Guy, Alice

(July 1, 1873, Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, France - March 24, 1968, Mahwah, New Jersey, USA)

   The daughter of a book publisher, she started her professional life as a stenographer and typist at age sixteen. Hired as a secretary by Léon Gaumont in 1896, she shyly proposed to her boss writing a few playets to be performed by her friends. Gaumont agreed, and she became the world's first female direc­tor. Two years later, she was nominated chief of the Service des Théâtres de Prises de Vue. Until 1907, she was the queen of Gaumont Productions as a produc­tion director (more than 400 shorts), artistic director, and filmmaker. She allowed such important filmmakers as Etienne Arnaud, Victorin Jasset, and Louis Feuillade to make their directorial debuts. In 1907, she mar­ried the Englishman Herbert Blaché-Bolton, who ran Gaumont's British and German offices. The couple was sent to the USA to promote the Chronophone, a relative of talking pictures. It was a failure, and Her­bert Blaché took over as the head of Gaumont's film development and print factory. The Blachés created their own production company, Solax, which financed almost 300 movies from 1910 to 1916, directed by Alice Guy herself and a few other filmmakers (1912 The Equine Spy, short, Edward Warren, USA; The Sewer, short, Edward Warren, USA; Dublin Dan, short, Ed­ward Warren, Herbert Blaché, USA; 1913 Beasts of the Jungle, short, also screenwriter, Edward Warren, USA; 1915 The Shooting of Dan McGrew, short, Herbert Blaché, USA; Barbara Frietchie, short, Herbert Blaché, USA). Alice Guy founded her studios in Fort Lee and hired young beginners who soon became movie stars (notably Bessie Love, Wallace Reid, Alla Nazimova, and Ethel Barrymore and the future director Allan Dwan). Unfortunately, the Blachés lost control of Solax and divorced. In 1922, Alice Guy returned to France and settled in Nice with her children. After vainly trying to resume her film career, she had to earn her living writing short stories and tales for children. In 1964, she came back to the USA to live with one of her daughters in Mahwah, New Jersey. Other credits (as screenwriter): 1913 Kelly from the Emerald Isle (short, Edward Warren, USA); (as assistant director): 1920 Stronger Than Death (Herbert Blaché, Charles Bry­ant, Robert Z. Leonard, USA). Autobiography: 1976 Autobiographie d'une Pionnière du Cinéma, 1873-1968 (Collection Femme) (co-authors Nicole-Lise Bernheim, Claire Clouzot, Francis Lacassin; Editions Gonthier, Paris). In 1983, Caroline Huppert directed a TV bi-opic on her in which she was portrayed by Christine Pascal (Elle voulait faire du Cinéma). A documentary was also dedicated to her (1995 Jardin oublié: La Vie et l'oeuvre d'Alice Guy-Blaché / The Lost Garden:The Life and Cinema of Alice Guy-Blaché, Marquise Lepage, Canada / UK / France / Belgium / USA).

 Filmography

        ◘ La Fée aux Choux (short)

        ◘ L'Arroseur arrosé (short)

        ◘ Au Réfectoire (short)

        ◘ L'Aveugle (short)

        ◘ Baignade dans le Torrent (short)

        ◘ Ballet libella (short)

        ◘ Les Cambrioleurs (short)

        ◘ Chez le Magnétiseur (short)

        ◘ Le Cocher de Fiacre endormi (short)

        ◘ Coucher d'Yvette (short)

        ◘ Danse Fleur de Lotus (short)

        ◘ En Classe (short)

        ◘ France et Russie (short)

        ◘ Idylle (short)

        ◘ Idylle interrompue (short)

        ◘ Leçon de Danse (short)

        ◘ Le Pêcheur dans le Torrent (short)

        ◘ Le Planton du Colonel (short)

        ◘ Une Nuit agitée (short)

        ◘ 1898La Cène (short)

        ◘ Le Chemin de Croix (short)

        ◘ La Crèche de Bethléem (short)

        ◘ Déménagement à la Cloche de Bois (short)

        ◘ L'Entrée à Jérusalem (short)

        ◘ Les Farces de Jocko (short)

        ◘ La Flagellation (short)

        ◘ La Fuite en Egypte (short)

        ◘ Le Jardin des Oliviers (short)

        ◘ Jésus devant Pilate (short)

        ◘ Le vous y prrrrends! (short)

        ◘ Leçons de Boxe (short)

        ◘ Scène d'Escamotage (short)

        ◘ L'Utilité des Rayons X (short)

1899

        ◘ Au Cabaret (short)

        ◘ L'Aveugle (short)

        ◘ La Bonne Absinthe (short)

