Today’s dead celebrity of the day is Maurice Chevalier, the frenchman who took America by storm in the early twentieth century. He sang a drunk stepfather favorite, “Thank Heaven for Little Girls,” in the movie Gigi (lyrics below). Is there anything more scary then a french guy singing about little girls? Although, my grandmother says he is an anti-semite so I dont know if I should love him or hate him.
Hollywood musical “Innocents of Paris” in 1929, just two years after Al Jolson made history with the first all-talking motion picture. He was nominated for Academy Awards for The Love Parade (1929/1930) and The Big Pond (1929/1930). Making a dozen movies over the next seven years, Chevalier and his songs, such as “Mimi”, “Louise”, and “Valentine”, became internationally popular. In the late 1950’s his appearances in the movies “Gigi” and “Love in the Afternoon” started his second film career. In 1959 he received a special Academy Award for his contributions to the world of entertainment.
Throughout his seventies, he continued his one-man show around the world. The author of this website was privileged to attend one of his last performances. It was fantastic. He sang all of his greatest hits and sparked his show with his wonderful anecdotes.
Maurice Chevalier retired from the stage in 1968, a show business legend. His last work, the title song of the Disney movie The Aristocats, was made in 1970. He died in Paris on January 1, 1972.
Lyrics:
Thank heaven for little girls
for little girls get bigger every day!
Thank heaven for little girls
they grow up in the most delightful way!
Those little eyes so helpless and appealing
one day will flash and send you crashin’ thru the ceilin’
Thank heaven for little girls
thank heaven for them all,
no matter where no matter who
for without them, what would little boys do?
Thank heaven… thank heaven…
Thank heaven for little girls!
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Pics HERE
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