The actor John Paul Belmondoone of the most important of the last century in French cinema and died in September 2021, as of this Wednesday his way to paristhe Paseo Jean-Paul Belmondo, very close to the Eiffel Tower.
The new road, located on the Bir-Hakeim bridge in the capital’s 15th district, it was inaugurated by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgoaccompanied by the family members of the actor who died in September 2021 at the age of 88 and by other personalities, such as the actor Jean Dujardin.
Mayor’s words
“Jean-Paul Belmondo was Paris. A voice, the gaze of a Parisian child and great kindness. Paris, the grateful city that he loved so much, honors his memory by giving his name to one of his most beautiful walks, on a bridge Parisian, in front of the Eiffel Tower,” Hidalgo said on Twitter after the unveiling ceremony.
This initiative was materialized by a vote at the Paris Council in March 2023.
The location recalls an acrobatic scene played by the actor in Henri Verneuil’s 1975 film Peur sur la Ville (Panic in the city), as specified by the City of Paris.
an iconic ride
Belmondo, who rose to international fame with At the end of the escapade (A bout de souffle1960), worked with some of the great directors of the French “new wave”, such as Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, Louis Malle and Claude Chabrol in the 60s.
For years, the actor with a sensational physique and somewhat coarse features was considered the nemesis of another of the greats of French acting, Alain Delon, known for his feline beauty.
Actor in 92 films, including shorts and minor roles, Belmondo’s last appearance on the big screen was in 2009In short Allons-y! Alonzo!.
The farewell
If a nation’s president decides to use his networks to fire a newly deceased artist, it speaks to that artist’s stature. But if, in addition, it is indicated as Emmanuel Macron did with Jean-Paul Belmondo, there is not much more to add.
“It will always remain ‘The Magnificent.’ Jean-Paul Belmondo was a national treasure, full of grace and bursts of laughter, strong words and lithe body, sublime hero and familiar figure, tireless daredevil and wizard of words. We all find ourselves in it,” Macron wrote on Twitter about him.
Like the current president, the French consider they have lost a national treasure. For this reason, other former presidents such as François Hollande have also decided to pay homage to him on social media.
It was clear that the death of a Nouvell Vague icon like ‘Bebel’ would have worldwide repercussions. That’s why one of the first to make public statements to the media was his accomplice Alain Delon, another of the sacred monsters of French cinema.
“I’m completely devastated. I’m going to try to hang on so I don’t do the same thing in five hours…” Delon told CNews upon learning of his colleague’s death.
Source: Clarin
