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1-50 of 119
- Director
- Producer
- Writer
He grew up in Versailles with a family who was very influenced by pop music. When he was young, Gondry wanted to be a painter or an inventor. In the 80s he entered in an art school in Paris where he could develop his graphic skills and where he also met friends with whom he created a pop-rock band called Oui-Oui. The band released 2 albums ('Chacun tout le monde' and 'Formidable') and several singles until their separation in 1992. Gondry was the drummer of the band and also directed their video clips in which it was possible to see his strange world, influenced by the 60s and by his childhood. One of his videos was shown on MTV and when Björk saw it, she asked him to make her first solo video for 'Human Behaviour'. The partnership is famous: Gondry directed five other Björk's videos, benefiting by the huge budgets. This led to commissions for other artists around the world, including Massive Attack. He also made a lot of commercials for Gap, Smirnoff, Air France, Nike, Coca Cola, Adidas, Polaroid and Levi - the latter making him the most highly-awarded director for a one-off commercial.
Hollywood became interested in Gondry's success and he directed his first feature movie Human Nature (2001), adapting a Charlie Kaufman's scenario, which was shown in the 2001 Cannes Festival. Although it wasn't a big success, this film allowed him to direct Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), for which he again collaborated with Charlie Kaufman. The movie became a popular independent film and he and his co-writers won an Oscar for it.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Stéphane Audran was born on November 8, 1932 in Versailles, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France as Colette Suzanne Jeannine Dacheville. She was an actress, known for Der diskrete Charme der Bourgeoisie (1972), Babettes Fest (1987) and Der Schlachter (1970). She was married to Claude Chabrol and Jean-Louis Trintignant. She died at the age of 85 on March 27, 2018 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France after an illness.- Writer
- Actor
- Director
Jean Cocteau was one of the most multi-talented artists of the 20th century. In addition to being a director, he was a poet, novelist, painter, playwright, set designer, and actor. He began writing at 10 and was a published poet by age 16. He collaborated with the "Russian Ballet" company of Sergei Diaghilev, and was active in many art movements, but always remained a poet at heart. His films reflect this fact. Cocteau was also a homosexual, and made no attempt to hide it. His favorite actor was his close friend Jean Marais, who appeared in almost every one of his films. Cocteau made about twelve films in his career, all rich with symbolism and surreal imagery. He is now regarded as one of the most important avant-garde directors in cinema.- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Olivier Megaton was born on 6 August 1965 in Versailles, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France. He is a director and writer, known for Transporter 3 (2008), Colombiana (2011) and Exit (2000).- Director
- Writer
- Animation Department
Sylvain Chomet was born on 10 November 1963 in Maisons-Laffitte, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines, Île-de-France], France. He is a director and writer, known for The Triplets of Belleville (2003), The Illusionist (2010) and Paris, I Love You (2006).- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Albert Dupontel was born on 11 January 1964 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Seine-et-Oise, France. He is an actor and writer, known for Irreversible (2002), 9-Month Stretch (2013) and See You Up There (2017).- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Director
Celebrated French stage actor/director/producer Jean-Louis Barrault was born on September 8, 1910. A superlative tragedian and mime, his dedication to both avant-garde and classical plays helped revive the French theatre after World War II, while presenting world premières of works by such playwrights as Samuel Beckett, Eugène Ionesco and Jean Genet. A rebel with many causes, he once hid French Underground members on the set of his greatest film Children of Paradise (1945).
Barrault initially was a teacher and studied art before turning to the theatre. A gifted student of both Charles Dullin of drama and Etienne Decroux of pantomime, he supported himself as a bookkeeper and flower salesman during those lean years. He made his official film bow in Vagabonds imaginaires (1950) (billed as J.L. Barrault), and took his first curtain call a year later playing a servant in "Volpone" at the Theatre de l'Atelier. While he made quite an impact in numerous classic, romantic films, including Bizarre, Bizarre (1937), Mirages (1938) and Children of Paradise (1945) (the last two opposite the exquisite Arletty), the theatre would remain Barrault's greatest passion, marking his directorial debut with "Les beaux jours" in 1935. Five years later he would join the Comedie Francaise as both actor/director.
