Marie-Louise Derval

Marie-Louise Derval

Actor

Active: 1912-1914

About Marie-Louise Derval

Marie-Louise Derval was a French actress who worked during the early silent film era, with a brief but notable career spanning from 1912 to 1914. She appeared primarily in historical dramas and period pieces that were popular in French cinema during this time. Her filmography, though limited, included significant productions that reflected the artistic ambitions of early French filmmakers. Derval worked during a pivotal period when cinema was transitioning from simple novelty acts to more sophisticated narrative storytelling. Her performances in films like 'Queen Elizabeth' demonstrated the dramatic potential of the medium during its formative years. Unfortunately, like many performers from this era, detailed records of her life and career are scarce, with much information lost to time. Her work represents the contributions of countless early film actors who helped establish the foundation of cinema as an art form.

The Craft

Milestones

  • Appeared in 'Queen Elizabeth' (1912), a significant early French historical drama
  • Starred in 'Chicot the Jester' (1913), adapting Alexandre Dumas's literary work
  • Featured in 'The Reign of Terror' (1914), a film about the French Revolution period
  • Worked during the golden age of French silent cinema
  • Contributed to early historical drama genre development

Best Known For

Iconic Roles

  • Various roles in French historical dramas

Must-See Films

  • Queen Elizabeth (1912)
  • Chicot the Jester (1913)
  • The Reign of Terror (1914)

Why They Matter

Impact on Culture

Marie-Louise Derval's work, though brief, represents the important contributions of early French cinema actors who helped establish the historical drama genre in silent film. Her participation in films like 'Queen Elizabeth' and 'The Reign of Terror' reflects the French film industry's early focus on literary adaptations and historical subjects, which would influence cinema worldwide. These early productions demonstrated the potential of film as a medium for grand historical storytelling, paving the way for the epic historical films that would follow in subsequent decades.

Lasting Legacy

Marie-Louise Derval's legacy lies in her contribution to the foundation of French cinema during its most experimental and formative years. While her name may not be widely remembered today, her work in early historical dramas helped establish conventions and techniques that would influence generations of filmmakers. Her career exemplifies the many talented actors of the silent era whose contributions, though not extensively documented, were essential to cinema's development as an art form.

Who They Inspired

While specific details about Marie-Louise Derval's influence on other actors are not documented, her work in early French historical dramas contributed to the development of acting styles appropriate for silent film's unique demands. The dramatic techniques employed in films of this period influenced the evolution of screen acting, particularly in conveying emotion and narrative without dialogue.

Off Screen

Very little information is available about Marie-Louise Derval's personal life, which is common for actors from the very early silent era whose careers were brief and occurred before comprehensive record-keeping in the film industry became standard practice.

Did You Know?

  • Her entire known filmography spans only three years (1912-1914)
  • All her known films were historical dramas, a popular genre in early French cinema
  • She worked during the same period as famous French actors like Sarah Bernhardt
  • Her film 'Queen Elizabeth' (1912) was part of the early wave of feature-length films
  • The French film industry was among the world's most innovative during her active years
  • Many films from this era have been lost, making complete documentation difficult
  • Early French cinema pioneered many techniques that became standard worldwide

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Marie-Louise Derval?

Marie-Louise Derval was a French actress who worked in the early silent film era from 1912 to 1914, appearing primarily in historical dramas during a pivotal period in French cinema's development.

What films is Marie-Louise Derval best known for?

She is known for her roles in 'Queen Elizabeth' (1912), 'Chicot the Jester' (1913), and 'The Reign of Terror' (1914), all historical dramas that were typical of French cinema during this period.

When was Marie-Louise Derval born and when did she die?

Unfortunately, specific birth and death dates for Marie-Louise Derval are not available in historical records, which is common for many actors from the very early silent era.

What awards did Marie-Louise Derval win?

There are no records of Marie-Louise Derval receiving any formal awards or honors, as the major film award systems were not yet established during her brief career in the early 1910s.

What was Marie-Louise Derval's acting style?

While specific details about her acting style are not documented, actors of this era typically employed the dramatic, theatrical style common in early silent films to convey emotion without dialogue.

Why is there so little information about Marie-Louise Derval?

Limited information about Marie-Louise Derval is typical for actors with brief careers in the very early silent era, before comprehensive film industry record-keeping was established and when many films and records have been lost to time.

Films

3 films