Alain Delon and Romy Schneider: "There is nothing colder than dead love "

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Celebrities always attract the attention of the public. And when they leave the stage, they are quickly forgotten. Who now remembers the star pair Delon and Schneider of the 60s? But in the opinion of the press, they were the most beautiful film pair of that time …

Romy Schneider

Romy was born on September 23, 1938 in Vienna. Her full name is Rosemary Magdalena Albach. In the family, almost everyone was related to the acting profession. Rosemary's mother Magda Schneider was a German movie star, Wolf Albach-Retti's father came from a family of hereditary actors in Austria, her paternal grandmother was also an actress. Young Rosemary early joined the world of cinematography. She began filming at the age of 15, together with her mother. Her first melodrama films "When the White Lilac Blossoms" (1953) and "March for the Emperor" (1955) brought fame to the aspiring actress.

Worldwide recognition came to her after the role of the Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria in the famous three-part film "Sissi". By the age of 20, Rosemary had already become a famous actress in Austria. But she was tired of melodramas, the actress hoped for more complex roles, and besides, she wanted to get rid of the custody of her relatives who were conducting her financial affairs. She did not star in the sequel to the series about Sissy and went to Paris in 1958. There she was immediately offered the lead role in the film "Christina". And Romy insisted that she herself choose a partner in the film. After reviewing many photographs, she chose the then little-known actor Alain Delon.

Alain Delon

The full name of the star of French and world cinema is Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delone. He was born on November 8, 1935 in the suburbs of Paris. The childhood of the future star cannot be called cloudless - the parents broke up when the boy was very young. For several years he was raised by adoptive parents. And from a very early age, Alain was distinguished by bad behavior. Subsequently, this trait of his character spoiled the life of him and others. An unrestrained character at first interfered with his career. He joined the army and was sent to Indochina. There, young Delon hardly got out of disciplinary punishment.

After demobilization, he could not get a job, or rather, did not get along at work and was fired. All because of their character. At the suggestion of his friend, the future famous film actor Jean-Claude Briali, Alain Delon decided to try his hand at cinema. At first, they did not want to take Delon on the role, but his persistence won out. He was not given the main roles, he starred in small episodes, but by 1958 he became famous in film circles. So much so that he was invited to appear in the movie "Christina".

Fateful meeting

Romy Schneider flew to the shooting in Paris. She was greeted by numerous fans. Alain Delon also came to the official meeting with a bouquet of red roses. But he did not immediately like the future partner, and he even said something impartial about her. The relationship of partners on the set did not work out either. Both were very different: she, brought up in fairly strict German traditions, and he is a windy French, and even with an explosive, unrestrained character. She is a European celebrity, he is, in fact, no one else.

They fought constantly. However, immediately after the shooting, Romy flew to Alain in Paris, unfamiliar and so far alien to her. Alain rented an apartment, and they began to live together. The Romy family was shocked by this immorality and insisted on an official wedding. In 1959, Alain and Romy got engaged. But there was no quick wedding. The relationship of the star couple was still confusing and tense. They constantly quarreled, fought and fled, and then made up.

Alain Delon was more often the initiator of the quarrels. He could, having quarreled with Romy, leave, leaving her alone for a long time. Then he returned, he was forgiven … And everything went on as before. Then Romy and Alain went to Italy together. There, director Visconti filmed Alain Delon in his film Rocco and His Brothers. Intense filming, joint work in the play "What a Pity You're a Libertine" left no time to prepare for the wedding. Although, perhaps, it was not at all a matter of time. They could not get along together in any way, adapt to each other.

The gap

In the summer of 1963, ubiquitous journalists discovered and filmed Alain Delon in an embrace with some blonde. He immediately called Romy and assured her that this was the intrigue of gossip-hungry newspapermen. But literally a month or two later, he told her through his friend that he was going to part with her, that he had another woman. And then Romy found out that Alain got married and had a son. After 2 years, Alain Delon with his wife Natalie and son went to "conquer Hollywood." But Hollywood films did not bring much success to Delon.

Life after

Parting with Delon turned out to be a difficult test for Romy Schneider. It was rumored that she wanted to commit suicide. Then she met Harry Meijen, who worked in the Berlin theater. Harry courted her for a long time, for her sake he divorced his first wife. And he got his way, they got married. They had a son, David. It seemed that life was beginning to improve. But it only seemed … In 1969, Alain Delon called Romy and offered to co-star in the movie "Pool". And Romy agreed.

What was she counting on, was it just a job or a revival of old feelings? After filming, she recalled that she did not feel anything for Delon, that the passion on the screen was the result of professional work, nothing more. It is unlikely that this was the case. Journalists happily wrote about the reunion of the famous couple and printed photos of Romy and Alain hugging at the Nice airport at parting. No reunion happened. But Romy's family life also went downhill.

Harry did not forgive her affair with Delon, began to drink, fell into depression. They divorced in 1973. The son stayed with Romy. After the divorce, she also began to have problems with alcohol, and then with health. But it was in the 70s that Romy Schneider, despite depression, alcohol abuse and illness, played her best roles. After her divorce from Harry, Romy Schneider married her young secretary, Daniel Biasini. They say she did not hide that he is very similar to Delon. In marriage, she gave birth to a daughter, Sarah. But this family happiness was short-lived.

The couple divorced, the ex-husband took the daughter. In 1979, Harry Mayen committed suicide. Romy almost had a nervous breakdown, she blamed herself for the death of her ex-husband. Alain Delon also did not become an exemplary family man. In 1969, the actress Mireille Dark appeared in his life, who became his common-law wife. Despite constant scandals due to Delon's betrayals, this marriage lasted 13 years. In 1987, the actor had a third wife - Rosalie Van Bremen. The couple had two children. But since 1997, he called himself a bachelor.

Tragic ending

The misadventures of Romy Schneider continued. In 1981, her beloved son David passed away. The death of a teenager was terrible and ridiculous: he forgot the keys and had to climb over his own fence with sharp stakes. He ran into these stakes … Romy was inconsolable. She did not go anywhere, met only with Alain Delon, who supported her as best he could, helped her with the funeral. She briefly outlived her son.

Romy Schneider died at home on May 29, 1982. It was rumored that this was suicide. But according to the doctors' verdict, she had a heart attack. Alain Delon was engaged in the funeral, mother and son were put in the same grave. Delon also brought to Romy's grave the same crimson roses as those with which he once met her at the Paris airport.

BONUS

What can I say, not everyone manages to go through everything and stay together as they could Adriano Celentano and Claudia Mori.