In 1936 Barrault met actress Madeleine Renaud, who was a decade his senior, and married her four years later. Together the couple founded many theatres (including the Renaud-Barrault Paris stage company in 1947) and toured extensively, becoming the Lunt and Fontanne of European theatre with such performances in "Christopher Columbus" (1957) (she as his Queen Isabella), "The Misanthrope" (1957) and "The Marriage of Figaro" (1964) among their many collaborations. In November of 1952, Barrault and Renard made daunting Broadway debuts touring in repertory with "Les Fausses Confidences", "Baptiste", "The Trial", "Amphitryon", "Scapin", "Keep Your Eyes on Amelie" and "Hamlet". In 1957, they returned with "Christopher Columbus", "Volpone", "The Misanthrope", "Intermezzo", and others. He received a "special" Tony award for his work.
Barrault's thin frame, gentle bearing and sensitive features belied a great power and those same talents were utilized magnificently, if sporadically, on film, associating with the greatest of directors including Abel Gance, Georg Wilhelm Pabst, Sacha Guitry, Jean Delannoy, Max Ophüls and Jean Renoir. His initial impression playing Beethoven's nephew Karl in The Life and Loves of Beethoven (1936), led to other fine filming. Arguably his most notable triumph on film was his portrayal of Baptiste in Children of Paradise (1945), which was based on the life of the mime-actor Jean-Gaspard Deburau, a character he originally suggested to Marcel Carné and Jacques Prévert. The phenomenal success of that film singlehandedly revived public interest in the art of pantomime and subsequently influenced the popularity of legendary mime Marcel Marceau. Barrault's peerless performance in that role is still studied in acting and mime schools today. Elsewhere, he appeared in historical characterizations ranging from that of composer Hector Berlioz to Napoleon Bonaparte.
In later years Barrault served twice as director of the Theatre des Nations and in 1974-1981 was the director of the Theatre d'Orsay. His last film performance at age 78 was in La lumière du lac (1988). The beloved 83-year-old actor died of a heart attack in Paris on January 22, 1994; wife Madeleine died in September of that same year at age 94.- Nicole Courcel was born Nicole Marie-Anne Andrieux, the daughter of a journalist, in the Parisian suburb of Saint Cloud. Some of her early childhood was spent in Catholic boarding schools (an unhappy experience) and with her grandmother (much happier) in the small township of Martel (renowned for its truffles). While in her mid-teens she began acting in amateur theatre, eventually completing her dramatic training at the venerable acting school René Simon in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Courcel entered films as a small part actress in 1947 and adopted the stage name Courcel two years later from a character in Jacques Becker's romantic youth comedy Rendezvous in July (1949). This was her first leading role. An actress of considerable poise, beauty and sensitivity, Courcel reached the peak of her popularity just prior to the beginning of the New Wave movement. Many of her films were commercially successful and directed by leading auteurs of the period, including Marcel Carné (in La Marie du Port (1950), co-starring opposite Jean Gabin), Jean Cocteau (in Testament of Orpheus (1960)) and Serge Bourguignon (in Sundays and Cybèle (1962)). The latter role -- as nurse to an emotionally crippled war veteran -- was arguably her most famous and complex, contrasting tender care with obsessive jealousy.
Rare international appearances saw her as a French piano teacher and romantic interest in a typical Heinz Rühmann comedy, Ein Mann geht durch die Wand (1959); as a nurse in a minor cold war drama, Stop Train 349 (1963) (starring Sean Flynn, son of the famous Errol); and a small part, as Raymonde, in the excellent wartime thriller The Night of the Generals (1967), directed by Anatole Litvak. As movie roles began to diminish in the early 70's, Courcel confined her acting to the small screen -- often in period drama -- notably in the title role as Madame Bovary (1974) and as the heroine's grandmother, Jeanne De Breuil, in an adaptation of Milady and the Three Musketeers (2004). Courcel was the mother of French television personality and food critic Julie Andrieu. - Actor
- Writer
- Director
Francis Perrin is a French stage and film actor. Since 1993, he has been directing the Théâtre Montansier in Versaille. 1959: Writes and directs his first play, "Les deux peintres". 1965: Directs his second play "Le reflet". 1966: Diploma in philosophy. 1971: Prize Premiers Accessits de Comédie 1972: Prize Premiers Prix de Comédie 1972: Joins "La Comédie Française"- Music Department
- Composer
- Writer
Claude Debussy was born in St. Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, France. His father was a salesman and kept a china shop. His mother was a seamstress. Some traumatizing events in his childhood caused him a depression and he never spoke about his early years. Later he could not compose without having his favorite porcelain frog.
