About
René Clair, born René-Lucien Chomette in Paris in 1898, is a major French filmmaker. After serving as an ambulance driver during World War I, he began as a journalist under the pseudonym René Desprès. He entered cinema as an actor in 1920, then became an assistant director. His first film, Paris qui dort (1924), and the Dadaist short Entr'acte (1924) marked his beginnings. He distinguished himself by innovative use of sound in his trilogy Sous les toits de Paris (1930), Le Million (1931), and À nous la liberté (1931). During World War II, he worked in Hollywood. In 1960, he was elected to the Académie Française, the first filmmaker to enter. He died in 1981.
* 1898-11-11 — † 1981-03-15
Major works
- Paris qui dort (1924)film
- Entr'acte (1924)short film
- Sous les toits de Paris (1930)film
- Le Million (1931)film
- À nous la liberté (1931)film
Key milestones
- 1924Directed his first film, Paris qui dort, and the Dadaist short Entr'acte.
- 1960Elected to the Académie Française, the first filmmaker to enter.
- 1953Received the Grand Prix du Cinéma Français.
Themes
social satirecomedysound innovationsurrealismfantasy
Sources: britannica.com · production-gcp.moma.org