René Clair
- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- November 11, 1898 in Paris, France
- Died
- March 15, 1981 (aged 82)
- Active Years
- 1920–1972 (53 Years)
- Total Credits
- 92 credits in database
Biography
René Clair was a French filmmaker and writer born in Paris, France on November 11, 1898. He established his reputation in the 1920s as a director of silent films blending comedy and fantasy, and later directed innovative early sound films in France. His career included working abroad in the United Kingdom and the United States for more than a decade before returning to France after World War II. His post-war films were characterized by elegance, wit, and a nostalgic view of earlier French life. Elected to the Academie francaise in 1960, his well-known films include The Italian Straw Hat from 1928, Under the Roofs of Paris from 1930, Le Million from 1931, and A nous la liberte from 1931. He died on March 15, 1981 at the age of 82.
Career overview
René Clair was a French filmmaker and writer born in Paris, France on November 11, 1898. He first established his reputation during the 1920s as a director of silent films, creating works in which comedy was frequently mingled with fantasy. Among his best known films from this period is The Italian Straw Hat, released in 1928.
Following his silent film success, Clair went on to direct some of the most innovative early sound films in France. His notable sound films include Under the Roofs of Paris in 1930, Le Million in 1931, and A nous la liberté in 1931. After these early sound achievements, he traveled abroad to work in the United Kingdom and the United States for a period of more than a decade.
Returning to France following World War II, Clair continued his filmmaking career with works characterized by elegance, wit, and a frequently nostalgic view of French life in earlier years. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 46 known credits in directing. He was later elected to the Academie francaise in 1960. Clair passed away on March 15, 1981 at the age of 82.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
92 titles- Martinez, Margaritas and Murder! (2024) Thanks
- René Clair, tout entre nous n'était qu'un jeu (2021) as Lui-même
- Les Trésors de Marcel Pagnol (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Cinéastes de notre temps : Erich von Stroheim (2012) as Self
- Encyclopédie audiovisuelle du cinéma (1978) as Self (archive footage)
- Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self
- Midi trente (1972) as Self
- Ferraille et chiffons (1972) Adaptation
- À la recherche de Jean Grémillon (1969) as Self
- Civilisation: L'homme et les images (1967) as Self
- The Lace Wars (1965) Director
- The Lace Wars (1965) Writer
- Laugh with Max Linder (1963) as Narrateur (voice)
- The Four Truths (1962) Director
- The Four Truths (1962) Writer
- All the Gold in the World (1961) Director
- All the Gold in the World (1961) Screenplay
- All the Gold in the World (1961) Producer
- Love and the Frenchwoman (1960) Director
- Love and the Frenchwoman (1960) Writer
- Love and the Frenchwoman (1960) Dialogue
- The Gates of Paris (1957) Director
- The Gates of Paris (1957) Dialogue
- The Gates of Paris (1957) Screenplay
- The Gates of Paris (1957) Producer
- Cinépanorama (1956) as Self
- The Grand Manoeuvre (1955) Director
- The Grand Manoeuvre (1955) Writer
- The Grand Manoeuvre (1955) Producer
- Beauties of the Night (1952) Director
- Beauties of the Night (1952) Adaptation
- Beauties of the Night (1952) Scenario Writer
- Beauties of the Night (1952) Dialogue
- Beauties of the Night (1952) Producer
- The Beauty of the Devil (1950) Director
- The Beauty of the Devil (1950) Screenplay
- Silence Is Golden (1947) Director
- Silence Is Golden (1947) Producer
- Silence Is Golden (1947) Writer
- And Then There Were None (1945) Producer
- And Then There Were None (1945) Director
- It Happened Tomorrow (1944) Screenplay
- It Happened Tomorrow (1944) Director
- It Happened Tomorrow (1944) Adaptation
- Forever and a Day (1943) Director
- I Married a Witch (1942) Director
- I Married a Witch (1942) Producer
- I Married a Witch (1942) Dialogue
- The Flame of New Orleans (1941) Director
- The Flame of New Orleans (1941) Writer
- The Flame of New Orleans (1941) Producer
- Break the News (1938) Director
- Break the News (1938) Writer
- Fire Over England (1937) Assistant Director
- The Ghost Goes West (1935) Writer
- The Ghost Goes West (1935) Director
- The Last Billionaire (1934) Director
- The Last Billionaire (1934) Writer
- July 14 (1933) Screenplay
- July 14 (1933) Director
- À Nous la Liberté (1931) Director
- À Nous la Liberté (1931) Story
- À Nous la Liberté (1931) Editor
- Le Million (1931) Writer
- Le Million (1931) Director
- Under the Roofs of Paris (1930) Director
- Under the Roofs of Paris (1930) Writer
- Miss Europe (1930) Writer
- Miss Europe (1930) Adaptation
- The Italian Straw Hat (1928) Director
- The Italian Straw Hat (1928) Screenplay
- Two Timid Souls (1928) Director
- Two Timid Souls (1928) Screenplay
- La Tour (1928) Director
- La Tour (1928) Screenplay
- The Prey of the Wind (1927) Director
- The Prey of the Wind (1927) Writer
- The Imaginary Voyage (1926) Director
- The Imaginary Voyage (1926) Writer
- The Crazy Ray (1925) Director
- The Crazy Ray (1925) Writer
- The Crazy Ray (1925) Editor
- The Crazy Ray (1925) Producer
- The Phantom of the Moulin-Rouge (1925) Director
- The Phantom of the Moulin-Rouge (1925) Writer
- The Phantom of the Moulin-Rouge (1925) Editor
- Entr'acte (1924) Adaptation
- Entr'acte (1924) Director
- Entr'acte (1924) Producer
- The Midnight Chimes (1924) Assistant Director
- Parisette (1921)
- Lily of Life (1920)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is René Clair best known for?
René Clair is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Le Grand Échiquier (1972), Midi trente (1972), The Four Truths (1962), The Four Truths (1962).
When and where was René Clair born?
René Clair was born on November 11, 1898 in Paris, France. They passed away on March 15, 1981.
How many credits does René Clair have?
René Clair has 92 film and television credits listed on archytele, with work dated between 1920 and 1972.
What is René Clair's background in cinema and television?
René Clair was a French filmmaker and writer born in Paris, France on November 11, 1898. He established his reputation in the 1920s as a director of silent films blending comedy and fantasy, and later directed innovative early sound films in France. His career included working abroad in the United Kingdom and the Unite...
René Clair by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Cinépanorama (1956) as Self — aged about 57
- Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self — aged about 73
- Midi trente (1972) as Self — aged about 73
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