Debussy's piano teacher, Mme. Maute, had been a student of Frédéric Chopin. She sent Debussy to the Paris Conservatory, where he studied from 1872-84 with César Franck, Ernest Guiraud and others. He lived at the castle of Nadezhda von Meck and taught her children. She was a wealthy patroness of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and eventually Debussy played all pieces by Tchaikovsky in addition to other classical repertoire. She also took Debussy on trips to Venice, Vienna and Moscow. In Vienna he heard "Tristan und Isolde" by Richard Wagner and later admitted that it had influenced him for a number of years.
Debussy won the Prix de Rome twice--in 1883 and 1884--and the money covered his studies at the Villa de Medici in Rome for the next four years. In Rome he met Franz Liszt and Giuseppe Verdi and heard more of Wagner's music, which made a strong impression on him. In 1888 and 1889 he went to listen to yet more of Wagner's music at the Bayreuth Festspiehaus. There he was very impressed by "Parsifal" and other of Wagner's works. He used the Wagnerian chromaticism for upgrades to his own tonal harmony in "Cinq poems de Baudelaire" (1889).
Debussy became influenced by the impressionist poets and artists in the circle of Stéphane Mallarmé. In 1890 he wrote his most famous music collection for piano, "Suite bergamasque", containing "Clair de Lune". His "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun" (1892) continued the most productive 20-year period in his life. He composed orchestral "Nocturnes", "La Mer", "Images" (1899-1909), and the intricate ballet "Jeux" (1912) for "Ballets Russes" of Sergei Diaghilev. He was fascinated with Maurice Maeterlinck's play "Pelleas et Melisande", which inspired him to compose the eponymous symbolist opera which was praised by Paul Dukas and Maurice Ravel.
In 1908 Debussy married singer Emma Bardac after they had a daughter, Claude-Emma. Debussy called her Chou-Chou and composed for her the collection of piano pieces "Children's Corner Suite" (1909). His piano masterpiece "Preludes" were composed in 1910-1913. The twelve preludes of the first book are alluding to Frédéric Chopin, with more provocative harmonies, especially the "La Cathedrale Engloutie". In the second book of twelve preludes Debussy explored avant-garde, with deliciously dissonant harmonies and mysterious images.
The beginning of WW I and the onset of cancer depressed Debussy. He left unfinished opera, ballets and two pieces after stories by Edgar Allan Poe that later were completed by his assistants. He died on March 25, 1918, in Paris.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Exuberant and funny theater actress who excelled in light comedies (Feydeau's "Le système Ribardier", "Chat en poche"; Françoise Dorin's "L'étiquette"; Remo Forlani's "Le divan", "Un roi qui a des malheurs", "Guerre et paix au café Sneffe"), Micheline Luccioni did not have the movie career she deserved. Used too often as the mocking prostitute or the provocative floosie in the office, she nevertheless played these roles with the appropriate jocular insolence. No wonder that she usually appeared in comedies written and/or directed by Michel Audiard. She was indeed one of those colorful ladies (along with Françoise Rosay, Ginette Leclerc, Jacqueline Maillan, among others) whose down-to-earth liveliness allowed them to deliver for what they are worth the biting lines polished up by the French green language master. All in all, Micheline Luccioni appeared in few memorable films. She even squandered her talent in bombs signed Michel Gérard or Richard Balducci. But she did have good moments in "Pot Bouille", the 1957 adaptation of Emile Zola's classic by Julien Duvivier (as the hysterical sister-in-law)and as one of Valentine Tessier's daughters in Jean-Claude Brialy's directorial debut "Eglantine" (1971). She was fine too in Adam Pianko's wonderful "On n'est pas sérieux quand on a 17 ans", about teen pregnancy. Micheline Luccioni played the difficult role of the 15-year-old girl's mother with subtle nuances, a touching character lights years away from the loud-mouthed woman she was wont to play. This could - and should - have been the beginning of a new career but alas the film was little seen and nothing came out of it.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Cris Campion was born on 1 September 1966 in Versailles, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France. He is an actor and director, known for Pirates (1986), Charlemagne (1993) and Le café (1985). He has been married to Anny Duperey since 1993.- Katia Tchenko was born on 8 May 1947 in Versailles, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France. She is an actress, known for Ronin (1998), Transporter 3 (2008) and Au théâtre ce soir (1966).
- André Penvern is a French actor born in Sèvres. At age 17, he began working with National Drama Centers. He went from small parts to stage manager, sound and lightning designer, etc. His meeting with Margot Capelier, casting director, was crucial for him. She introduced him to Fred Zinnemann Otto Preminger John Frankenheimer, Gérard Oury. He alternates between theater and television, encountering Jean Marboeuf Alain Bonnot, Philippe de Broca, Olivier Dahan.
