Léon Zitrone

Born: 1914-11-25

Léon Zitrone (25 November 1914 – 25 November 1995) was a Russian-born French journalist and television presenter. Zitrone was born in Petrograd, Russia. He arrived in France with his family fleeing communism at the age of six. He graduated from the ESJ Paris. He began by training in scientific studies but his mastership of Russian, French, English and German gave him entrance in 1948 to the radio foreign broadcasting services of Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF). In 1959, he joined the television activity of RTF. From 1961, he became news presenter, function he occupied for nearly 20 years, first until 1975, on the first French television channel (now TF1), then also on Antenne 2, the other public service channel. Jean-Pierre Elkabbach called him back in 1979. He then took charge of the news program during the week-end (his contract was established until 1 February 1981). He would come back for those news programs also during the Easter and Pentecost week-ends. But Léon Zitrone's celebrity is due to the programs he presented or co-presented. He was host of the televised program Intervilles (French counterpart of Britain's It's a Knockout) with Guy Lux. He commented 6 times the Tour de France, and he is remembered for his prodigious memory for names of riders. He presented the Olympics for 8 times, commented the Eurovision Song Contest on 4 occasions and presented 16 Bastille Day military parades. Above all, he was the key-commenter for big events, such as weddings, burials or investitures of world's key figures, some thirty of them during the course of his career. In 1978, following French singer Marie Myriam's victory the previous year, the Eurovision song contest took place in Paris. Léon Zitrone co-presented with Denise Fabre and made the presentation in English. In 1984, Zitrone took a leading role in the movie American Dreamer. He died from a cerebral hemorrhage on his 81st birthday, 25 November 1995, at the Val-de-Grâce hospital in Paris. Source: Article "Léon Zitrone" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.


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The Party

as Lui-même
Released: 1980-12-17

A thirteen-year-old French girl deals with moving to a new city and school in Paris, while at...

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Quarter to Two Before Jesus Christ

as Presenter of the circus games
Released: 1982-10-06

In antique Rome, a simple pepboy for chars becomes involved in a coup against Cesar. Rahatlocum...

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Live for Life

as lui-même
Released: 1967-09-13

Famous TV newscaster Robert Colomb is married to Catherine, but is continually unfaithful to...

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Live for Life

as Le présentateur télé
Released: 1967-09-13

Famous TV newscaster Robert Colomb is married to Catherine, but is continually unfaithful to...

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La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2022-01-07

In May 1974, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing became President of the Republic and wanted to bring about...

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Three Faces of Sin

as Self
Released: 1961-09-12

Laurent is an artist and sometimes con-man. He wanders into the life of Renee one day in her...

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American Dreamer

as Ivan Stranauvlitch
Released: 1984-10-26

American housewife Cathy Palmer loses her memory on a trip to Paris after being hit by a car....

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Rue de Paris

as lui-même
Released: 1959-10-21

Life in a one-parent family with a focus on the parent, Henri Neveu (Jean Gabin), is the topic...

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From Hong Kong with Love

as Espion français
Released: 1975-12-17

Bons baisers de Hong Kong (From Hong Kong with Love) is a 1975 French film directed by Yvan...

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Assassin's Check

as Le journaliste télé
Released: 1962-08-10

In this French murder mystery, a young journalist goes from a bad situation to much worse. He...

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Marriage of the Century

as Voix du commentateur (voice)
Released: 1985-10-08

Princess Charlotte is scheduled to marry a boring duke, but before that event happens, Paul has...

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Les gros malins

as Self
Released: 1969-05-13

Paul Blanc runs a butcher's shop with his Neapolitan wife, the vivacious Giulia. One night,...

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Operation Double Cross

as Himself
Released: 1965-11-10

In Barcelona, secret agent Antoine Donadieu thwarts the plans of a Nazi scientist.

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Cocagne

as acteur
Released: 1961-03-08

As the driver of a garbage truck in Arles, Marc-Antoine leads a quiet life with his wife,...

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Drôles de zèbres

as Race Commentator
Released: 1977-03-22

Two unemployed men, heavily in debt due to losses at the racetrack, are hired by a criminal...

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Dorothée Show

as Vigile
Released: 1987-12-26

The romanticized life of Dorothée summarized in various sketches and songs.

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The Boss of Champignol

as uncredited
Released: 1966-03-16

Claudius finds a foal and takes it home to his boss. The men who stole the animal are looking...

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Clémentine chérie

as lui-même à la télévision (image d'archives)
Released: 1964-08-03

Gaston Bellus, is the director of a textile house, and the research laboratory makes a...

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The Bamboo Stroke

as uncredited
Released: 1963-04-11

Albert is the irremovable waiter in a small bistro that has just been sold by his former bosses,...

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Be Careful Ladies

as Self
Released: 1963-10-02

Charles Rouvier, a lawyer, is in jail for trying to save one of his clients, Hedwige. He decides...

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J'ai tout donné

as uncredited
Released: 1972-06-21

An intimate cinéma vérité style documentary following french mega star Johnny Hallyday's summer...

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Seventeenth Heaven

as Self (voice) (uncredited)
Released: 1966-04-27

The brave and moody François, a window washer by trade, has fallen head over heels in love with...

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Marriage

as lui-même
Released: 1974-12-31

Four wedding anniversaries serve to chronicle the beginning and end of a thirty-year marriage.

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Leon Garros Is Looking for His Friend

as Léon Garros
Released: 1961-01-13

During World War II, the Frenchman Léon Garros and Boris Vaganov escape from the Nazi...

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Les mots pour le dire

as uncredited
Released: 1983-10-12

A psychological drama that details the tormented relationship between Marie and her mother,...

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Menace

as Le journaliste
Released: 1972-02-18

An esteemed surgeon, Charles Bernard, and his family are victims of a violent home invasion. ...

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Let Them Live!

as Self - Narrator
Released: 1970-02-20

This film, which represents 7 years of shots on 5 continents, shows both the wonders of the wild...

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Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

as Self
First aired: 1975-01-12

A talk show presented by Michel Drucker

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Eurovision Song Contest

as Self - Presenter
First aired: 1956-05-24

The Eurovision Song Contest is an international song competition, organised annually by the...

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Champs-Elysées

as Self
First aired: 1982-01-16

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30 millions d'amis

as Self
First aired: 1976-01-06

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30 millions d'amis

as Self - Host
First aired: 1976-01-06

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Midi Première

as Self
First aired: 1975-01-06

Midi Première is a French variety show presented by Danièle Gilbert, directed by Jacques Pierre...

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Apostrophes

as Self
First aired: 1975-01-10

Apostrophes was a live, weekly, literary, prime-time, talk show on French television created and...

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À bout portant

as Self - Interviewer
First aired: 1968-12-16

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Il était une fois Champs-Élysées

as Self (archive footage)
First aired: 2022-12-21

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Dim Dam Dom

as Self (voice)
First aired: 1965-03-07

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