Chevalier made his debut as a Parisian café singer in 1901. By the 1920s he was a famous entertainer in French musical revues and appeared in French films. His first Hollywood film, The Innocents of Paris (1929), was the prototype of the popular gay and charming musicals that followed, in which he often co-starred with Jeanette MacDonald—e.g., The Love Parade (1930), One Hour with You (1932), Love Me Tonight (1932), and The Merry Widow (1934). During World War II his popularity suffered because he continued to entertain in German-occupied France and on tour, but after the war he was cleared of suspected collaborationist activities. His later motion pictures included Love in the Afternoon (1957), Gigi (1958), Can-Can (1960), and Fanny (1961). In 1958 Chevalier was awarded a Special Academy Award for his more than 50 years of contributions to the entertainment field.