René Plaissetty (1889–1955) was an American film director. Son of Achille Plaissetty, chemist and businessman and Corinne Bonnecaze, professor of singing, René Plaissetty was born on March 7, 1889, in Chicago. In 1907 he came to live in France and later married Yvonne Lacroix, the daughter of Parisian couturier

Jeanne Margaine-Lacroix Jeanne Victorine Margaine-Lacroix (3 December 1868–15 August 1930) was a French couturier of the early 20th-century. The House Margaine-Lacroix is mainly known today for having revolutionized the world of fashion by creating the so-called Syl ...

and a French figure skating champion in 1908, with two daughters, Jacqueline in 1909 and Micheline in 1911. With the help of other administrators he founded his production company Filma. In January 1920, leaving his factory to his assistant, he left for London where he returned to the studios with Mary Massart, who became his muse. His English feature films of 1920 and 1921 made for the ''Stoll Film Co''Georges Sadoul, Histoire générale du cinéma. are noticed by critics for their aesthetic and thematic qualities such as the strange Yellow Claw, according to a story by Sax Rohmer. In 1922, he returned to Paris and turned to Gaumont (in the series Pax) My little boy with Leontine Massart, sister of Mary. Still with the same producer, with Mary Massart, he staged an adaptation of Maurice Level's novel ''L'Île sans nom''. This eventful film (one sees in particular a shipwreck) receives a very favorable public and critical reception, due to the originality of the subject and the dramatic use of a new mode of communication, the

Wireless telegraphy Wireless telegraphy or radiotelegraphy is transmission of text messages by radio waves, analogous to electrical telegraphy using cables. Before about 1910, the term ''wireless telegraphy'' was also used for other experimental technologies for ...

. In 1923 René Plaissetty considered American cinema more suited to his projects. He then returned to the United States with Mary Massart to marry in Los Angeles (they will have a son, Francis Léo) and met the director and producer Edwin Carewe. He immediately proposed the adaptation of a novel by Louise Gérard to ''

A Son of the Sahara ''A Son of the Sahara'' is a 1924 American silent drama film produced and directed by Edwin Carewe and co-directed with René Plaissetty. It stars Claire Windsor and Bert Lytell. First National handled the distribution of the film. Plot As desc ...

'' published in 1922 in New York City. In 1943, he made an appearance as an actor in the film ''Mission to Moscow'', where he played

Robert Coulondre Robert Coulondre (11 September 1885 – 6 March 1959) was a French diplomat who served as the last French ambassador to Germany before World War II. From Nîmes to Geneva Coulondre was born in Nîmes, the son of the politician Gaston Coulondre. ...

, French ambassador to

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

at the beginning of the war under the pseudonym Alex Caze. René Plaissetty died on January 4, 1955, in Los Angeles. He is buried in the Montebello Cemetery in California.

Selected filmography

* ''The Adventures of Harry Wilson in Russia'' (France, 1909) * ''La Trace'' (France, série ''Harry Wilson'', 1913) * ''À tire d'ailes'' (France, série ''Harry Wilson'', 1913) * ''Le Legs'' (France, série ''Harry Wilson'', 1914) * ''La Main invisible'' (France, série ''Harry Wilson'', 1914) * ''Her Great Match'' with Vernon Steele (US, Production : Metro Pictures Corporation, 1915) * ''The Wonderful Wager'' with Marion Sunshine (US, 1916) * ''The Heart's Tribute'' with Vinnie Burns (US, 1916) * ''Le Vol suprême'' with

Gabrielle Robinne Gabrielle Anna Charlotte Robinne (1 July 1886 – 18 December 1980) was a French stage and film actress whose career spanned over sixty years. Career Born in Montluçon, Allier, France, Robinne was a pupil of Maurice de Féraudy at the Pa ...

(France, Production : SCAGL, Pathé, 1917) * ''Le Hussard'' with André Morgane (France, Production : SCAGL, Pathé, 1917) * ''L'Heure sincère'' with Claude Garry et Maurice Lagrenée (France, Production : SCAGL, Pathé, 1917) * ''Le masque de l'amour, 1ère époque : Le masque de Valcor'' with Mévisto (France, Production : SCAGL, Pathé, 1918) * ''Le masque de l'amour, 2ème époque : Madame de Fermeuse'' with Jeanne Grumbach (France, Production : SCAGL, Pathé, 1918) * ''Serpentin janissaire'' with Mary Massart et

Marcel Lévesque Marcel Lévesque (6 December 1877 – 16 February 1962) was a French film actor. Born Joseph Marcel Lévesque in Paris, he died in Couilly-Pont-aux-Dames. Selected filmography * ''Les Vampires'' (1915) * ''Judex'' (1916) * ''La dama de Chez Ma ...

