President of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1981.
French writer-director of commercially successful crime thrillers. Began as an actor in his late teens and from 1952 worked as assistant to several noted directors, including Luis Bunuel and Jules Dassin. Directed his first film in 1960.
He published his autobiography "J'ai connu une belle époque", a few months before his death in 2003.
In the 70's, he was the companion of the actress Claudine Auger with whom he made several films.