Picking up the pieces
Louis Leplée, Edith's mentor, was dead. Gerny's had
closed, many of her friends had deserted her as had the radio contracts and
other promises of work offered in abundance prior to the scandal. She found
herself working a series of 'fill-in' slots at local cinemas, provincial tours
and engagements in Belgium. She sought the protection of a song writer named
Raymond Asso; their
relationship developed into a very tempestuous affair. He was living with a
woman by the name of Madeleine at the Hôtel Piccadilly, Pigalle;
Mômone still Edith's constant companion. Somehow Mômone ended up
living back with her mother - Raymond left Madeleine, he and Edith moved to the
Hôtel Alsina on Avenue Junot where he set about trying to mould Edith to
his ideas.
Avenue Junot (Hôtel Alsina no longer
there)
Raymond and Edith's relationship lasted for three years during
which time her fortunes began to improve. By the middle of 1939 she was
commanding sell out performances and sharing star billing with established
stars such as Marie Dubas. Raymond received his call-up papers in the August of
that year - Edith met and moved in with a young singer, Paul Meurisse very
shortly afterwards. They rented an apartment on Rue Anatole-de-la-Forge, a far
more salubrious area than Edith's usual haunts, however, despite Meurisse's
apparent classiness their relationship was decidedly tempestuous and violent
arguments were commonplace.
During this time she also met a new friend who was to have a
special place in her life: Jean Cocteau. As a result, she regularly began
visiting a private club in the cellar of the Palais Royal, Rue de Beaujolais,
where he lived. There she met many artists and intellectuals of the day and
Cocteau himself wrote the play "Le Bel Indifferent" especially for
her from her tales of her relationship with Meurisse. With great difficulty she
was persuaded to accept the lead role - the play was a huge success.
1996-2009©J.M.Smethurst