, 1918 * '' Une étoile de cinéma'' with

Germaine Dermoz Germaine Dermoz (born Germaine Deluermoz, 30 July 1888 – 6 November 1966) was a French film and theatre actress of the early-to-mid twentieth century. She performed in over twenty theatre productions, frequently in the Théâtre Réjane. H ...

and

Georges Mauloy Georges may refer to: Places *Georges River, New South Wales, Australia *Georges Quay (Dublin) *Georges Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania Other uses *Georges (name) * ''Georges'' (novel), a novel by Alexandre Dumas * "Georges" (song), a 1977 ...

(France, Production : SCAGL, Pathé, 1919) * '' Chignole'' with Armand Numès, 1919 * '' Vers l'argent'' with Mary Massart (France, 1920) * ''

The Yellow Claw ''The Yellow Claw'' is a 1915 crime novel by Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward, known better under his pseudonym of Sax Rohmer. The story features Gaston Max, a Parisian criminal investigator and master of disguise, and his battle with Mr. King, a ma ...

'' or ''La Griffe jaune'' with Mary Massart and Kitty Fielder (UK, 1921) * '' The Broken Road'' with Mary Massart (UK, 1921) * ''

The Four Feathers ''The Four Feathers'' is a 1902 adventure novel by British writer A. E. W. Mason that has inspired many films of the same title. In December 1901, ''Cornhill Magazine'' announced the title as one of two new serial stories to be published in t ...

'' with Mary Massart and Harry Ham (UK, 1921) * '' The Woman with the Fan'' or ''La Femme à l'éventail'' with Mary Massart and Alec Fraser (UK, 1921) * ''

The Knave of Diamonds ''The Knave of Diamonds'' is a 1921 British silent drama film directed by René Plaissetty and starring Mary Massart, Alec Fraser and Cyril Percival. It is an adaptation of the 1913 novel of the same title by Ethel M. Dell.Goble p.122 Cast * ...

or ''Le Valet de Carreau'' with Mary Massart and

Cyril Percival Cyril Percival (1889–1948) was a British film actor of the silent era.Goble p.122 Selected filmography * '' Love in a Wood'' (1915) * ''The Princess of Happy Chance ''The Princess of Happy Chance'' is a 1917 British silent romance film dir ...

(UK, 1921) * '' L'Île sans nom'' avec Mary Massart et

Paul Amiot Paul Amiot (29 March 1886 – 26 January 1979) was a French film actor. His career spanned some 63 years and he appeared in nearly 100 films between 1910 and 1973. In 1920 he appeared in Robert Péguy's ''Être aimé pour soi-même''. He was ...

(France, 1922) * '' Mon p'tit'' avec Léontine Massart et

Arlette Marchal Arlette Marchal (29 January 1902 – 11 February 1984) was a French film actress. She appeared in more than 40 films between 1922 and 1951. She was born and died in Paris. Partial filmography * ''Mon p'tit'' (1922) * '' The Gardens of Murc ...

(France, 1922) * ''

'' réalisé par

Edwin Carewe Edwin Carewe (March 3, 1883 – January 22, 1940) was an American motion picture director, actor, producer, and screenwriter. His birth name was Jay John Fox; he was born in Gainesville, Texas. Career After brief studies at the Universities of ...

assisté de René Plaissetty (US, 1924) * ''L'Homme'' (US, 1924) * ''The Link'' (US, 1924) * ''La Fumée jaune'' (US, 1924) * ''J'ai fait du pied pour avoir la main'' with Nicole Robert (France, 1925) * '' Le Faiseur de statuettes'' with Nicole Robert and

Maurice de Féraudy Maurice de Féraudy (born in Joinville-le-Pont on December 3, 1859 - died in Paris May 12, 1932) was a French songwriter, stage and film director, and actor at the Comédie-Française. He was the father of actor Jacques de Féraudy. Life and caree ...

(France, 1926) * '' La Grande Envolée'' with

Ann Harding Ann Harding (born Dorothy Walton Gatley; August 7, 1902 – September 1, 1981) was an American theatre, motion picture, radio, and television actress. A regular player on Broadway and in regional theater in the 1920s, in the 1930s Harding was ...

(France, 1927) * '' Chair ardente'' with

Jean Marchat Jean Marchat (1902–1966) was a French film actor who appeared in around fifty films during his career. He made his film debut in 1931 and appeared in Maurice Tourneur's '' Departure'' the same year.Waldman p.144 Selected filmography * '' Depart ...

(France, 1932) * ''

Mission to Moscow ''Mission to Moscow'' is a 1943 film directed by Michael Curtiz, based on the 1941 book by the former U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union, Joseph E. Davies. The movie chronicles the experiences of the second American ambassador to the Soviet ...

'' (US, actor, 1943)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Plaissetty, Rene 1889 births 1955 deaths Artists from Chicago American film directors