        ◘ Le Chiffonnier (short)

        ◘ Courte Echelle (short)

        ◘ Le Crucifiment (short)

        ◘ Les Dangers de l'Alcoolisme (short)

        ◘ Le Déjeuner des Enfants (short)

        ◘ La Descente de Croix (short)

        ◘ Erreur judiciaire (short)

        ◘ La Mauvaise Soupe (short)

        ◘ Mésaventure d'un Charbonnier (short)

        ◘ Monnaie de Lapin (short)

        ◘ La Résurrection (short)

        ◘ Le Tondeur de Chiens (short)

        ◘ Le Tonnelier (short)

        ◘ Transformations (short)

        ◘ Un Lunch (short)

1900 ◘ L'Angélus (short)

        ◘ L'Arlequine (short)

        ◘ Arrivée d'Arlequin (short)

        ◘ Arrivée de Pierrette et Pierrot (short)

        ◘ Avenue de l'Opéra (short)

        ◘ Badinage (short)

        ◘ Bataille de Boules de Neige (short)

        ◘ Le Bébé (short)

        ◘ Chapellerie et Charcuterie mécanique (short)

        ◘ Chez le Maréchal-Ferrant (short)

        ◘ Chez le Photographe (short)

        ◘ Chirurgie Fin de Siècle (short)

        ◘ La Concierge (short)

        ◘ Coucher d'une Parisienne (short)

        ◘ Danse de l'Ivresse (short)

        ◘ Danse des Saisons (short)

        ◘ Danse du Papillon (short)

        ◘ Danse du Pas des Foulards par des Almées (short)

        ◘ La Danse du Ventre (short)

        ◘ Danse du Voile (short)

        ◘ Danse serpentine (short)

        ◘ Dans les Coulisses (short)

        ◘ Déclaration d'Amour (short)

        ◘ Le Départ d'Arlequin et de Pierrette (short)

        ◘ L'Ecossaise (short)

        ◘ La Fée aux Choux, ou la Naissance des Enfants (short)

        ◘ Gavotte Directoire (short)

        ◘ Guillaume Tell (short)

        ◘ L'Habanera (short)

        ◘ Le Lapin (short)

        ◘ Leçon de Danse (short)

        ◘ Little Tich et ses Big "Boots" (short)

        ◘ Le Marchand de Coco (short)

        ◘ Le Matelot (short)

        ◘ Mort d'Adonis (short)

        ◘ Pas de Grâce (short)

        ◘ Pas des Eventails (short)

        ◘ Pas du Poignard (short)

        ◘ Pas japonais (short)

        ◘ La Paysanne (short)

        ◘ La Petite Magicienne (short)

        ◘ Le Polichinelle (short)

        ◘ La Poupée noire (short)

        ◘ La Reine des Jouets (short)

        ◘ Retour des Champs (short)

        ◘ Le Sang d'Adonis donnant Naissance à la Rose rouge (short)

        ◘ Saut humidifié de M. Plick (short)

        ◘ La Source (short)

        ◘ Suite de la Danse (short)

        ◘ La Tarentelle (short)

        ◘ Une Rage de Dents (short)

        ◘ Valse directoire (short)

        ◘ Valse lente (short)

1901

        ◘ Charmant Froufrou (short)

        ◘ Danses basques (short)

        ◘ Frivolité (short)

        ◘ Hussards et Grisettes (short)

        ◘ Lavatory moderne (short)

        ◘ Lecture quotidienne (short)

        ◘ Las de Colombine (short)

        ◘ Scène d'Amour (short)

        ◘ Scène d'Ivresse (short)

        ◘ Tel est pris qui croyait prendre (short)

        ◘ Les Vagues (short)

1902

        ◘ Bonsoir M'sieurs Dames (short)

        ◘ Les Chiens savants (short)

        ◘ Les Clowns (short)

        ◘ La Cour des Miracles (short)

        ◘ Danse excentrique (short)

        ◘ Danse fantaisiste (short)

        ◘ Danse mauresque (short)

        ◘ La Dent récalcitrante (short)

        ◘ L'Equilibriste (short)

        ◘ En Faction (short)

        ◘ Larces de Cuisinière (short)

        ◘ La Fiole enchantée (short)

        ◘ Les Fruits de Saison (short)

        ◘ La Gavotte (short)

        ◘ La Gigue (short)

        ◘ Intervention malencontreuse (short)

        ◘ Le Lion savant (short)

        ◘ Les Malabares, Acrobats (short)

        ◘ Le Marchand de Ballons (short)

        ◘ Le Pommier (short)

        ◘ Lour secouer la Salade (short)

