Albert Préjean

• Born — 27 October 1894 • Birthplace — Paris, France • Died — 1 November 1979 • Place of death — Paris, France • Occupation — Actor, Singer • Years Active — 1921–1960 • Illustration — Film director Georg Wilhelm Pabst (right) and actor Albert Préjean (as Mackie Messer) while filming L'Opéra de quat'sous (The Threepenny Opera) in 1931 • Illustration — His grave in Auteuil Cemetery (Paris)

Préjean was born on 27 October 1894 in Paris.

Préjean shot his first five films with French director Henri Diamant-Berger between 1921 and 1923. The roles he played tended to embody the leading man for the people, generous and strong. His most lasting fame stems from his work in the films of René Clair that transition from the silent to the sound eras. These include most notably the farce Un Chapeau de Paille d'Italie (1928) and the musicalized melancomic Sous les toits de Paris (1930). When German director G. W. Pabst directed the film version of the huge Brecht-Weill musical hit Die Dreigroschenoper in 1931, he simultaneously shot a French-language version (L'opéra de quat'sous) with a French lead cast. Préjean was given the coveted lead role of the underworld kingpin Mackie Messer. In 1929, he directed a medium-length film L'Aventure de Luna-Park with Daniele Parola. In addition to acting, he was also a popular singer in the 1930s. He sang songs like "La Valse to Dede Montmartre".

During World War II he continued to act in films. In March 1942, he joined a group of actors who at the invitation of the Germans visited film studios in Berlin. This was alongside French actors and actresses such as René Dary, Astor Junie, Viviane Romance, Suzy Delair and Danielle Darrieux. He recollected his memories in a book published in 1979 with the help of his son, voice actor Patrick Préjean.

Préjean died on 1 November 1979 in Paris.

• Le Miracle des loups (1924) • The Phantom of the Moulin Rouge (1925) • The Crazy Ray (1925) • The Imaginary Voyage (1926) • Mademoiselle's Chauffeur (1928) • The Italian Straw Hat (1928) • Verdun: Visions of History (1929) • Les Nouveaux Messieurs (1929) • The Shark (1930) • Under the Roofs of Paris (1930) • L'Opéra de quat'sous (1931) • Amourous Adventure (1932) • A Son from America (1932) • Madame Makes Her Exit (1932) • Sailor's Song (1932) • Honeymoon Trip (1933) • Toto (1933) • Theodore and Company (1933) • Volga in Flames (1934) • The Princess's Whim (1934) • The Crisis is Over (1934) • One Night's Secret (1934) • Gold in the Street (1934) • Moses and Solomon, Perfumers (1935) • Paris Camargue (1935) • Honeymoon (1935) • Dédé (1935) • Princess Tam Tam (1935) • Jenny (1936) • The Alibi (1937) • In Venice, One Night (1937) • Mollenard (1938) • Unknown of Monte Carlo (1939) • Metropolitan (1939) • Place de la Concorde (1939) • Cristobal's Gold (1940) • Strange Suzy (1941) • Caprices (1942) • Shop Girls of Paris (1943) • Picpus as Inspector Maigret • Cecile Is Dead (1944) as Inspector Maigret • Majestic Hotel Cellars (1945) • The Murderer is Not Guilty (1946) • The Scarlet Bazaar (1947) • The Secret of Florida (1947) • The Bouquinquant Brothers (1947) • The Idol (1948) • The New Masters (1950) • Love and Desire (1951) • Love in the Vineyard (1952) • A Missionary (1955) • Chéri-Bibi (1955) • Bombs on Monte Carlo (1960) • Good Luck, Charlie (1962)