As a child, I watched The Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday evenings.
I have a vague memory of a mime named Marcel Marceau performing on the program.
As a high-schooler, I knew a boy who owned a vinyl LP titled The Best of Marcel Marceau. It began with applause and proceeded in silence to the end of Side Two, culminating in a final round of applause.
Few people knew Marceau beyond his artistic genius. But as a youth, Marceau performed great feats of heroism.
Marceau was a Jew in France. He moved from Northern France to the south when the Nazis invaded. But eventually, the Nazis too arrived in Marceau’s new home.
Also arriving were Jewish orphans in search of safe homes. It was up to Marceau to accompany the children across France’s border to the safety of Switzerland.
I learned of this story through the movie Resistance, now out on DVD.
A good deal of the story is fictionalized. Marceau’s romantic interest is part of the moviemaker’s creativity. Another piece is the representation of the Nazis in the person of Klaus Barbie.
The depiction of Barbie, otherwise known as the Butcher of Lyon, garners the movie an R rating despite the lack of graphic violence.
The accurate explanation of Barbie’s torture tactics is enough to justify the rating.
Not every reviewer gives this movie a 10-star IMDb rating as I did. One especially disagrees with the latitude the filmmakers took with the story.
I’m not so sure Marceau would agree. He was an artist. And this movie is art.
Many today haven’t heard of him. Many also don’t know about Barbie. A quick trip to Wikipedia can illuminate both stories for those who need such clarity.
This film tells a tightly woven story with fabulous performances.
And we get to see a young man doing all he can to save others. A young man, at first concerned only for himself, who grew to fame and fortune and apparently didn’t feel the need to let everyone know what he had done.
That’s true heroism. And we would do well to know the story–even with a bit of fiction added in.
I remember watching Marcel Marceau on t.v. I was fascinated with his movements. I never knew his life history.
Same here, Melissa. It’s funny how we can imagine someone’s life to be uneventful–until you get the whole story. Thanks and God bless!
Wow, what an amazing past he had! I am absolutely in awe of this generation… he and so many of his contemporaries showed so much courage in the face of great suffering, evil and fear. Praise God for his efforts and his art, and I think that movie sounds great! 🙂
It’s a good one, Jessica. Thank you and God bless!
Such a sad time in history, yet due to these circumstances, great courage shined brightly against the darkest backdrop.
May we never forget!
May we never forget, indeed. Thanks, Ava. God bless!
Interesting post. I’ve not been familiar with this man until reading your post.
His life is fascinating. Thanks, June. God bless!
I had heard of Barbie but not Marceau. I love reading about the heroes of WWII who stood up to Hitler and the Nazi regime. It gives me boldness to proclaim my faith at such a poorly cost in comparison. Thanks for sharing; I’ll have to check out that film!
You’re right, Candice. Learning such stories humbles us and tells us that we don’t have it so bad after all. Thanks and God bless!
This post demonstrates the importance of history. I learned something about this man I never knew. Despite the bad events of history, knowing the evil the Nazis did shows us how to recognize when these things try to happen again. It also tells us of the perseverance of those who struggled and their resilience to overcome. Thanks for sharing!
It’s so sad that we’re losing history the way we are. Thanks, Barbara. God bless!
How interesting! I have not heard of him before reading your post. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks, Melinda. God bless!
Very interesting. I do remember Marcel’s miming on the Ed Sullivan Show. I like what you said about true heroism – how Marcel didn’t need to tell anyone all that he’d done. A true hero, indeed. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Stephen. True heroes are reluctant to tell. But I’m glad to know this story. God bless!
I too remember watching him on TV but had no idea about his heroism. Pretty amazing story. I did laugh at the thought of an LP of his performance. I plan to read more about his life. Thanks
The kid who owned that album was very funny. Thanks, Yvonne. God bless!
Marcel Marceau was an incredibly gifted mime. It was always interesting to watch him at work. I had no idea that he helped to transport Jewish children across the Alps to Switzerland. Adding Klaus Barbie to the film would certainly give it an R rating merely from hearing what he did. The atrocities of the Nazis still stun us.
I agree, Melinda, that Barbie’s part garnered the movie its rating. Thanks and God bless!
Such an inspiring post! Thank you for sharing, Nancy. We need more stories of real heroes like Marcel Marceau. Performing great deeds of bravery to rescue others, without seeking fame or thanks. Truly humbling to hear of such people.
Thank you, Melissa. I’m sure there are so many of those stories happening now because of COVID. God bless!
Nancy, I always appreciate how you highlight the stories of unsung heroes. Those little known acts of human kindness and servanthood worth writing and reading about!
Thank you, Karen. Often in history, it’s been the publicly unseen who truly changed the course for many. God bless!
I don’t know this person, but I am going to watch the movie. Sounds very interesting. Thank you for sharing, Nancy! You always offer such interesting material! 🙂
Thank you, Marcie! God bless!
Great tribute to a hero of WW2. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading, Chris. God bless!
Thanks for sharing some of the “old stuff” that many are unaware.
Thanks, Lorrie! God bless!