Gerard Depardieu is one of the few French actors who managed to achieve incredible success around the world. He is loved at home and in Europe, he is admired in Russia, he is invited to the United States. Films with Gerard Depardieu, a list of which includes more than 150 films, were shot by a variety of companies and in different parts of the world. And certainly the French actor cannot be called hostage to one role, the wealth and variety of genres of his works are simply amazing. He manages to play equally well in comedies and melodramas; he looks organically in adventure and historical films. Being a world-class star, Depardieu also plays the main roles, and does not disdain with small cameos, anyway, he always attracts the attention of the audience.
The first films of Gerard Depardieu
The beginning of the film career of the French actor is considered to be the 60s of the last century. Depardieu made his debut in the title role in the short film “Hipster and Dude”. And already in 1971 he played in the film adaptation of the novel of the popular writer Francoise Sagan, “A Little Sun in Cold Water”. In 1972, the young Gerard flashed in many films, but only in episodic roles. The scandalous tape of 1974 under the name "Waltz" brought him real fame - shocking and provocative. Only the lazy did not speak about her, respectively, and the attention was riveted on the actors. Our hero was lucky to play a character very similar to himself in his youth, so his Jean-Claude turned out to be very realistic. From that moment, one after another, new films were released with Gerard Depardieu, the list was replenished with at least three films a year.
Becoming a Dramatic Actor
In the 70s, the French actor tried himself in new roles. Choosing a variety of genres, he honed his skills and revealed his talent. Already in 1975, the criminal psychological drama “Seven Deaths with a Prescription” was released, where Depardieu appeared in a completely new image, which was highly appreciated by critics, and even received his first nomination for the prestigious Cesar film award for Best Actor. Other dramatic films by Gerard Depardieu followed, thanks to which he increasingly won the hearts of the audience. The epic drama “The Twentieth Century” of 1976, where Robert De Niro was his partner on the set, is considered one of the pearls in the filmography of the French star. In 1977 and 1978, Depardieu was again nominated for the Cesar Award for his roles in the drama The Last Woman and the melodramatic thriller Say I Love Her. And in the same 1978 comedy drama "Prepare Handkerchiefs" with Gerard in the title role received an Oscar as the best foreign film.
Critical Recognition
Thus, in the late 70s - early 80s, the popularity of the French actor stepped far beyond the borders of his native country. Depardieu continues to play in dramas, his 1980 “Lulu” even had every chance of getting the Cannes Golden Palm Branch. And in 1981, Gerard finally won a well-deserved award and won the César Award for his role in the historical film The Last Metro, where he played with Catherine Deneuve. After that, the actor tries himself in a new role - comedic, which makes him even more popular and in demand. In 1981, in the film "Unlucky" for the first time there was a stunning tandem: Pierre Richard and Gerard Depardieu. Films with a French actor automatically became successful. Such tapes as “Neighbor”, “Choice of weapons”, “Danton”, “Moon in the gutter”, were invariably highly appreciated by critics, received various nominations and awards. They were also warmly received by the audience.
Tremendous success
Soon two more comedies came out: “Daddies” (1983) and “Runaways” (1986), in which the audience was again amused and charmed by Pierre Richard and Gerard Depardieu. Films of the comedy genre, in which the actor starred in the 80s, did not in any way damage his reputation as a serious dramatic actor, which the Frenchman successfully proved in 1987, when the film adaptation of the novel “Under the Sun of Satan” with Depardieu in the title role received “Golden palm branch of the Cannes Film Festival. And after four years there, the actor himself received a silver award for best actor in the film "Cyrano de Bergerac", which impressed critics of all stripes and earned a lot of different awards. Also for this role, Gerard Depardieu received his first and so far the only Oscar nomination.
In hollywood
In the 90s, American filmmakers became interested in a successful French actor and began to offer participation in their projects. Already in 1991, Depardieu received an important award in the United States - Golden Globe - for his role in the comedy melodrama Residence Permit. Films of Gerard Depardieu of the Hollywood period, such as the historical “1492: The Conquest of Paradise”, the detective “Reading Formality”, the drama “Breaking the Stars”, the comedy “Bogus”, the thriller “Secret Agent”, “Hamlet” and the movie about love “She's Beautiful” , didn’t prevent the actor from successfully shooting in his homeland. The 1995 crime fiction comedy Between an Angel and a Demon, where Christian Clavier complemented the stellar duet , captivated the audience and became one of the most famous films of the 90s in France. The film "Beauties" with Gerard Depardieu was also very warmly received by the audience, this comedy melodrama with an easy plot also became a hit in theaters.
Peak of popularity
In the late 90s, the Frenchman gained the fame of a world-class actor. In 1998, the joint production of France, Germany and Italy launched a new project. The serial film "The Count of Monte Cristo" with Gerard Depardieu in the title role became a new experience for the actor and was a tremendous success. In the same year, the Frenchman was again lucky to play in the film adaptation of Alexander Dumas - an adventure film based on the works of the famous writer “The Man in the Iron Mask”. Another joint project of the three main countries of the European Union is a fascinating franchise, launched in 1999 with the adventure comedy Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar, where Depardieu played a major role.
Creativity without stopping
In addition to continuing the adventures of two gallant Gauls in 2002 and 2008, the most famous films of Gerard Depardieu over the past fifteen years: Les Miserables (mini-series), Vidoc, Napoleon (mini-series), French Robbery , “Unlucky”, “Million years BC”, “Paris, I love you”, “Life in pink”, “Blank sheet”, “Unexpected love”, “Life of Pi” and “Rasputin”.