- Actress
- Costume Designer
Jehanne d'Alcy was born on 20 March 1865 in Vaujours, Seine-et-Oise [now Seine-Saint-Denis], France. She was an actress and costume designer, known for Haggard's She: The Pillar of Fire (1899), Bluebeard (1901) and The Conjuring of a Woman at the House of Robert Houdin (1896). She was married to Georges Méliès and Gustave Manieux. She died on 14 October 1956 in Versailles, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France.- François Négret was born on 15 October 1966 in Versailles, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France. He is an actor, known for Goodbye, Children (1987), Sound and Fury (1988) and The Exterminating Angels (2006).
- Jean-François Calvé was born on 23 September 1925 in Athis-Mons, Seine-et-Oise, France. He was an actor, known for La guerre des femmes (1986), Shock Treatment (1973) and Turcaret (1968). He died on 8 October 2014 in Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Bernard Musson was born on 22 February 1925 in Cormeilles-en-Parisis, Seine-et-Oise [now Val-d'Oise], France. He was an actor, known for Belle de Jour (1967), Le Magnifique (1973) and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972). He died on 29 October 2010 in Paris, France.- Elisabeth Margoni was born on 16 January 1945 in Mantes-Gassicourt, Seine-et-Oise [now Mantes-la-Jolie, Yvelines], France. She is an actress, known for Love Actually (2003), The bourgeois gentleman (1982) and The Professional (1981).
- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Director
Pierre Trabaud was born on 7 August 1922 in Chatou, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France. He was an actor and director, known for Le voleur de feuilles (1984), Le Tour du monde en 80 jours (1975) and Ce soir on tue (1959). He was married to Capucine. He died on 26 February 2005 in Versailles, Yvelines, France.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Born in France in 1872, Charles Prince Seigneur had been a stage comedian for years when he made his first films at Charles Pathé's studio in 1909. He quickly became the one film comedian of the time who could compete with Max Linder in terms of popularity, known as Rigadin in France, Moritz in Germany, Whiffles in England, and Tartufini in Italy. However, whereas Linder remains a relatively well-known name among silent film enthusiasts, Prince appears to have been forgotten since his popularity faded after the first world war. Swedish film historian Rune Walderkrantz pointed out that Prince used less refined methods than Linder, being more of a clown in the traditional manner. Prince kept on performing until his death in 1933, however, appearing mostly in bit parts on film.- Actor
- Writer
From his real name Jacques, Daniel Ivernel married the actress and playwright Christiane Lasquin. He is the older brother of director Victor Ivernel. Coming from a family of traders, he is raised by his grandmother, in the locality of Chaumont-en-Vexin (Oise). This is where he attends a performance of the "Bells of Corneville" by a troupe of traveling theater. Subjugated, the young boy spends the whole evening with these people of the trip and will tell later that, from this memory, was born his vocation. A theater actor with a perfect diction, Daniel Ivernel debuted at the cinema in 1946 in a film by Louis Cuny, "Le Beau voyage". But it was with the director Julien Duvivier who made him known with "Sous le Ciel de Paris". Duvivier will turn it in "La Fête à Henriette", "La Femme et le Pantin" and "Marie-Octobre". His last film "Judge Fayard" (Yves Boisset) dates from 1977. Then he took care of being a theater teacher until his suicide on November 11, 1999 at 79 years.- Claude Sylvain was born on 9 May 1930 in Neuilly-Plaisance, Seine-et-Oise, France [now Neuilly-Plaisance, Seine-Saint-Denis, France]. She was an actress, known for Rififi (1955), Si Paris nous était conté (1956) and If All the Guys in the World... (1956). She was married to Francis Claude. She died on 31 December 2005 in Vaux-sur-Lunain, Seine-et-Marne, France.
- Jacqueline Dufranne was born on 9 January 1915 in Chatou, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France. She was an actress, known for Auntie Danielle (1990), Tous vedettes! (1980) and My Little Loves (1974). She died on 16 March 2011 in Paris, France.
- Actor
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jaque Catelain was born on 9 February 1897 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France. He was an actor and director, known for La galerie des monstres (1924), L'inhumaine (1924) and The Secret Spring (1923). He was married to Suzanne Catelain. He died on 5 March 1965 in Paris, France.