        ◘ La Première Gamelle (short)

        ◘ Quadrille réaliste (short)

        ◘ Sage-Femme de première Classe (short)

        ◘ Trompé mais content (short)

        ◘ Une Scène en Cabinet particulier vue à travers le Trou de la Serrure / Un Cabinet particulier (short)

1903

        ◘ Les Apaches pas Veinards (short)

        ◘ Les Aventures d'un Voyageur trop pressé (short)

        ◘ Les Braconniers (short)

        ◘ Cake-Walk de la Pendule (short)

        ◘ La Chasse au Cambrioleur (short)

        ◘ Comment Monsieur prend son Bain (short)

        ◘ Comme on fait son Lit on se couche (short)

        ◘ Compagnons de Voyage encombrants (short)

        ◘ Enlèvement en Automobile et Mariage précipité (short)

        ◘ Laust et Méphistophélès (short)

        ◘ Le Fiancé ensorcelé (short)

        ◘ Illusionniste renversé (short)

        ◘ Jocko musicien (short)

        ◘ Le Liqueur du Couvent (short)

        ◘ Lutteurs américains (short)

        ◘ La Main du Professeur Hamilton ou Le Roi des

        ◘ Dollars (short)

        ◘ Modelage Express (short)

        ◘ La Mouche (short)

        ◘ Ne bougeons plus (short)

        ◘ Nos bons Etudiants (short)

        ◘ Potage indigeste (short)

        ◘ La Poule fantaisiste (short)

        ◘ Répétition dans un Cirque (short)

        ◘ Secours aux Naufragés (short)

        ◘ Service précipité (short)

        ◘ Les Surprises de l'Affichage (short)

        ◘ La Valise enchantée (short)

        ◘ Le Voleur sacrilège (short)

1904

        ◘ Après la Fête (short)

        ◘ L'Assassinat du Courrier de Lyon (short)

        ◘ Comment on disperse les Foules (short)

        ◘ Le Crime de la Rue du Temple (short)

        ◘ Les Deux Rivaux (short)

        ◘ Les Enfants du Miracle (short)

        ◘ La Gavotte de la Reine (short)

        ◘ La Leçon de Pipeau (short)

        ◘ L'Oiseau envolé (short)

        ◘ Paris la Nuit (short)

        ◘ Le Pompon malencontreux (short)

        ◘ La Première Cigarette (short)

        ◘ Pierrot Assassin / USA: Pierrot Murderer (short)

1905

        ◘ A la Cabane bambou (short)

        ◘ C'est une Ingénue (short)

        ◘ Esmeralda / La Esmeralda (short)

        ◘ La Fifille à sa Mère (short)

        ◘ Leune Homme et le Trottin (short)

        ◘ Lilas blanc (short)

        ◘ La Matchiche (short)

        ◘ La Paimpolaise (short)

        ◘ Le Petit Grégoire (short)

        ◘ Le Petit Panier (short)

        ◘ La Polka des Trottins (short)

        ◘ Réhabilitation (short)

        ◘ Si ça tva (short)

        ◘ Viens, Poupoule (short)

1906

        ◘ Le Matelas épileptique / Le Matelas alcoolique / USA: The Drunken Mistress (short)

        ◘ Course de Taureaux à Nîmes (short; co-director with Louis Feuillade)

        ◘ La Fée Printemps / USA: The Spring Fairy (short)

        ◘ Mireille (short; co-director with Louis Feuillade)

        ◘ Questions indiscrètes (unconfirmed)

        ◘ Un Cas de Divorce (short)

        ◘ Un Soulier pour un Jambon (short)

        ◘ La Vie du Christ / La Naissance, la Vie et la Mort de Notre-Seigneur Jésus-Christ / La Passion / USA: The Birth, the Life and Death of Christ (short)

        ◘ Fanfan la Tulipe (short)

        ◘ Madame a des Envies (short; unconfirmed)

        ◘ La Marâtre (short; unconfirmed)

1910 ◘ A Child's Sacrifice (short; USA)

        ◘ A Fateful Gift (short; USA)

        ◘ Her Father's Sin (short; USA)

        ◘ Lady Betty's Strategy (short; USA)

        ◘ Mrs. Richard Dare (short; USA)

        ◘ One Touch of Nature (short; USA)

        ◘ The Pawnshop (short; USA)

        ◘ The Sergeant's Sacrifice (short; USA)

        ◘ Two Suits (short; USA)

        ◘ A Widow and Her Child (short; USA)

1911 ◘ A Costly Pledge (short; USA)

        ◘ A Midnight Visitor (short; USA)

        ◘ A Reporter's Romance (short; USA)

