Darius KADIVAR Reports from
Alain
Delon and Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi
at Les Théatre des Variétés Paris
©PDV
"I like to be loved like I love
myself." -Alain Delon
"I knew
everything and received everything. But real happiness, is giving." -Alain Delon
They have each been in the spotlight
of photographers worldwide for the past 5 decades albeit for very different
reasons. One is an International film Star and living Legend of the Silver
Screen, the other, a Former Shahbanou of Iran whose popularity and glamour have
not diminished despite a quarter of century in exile. French actor Alain Delon
and Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi were to meet again for a good cause that each is
promoting by their presence: The Annual Alzheimer Gala IFRAD (
International Fund Raising for Alzheimer Disease) that aims at helping Research
in curing this disease. There are an estimated 24 million
people with dementia worldwide. By 2040, it is projected that this figure will
have increased to 81 million. Shahbanou Farah presided the annual event two
years ago on invitation by the IFRAD
Institute during which
she was warmly greeted by
the French Star who remained a fervent admirer of the Shahbanou equally at
the time of her Reign as in the less glamorous years of exile.
TOP (L-R): Farah Diba soon to be Pahlavi reads a 1959 French
article
about herself: "'l'Amour...
cette jeune fille vole la place de Soraya
dans
le Coeur du Shah" (LOVE, ... this girl replaces Soraya in the heart
of
the Shah). State visit to
Romy Schneider,
The French and German love story of a lifetime
©pictory Iranian.com & ©Paris
Match
The French Star has often repeated
this sentence in regard to his friendships : Je ne renonce jamais mes amis
passé ou future quelques soit les revers de fortune que la vie puisse leurs
reservé aka I never forget my friendships past or future regardless of
life's misfortunes. A bold stance that has often earned the Legendary Star a
reputation that contrasts with his public persona of a narcissistic,
temperamental and self centered actor.
DARK
ANGEL : Alain Delon dominated French and
International Cinema of the
last 5 decades with his
sex appeal, enigmatic and narcissistic
persona
©imdb & Alain Delon
Diffusion SA
Throughout his career Alain Delon
has demonstrated an undeniable charm, sex appeal and onscreen presence that few
actors have ever achieved to this day. He outlived many his legendary co-stars
ranging from Hollywood Stars Burt
Lancaster ( Il Guepardo) , Richard Burton ( The Assassination of
Trotsky), Anthony Quinn ( The Centurions ) and Charles Bronson (Adieu
l'Ami) or French icon's Jean Gabin
( Deux Hommes dans la Ville) , Lino Ventura ( Le Clan des Siciliens) or
Maurice Ronet ( La Piscine, Plein Soleil). His career has been associated to that
of his life long pal Jean Paul Belmondo ( Borsalino) with whom he reigned
on French Cinema for more than 30 years as
The 1980's and 1990's were to mark a
decline in his film career with the appearance of a new generation of talents
and less Larger than Life characters he was used to portray. However as
in the words of Luc Besson: "Delon has always been around. Its as if I have
always seen him or heard of his presence in French Cinema throughout the years
even when he was not shooting a film. One just cannot ignore the number of
masterpieces he was involved and which have influenced film directors worldwide
including myself."
Delon greeted in
©iranian.com
Unlike Jean Paul Belmondo who
suffered a stroke that has paralyzed him partly for a number of years and out of
public eye, Delon on the contrary has maintained his public presence,
undertaking a relatively successful career at the theater in recent years. A
Genre that he ignored for years due to his magnetic onscreen presence. Les
Montagnes Russes and more recently the stage adaptation of Clint Eastwood's
successful movie The Bridges of Madison County ( Currently
being played at Theater Marigny in Paris ) have been an opportunity to share
a more tormented yet tender aspect of his personality which he often refused to
render in his movies. He also made an amazing comback on TV recently rallying a
huge audience of younger fans in two series Fabio Montale and Frank Riva playing in a
favorite police thriller genre that earned him success in his Cinema career.
Delon hits the Road on Stage
version of
Eastwood's Bridges of Madison County
©imdb & ©Theatre
Marigny
It should be noted
that Alain Delon was extremely popular in
Author's
notes:
Official Website of
IRFAD : http://www.fondationifrad.org/
Official Website of
Alain Delon: http://www.alaindelon.com/f/
Official Website of
Shahbanou Farah : http://www.farahpahlavi.org/
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About the Author:
Darius
KADIVAR is a freelance journalist and Film Historian born to an Iranian father
and French mother. He works and lives in