André de Latour, comte de Lorde (1869–1942) was a French playwright, the main author of the

Grand Guignol ''Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol'' (: "The Theatre of the Great Puppet")—known as the Grand Guignol–was a theatre in the Pigalle district of Paris (7, cité Chaptal). From its opening in 1897 until its closing in 1962, it specialised in natura ...

plays from 1901 to 1926. His evening career was as a dramatist of terror; during daytimes he worked as a librarian in the

Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal The Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal (''Library of the Arsenal'', founded 1757) in Paris has been part of the Bibliothèque nationale de France since 1934. History The collections of the library originated with the private library of Marc-René, 3rd ...

. He wrote 150 plays, all of them devoted mainly to the exploitation of terror and insanity, and a few novels. For plays the subject matter of which concerned mental illness he sometimes collaborated with psychologist

Alfred Binet Alfred Binet (; 8 July 1857 – 18 October 1911), born Alfredo Binetti, was a French psychologist who invented the first practical IQ test, the Binet–Simon test. In 1904, the French Ministry of Education asked psychologist Alfred Binet to ...

, the developer of IQ testing. During the 1920s de Lorde was elected "Prince of Fear" (''Prince de la Terreur'') by his peers.

Filmography

*'' The Lonely Villa'', directed by D. W. Griffith (1909, short film, based on the play ''Au Telephone'') *''

The System of Doctor Goudron ''The System of Doctor Goudron'' (French:''Le système du docteur Goudron et du professeur Plume'', also released in the United States as ''The Lunatics'') is a 1913 French short silent horror film directed by Maurice Tourneur and starring Henr ...

'', directed by Maurice Tourneur (1913, short film, based on the play ''Le Système du docteur Goudron et du professeur Plume'') *', directed by Jacques Grétillat (1920, based on the play ''La Double Existence du docteur Morart'') *''Le Château de la mort lente'', directed by

Émile-Bernard Donatien Émile-Bernard Donatien (1887–1955) was a French actor, writer, set designer and film director. Born Emile Wessbecher to Alsatian parents in Paris, he was often credited simply as Donatien. He retired from cinema in 1932, devoting himself to sc ...

(1925, based on the play ''Le Château de la mort lente'') *', directed by Marc Allégret (1931, short film, based on the play ''Attaque nocturne'') *', directed by Maurice Tourneur (1934, short film, based on the play ''L'Homme mystérieux'') *', directed by (1933, based on the play ''Bagnes d'enfants'')

Screenwriter

*''

Figures de cire ''Figures de Cire'' (also known in English as ''The Man with Wax Faces,'' and re-released in 1918 as ''L'Homme aux figures de cire'') is a 1914 French short silent horror film directed by Maurice Tourneur. The film stars Henry Roussel, and wa ...

'', directed by Maurice Tourneur (1914, short film) *', directed by (1920) *', directed by Michel Bernheim (1936)

External links

At the Telephone
by André de Lorde Writers from Toulouse 1869 births 1942 deaths 19th-century French dramatists and playwrights 20th-century French dramatists and playwrights French fantasy writers French librarians {{France-playwright-stub