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Nicole Germain

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Nicole Germain in 1946

Nicole Germain, C.M. (born Marcelle Landreau; November 29, 1917 – February 11, 1994) was a Canadian actress in Quebec radio and film in the 1940s and 1950s and later as a journalist. In 1974, she was named a member of the Order of Canada.

Personal life

Germain was born Marcelle Landreau. Her father was George Landreau, director of the Montreal Conservatory.[1] She was also niece to Chief Justice Rinfret.[2] She studied at the LaSalle Conservatory.[1] Her daughter is Liette Desjardins.

Career

Germain began acting in radio in 1939 and became so popular she was voted the French Canadian "Miss Radio 1946".[1][3][4]

Success in radio led Germain to a role starring in the French version, La Fortresse, of the 1947 film Whispering City which is notable as one of the earliest attempts of a Canadian film to break into the U.S. market. The film, popular in Quebec, the English version failed to find an audience, either in the United States or Canada.[5]

In 1949, she played Donalda in A Man and His Sin, the film adaptation of Claude-Henri Grignon’s novel Un homme et son péché, followed by the film Séraphin a year later.[1] In 1952, she played a concert pianist in The Nightingale and the Bells (Le rossignol et les cloches). She then had a long career as a television journalist and moderator. She was a panelist on the 1950s Quebec version of What's My Line?, Chacun son Metier. In 1955 she appeared as a contestant on the American What's My Line? (Episode #242), first as a contestant, then joining the panel next to Bennet Cerf.[6]

She was co-chairman of the 1960 Christmas Gift Campaign for the Quebec Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association which raised gifts for Quebec's hospitalized mentally ill.[7]

At a conference on the French language held at the Menton, France in 1971, Germain urged the creation of an organization to find substitute French words when new English words are created.[8]

Awards and honours

In 1974 Nicole Germain was named a Member of the Order of Canada for her efforts to promote the French language.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "NICOLE GERMAIN(1917-1974". cinemaparlantquebec.ca. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  2. ^ "Miss Radio 1946 Visiting Ottawa". The Evening Citizen. Ottawa. February 7, 1946. p. 3.
  3. ^ White, Jerry (2006). The Cinema of Canada. Wallflower. p. 37. ISBN 1-904764-60-6.
  4. ^ Selinger, Jack (Sep 8, 1946). "Quebec Radio Stars Shine Alone". The Milwaukee Journal/Screen and Radio. p. 11. Caption to photo of Germain calls her "French Canadian Miss Radio 1946"
  5. ^ Wise, Wyndham (2001). Take One's essential guide to Canadian film. University of Toronto Press Incorporated. p. 221. ISBN 0-8020-3512-4.
  6. ^ "What's My Line Ep.242 summary". CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  7. ^ "Christmas Gift Campaign For Mental Patients Gratifying". The Shawinigan Standard. Shawinigan, Que. Jan 4, 1961. p. 6.
  8. ^ Reuters News Service (October 6, 1971). "Anglicisms threat to purity of French". The Miami News. p. 13A. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ "Order of Canada page". Gg.ca. 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2009-06-20.[permanent dead link]
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