Biography
In his sketches, popular French comedian'Fernand Raynaud' was often bullied by a self-righteous sharp-tongued spinster called Mademoiselle Lelongbec, the parish organist. Tall, lean and unattractive, Maximilenne (born Henriette Genty in 1884) seemed born to play the part and she WAS the obvious choice for director Robert Darène when, in 1958, he prepared to film a Fernand Raynaud's vehicle entitled "Houla Houla". Donning the attire of Mlle Lelongbec Maximilenne had the distinguished opportunity to nag poor Fernand, on the big screen this time around. A role that epitomizes a long screen career, spanning the three decades between the advent of the sound period and the birth of the French New Wave. During this time, she embodied innumerable female authority figures such as a mother superior ("La route enchantée"), a school mistress ("Simplet"), the headmistress of a reform school("Prison sans barreaux"), a Salvation Army general ("L'armoire volante") or a princess ("Le disque 1413"). She was rarely married in her films, most of the time she was the narrow-minded old maid. She was at her best as such in the role of one of the boarding house guests in Henri-Georges Clouzot's 1942 masterpiece "L'assassin habite au 21". And when she had indeed married in a movie, she was usually a widow: her late husband had chosen to leave life prematurely to escape her! Occasionally one of the old maids and aunts she was given to play were affectionate, notably in Fritz Lang's "Liliom " (1933). But whether her characters were good or bad, Maximilienne had been one of those colorful character actors and actresses the French cinema of the classic era could not do without. And she will be fondly remembered for that. - IMDb mini biography by: Guy Bellinger
Acted in 67
1950s
- 1959
The Enigma of the Folies-Bergère
Mrs. Rosenthal
Houla-Houla
Mlle Lelongbec
- 1958
Premier mai
Nun (uncredited)
- 1957
Fric-frac en dentelles
Madame Mouilletu
- 1954
The Congress of Mother-in-Laws
Madame Moucaille
La Cage aux souris
Miss Frador aka 'Cul-de-poule'
- 1952
Drôle de noce
Cornil's Widow
Dans la vie tout s'arrange
Madame Bleubois
Trois vieilles filles en folie
Pervenche
- 1951
Musique en tête
The personnel manager
Adhémar or the Toy of Destiny
La soeur du Marquis
Pardon My French
Madame Bleubois
- 1950
The Treasure of Cantenac
Blandine
Tête blonde
Madame Rabichou
No More Vacation for the Good Lord
Aunt Faguet
1940s
- 1949
Last Hour, Special Edition
Mademoiselle Thomasson
- 1948
The Cupboard Was Bare
Salvation Army commander
Scandals of Clochemerle
Justine Putet
- 1947
Monsieur Vincent
Une dévote à l'église (uncredited)
- 1946
Rooster Heart
Mme Estelle
Song of the Clouds
Mademoiselle Anaïs
- 1944
The Ménard Collection
Young lady Ménard
- 1943
Picpus
Madame Bertaud (uncredited)
- 1942
Cartacalha, reine des gitans
Machanalli
- 1941
Parade in 7 Nights
Ardouin's governess
- 1940
Two Women
Movie
Marseille mes amours
Aunt Églantine
1930s
- 1939
Cavalcade of Love
Old comedienne
- 1938
Mon curé chez les riches
Patroness
The Enchanted Road
Mother superior
Un de la Canebière
Movie
Clodoche
Movie
Un meurtre a été commis
Madame Phalempin
Prison Without Bars
Madame Appel
- 1937
The Secrets of the Red Sea
Movie
À nous deux, madame la vie
Movie
The Man from Nowhere
La tante Scholastique
My Aunts and I
Tante Julie
- 1936
Prête-moi ta femme
Movie
Disk 413
Princess
Coup de vent
Movie
- 1935
Lovers and Thieves
Mrs. Doizeau
Gypsy Baron
Movie
Voyage d'agrément
Movie
- 1934
Maria Chapdelaine
Azelma Larouche
Mountain Man
Mme Malten
Tartarin of Tarascon
Mme Ladevèze
Midnight, Place Pigalle
Louise
The Daughters of the Concierge
Mme Fallempin
We Found a Naked Woman
Movie
- 1933
Étienne
Aunt Valérie
Maison hantée
Movie
600,000 francs per month
Madame Brochet
Les surprises du divorce
Movie
July 14
La locataire (uncredited)
- 1932
Buridan's Donkey
Movie
Adhémar Lampiot
Movie
Our Lord's Vineyard
Movie
To the Polls, Citizens
Movie
For One Cent's Worth of Love
Mathilde
- 1931
Bubble Gum
Movie
