the movie does play much like a James Bond Movie. In the action flick, Belmondo plays a young private on military leave who comes to the rescue of his girlfriend. She's been abducted by thieves and brought to Rio de Janeiro and an extravagant adventure ensues.
I watched the version of That Man From Rio in French, without the help of English subtitles, but that didn't impair my enjoyment of the film. Belmondo's charm came through even when I couldn't understand everything he was saying and his handsome face and good looks didn't need any translation. I'll certainly be checking out Breathless very soon!
1 comment:
He is very sexy.
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