Henri Letondal

Biography

Henri Letondal was a French-Canadian music critic, administrator, cellist, playwright and actor. He was a man of wide interests and wrote many sketches and revues, including, on occasion, the music. In his youth he studied the cello with Gustave Labelle. Around 1920 he became a critic of concerts and variety shows for "La Patrie" (Montreal) and served 1926-29 as that paper's Paris correspondent. He also wrote about music for "Le Petit Journal" and was music critic around 1935 for "Le Canada". For CKAC radio in Montreal he was artistic director 1929-38 of 'L'Heure provinciale,' which was sponsored by the Quebec government to promote the province's musicians and composers. He also was director general of the film company France-Film. It has been estimated that Letondal wrote some 160 radio plays and sketches 1937-1948, producing them himself and occasionally writing the music. In 1946 he embarked on an intensive Hollywood film career, appearing in 35 Hollywood films and one Canadian, before he he died in Hollywood in 1955.

Known For

Grotier (uncredited)

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Jerome Kitzel

Monkey Business

Police Commissioner Robert Renard

The Gambler from Natchez

John Mudd (uncredited)

The Wild North

Dubois

A Bullet for Joey

Louis Foral

On the Riviera

La Badie

The Big Sky

Joubert

Dangerous When Wet

Guillaumin

Madame Bovary

Purser (uncredited)

Royal Wedding

Antique Dealer

The Big Clock

Cognac Pete

What Price Glory

Police Inspector at Sophie's Death (uncredited)

The Razor's Edge

Louis Chabonet

The Crime Doctor's Gamble

Jacques Carnet

Please Believe Me

Prof. Romaine (uncredited)

Mother Is a Freshman

Alphonse

South Sea Woman

Count D'Arignon

Magnificent Doll

Father Barraud (uncredited)

Come to the Stable

Edward Durant

La forteresse

Prof. Roland Pavin

Apartment for Peggy

Monsieur Malaquaise

Kind Lady

Tracing Service Clerk

Little Boy Lost