        ◘ Corinne in Dollyland (short; USA)

        ◘ Cupid and the Comet (short; also producer; USA)

        ◘ Five O'Clock Tea (short; unconfirmed; USA)

        ◘ His Best Friend (short; USA)

        ◘ His Mother's Hymn (short; unconfirmed; USA)

        ◘ Love's Test (short; USA)

        ◘ Mixed Pets (short; USA)

        ◘ Out of the Arctic (short; USA)

        ◘ Put Out (short; USA)

        ◘ Ring of Love (short; USA)

        ◘ Road Leads Home (short; USA)

        ◘ Rose of the Circus (short; USA)

        ◘ The Cure (short; unconfirmed; USA)

        ◘ The Doll (short; USA)

        ◘ The Girl and the Burglar (short; USA)

        ◘ The Little Rangers (short; unconfirmed; USA)

        ◘ The Nightcap (short; USA)

        ◘ The Violin Maker of Nuremberg (short; USA)

1912 ◘ A Fool and His Money (short; also producer; USA)

        ◘ Algie the Miner (short; uncredited; also producer; USA)

        ◘ A Terrible Lesson (short; unconfirmed; USA)

        ◘ Brighted Lives (short; unconfirmed; USA)

        ◘ Canned Harmony (short; unconfirmed; USA)

        ◘ Child of the Tenements (short; unconfirmed; USA)

        ◘ Lalling Leaves (short; unconfirmed; uncredited; USA)

        ◘ Fra Diavolo (short; also screenwriter; USA)

        ◘ God Disposes (short; unconfirmed; USA)

        ◘ Hearts Unknown (short; USA)

        ◘ Hubby Does the Washing (short; unconfirmed; also screenwriter, producer; USA)

        ◘ In the Year (short; USA)

        ◘ Making an American Citizen (short; uncredited; also producer; USA)

        ◘ Micky's Pal (short; USA)

        ◘ Mignon (short; USA)

        ◘ Mrs. Cranston's Jewels (short; unconfirmed; USA)

        ◘ Phantom Paradise (short; USA)

        ◘ Playing Tramps (short; USA)

        ◘ The Blood Stain (short; USA)

        ◘ The Detective's Dog / USA: The Detective and

        ◘ His Dog (short; also producer; USA)

        ◘ The Face in the Window (short; USA)

        ◘ The Finger Prints (short; USA)

        ◘ The Girl in the Arm-Chair (short; also producer; USA)

        ◘ The Woman Behind the Man (short; USA)

1913 ◘ A House Divided (short; unconfirmed; also producer; USA)

        ◘ A Terrible Night (short; USA)

        ◘ Dick Whittington and His Cat (short; uncon­firmed; also screenwriter; USA)

        ◘ Matrimony's Speed Limit (short; uncredited; also producer; USA)

        ◘ Shadows of the Moulin Rouge (short; as Alice

        ◘ Blaché; also screenwriter, producer; USA)

        ◘ The Little Hunchback (short; USA)

        ◘ The Pit and the Pendulum (short; USA)

        ◘ The Rogues of Paris (short; as Alice Blaché; USA)

1914 ◘ Beneath the Czar (short; as Alice Blaché; also screenwriter; USA)

        ◘ The Dream Woman (short; as Alice Blaché; also screenwriter, adapter; USA)

        ◘ The Lure (short; also screenwriter, adapter; USA)

        ◘ The Monster and the Girl (short; as Alice Blaché; USA)

        ◘ The Tigress (short; unconfirmed; USA)

        ◘ The Woman of Mystery (short; as Alice Blaché; also screenwriter, producer; USA)

1915 ◘ My Madonna (as Alice Blaché; also screenwriter, producer; USA)

        ◘ The Heart of a Painted Woman (as Alice Guy-Blaché; also producer; USA)

        ◘ The Song of the Wage Slave (as Alice Blaché; also producer; USA)

        ◘ The Vampire (as Alice Blaché; USA)

1916 ◘ The Ocean Waif (USA)

        ◘ What Will People Say? (also producer; USA)

1917 ◘ A Man and the Woman (as Alice Blaché; USA)

        ◘ Behind the Mask (as Alice Blaché; USA)

        ◘ The Empress (as Alice Guy Blaché; also screenwriter; USA)

        ◘ House of Cards (as Alice Guy Blaché; also screenwriter; USA)

        ◘ The Adventurer (USA)

        ◘ When You and I Were Young (as Alice Guy Blaché; USA)

1918 ◘ The Great Adventure (USA)

1920 ◘ Tarnished Reputations (as Alice Blaché; also producer; USA)

        ◘ Vampire (also producer; USA)