Henri Decaë (31 July 1915 – 7 March 1987) was a French cinematographer who entered the film industry as a sound engineer and sound editor. He was a photojournalist in the French army during World War II. After the war he began making documentary shorts, directing and photographing industrial and commercial films. In 1947 he made his first feature film. Decaë is strongly associated with directors who strongly influenced, or were part of, the

French New Wave The New Wave (, ), also called the French New Wave, is a French European art cinema, art film movement that emerged in the late 1950s. The movement was characterized by its rejection of traditional filmmaking conventions in favor of experimentat ...

. These include

Jean-Pierre Melville Jean-Pierre Grumbach (20 October 1917 – 2 August 1973), known professionally as Jean-Pierre Melville (), was a French filmmaker. Considered a spiritual godfather of the French New Wave, he was one of the first fully-independent French filmmake ...

Louis Malle Louis Marie Malle (; 30 October 1932 – 23 November 1995) was a French film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in both French cinema and Hollywood. Described as "eclectic" and "a filmmaker difficult to pin down", Malle made document ...

and

Claude Chabrol Claude Henri Jean Chabrol (; 24 June 1930 – 12 September 2010) was a French film director and a member of the French New Wave (''nouvelle vague'') group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s. Like his colleagues an ...

. Decaë first worked as a cinematographer with Melville on ''Le Silence de la Mer'' (1949). Decaë also edited and mixed the sound. Although Decaë worked with Melville on ''Les enfants terribles'', which as Williams commented (1992, p333) "...the work is more accurately to be viewed as a stunning demonstration of the cinematic possibilities of faithful literary adaptation in the hands of a gifted director", according to Marie (p 88) it was his distinctive camera work on ''Bob le flambeur'' which caught the attention of the ''Cahiers'' critics. Malle hired him for his first two features and Chabrol for his first three features. They had been lucky as Decaë was finding it hard to get work at that time as he was being informally shunned by many after participating in a critical film about the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

. By the time Decaë worked for

François Truffaut François Roland Truffaut ( , ; ; 6 February 1932 – 21 October 1984) was a French filmmaker, actor, and critic. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of the French New Wave. He came under the tutelage of film critic Andre Bazin as a ...

on ''

The 400 Blows ''The 400 Blows'' () is a 1959 French Coming-of-age film, coming-of-age Drama (film and television), drama film, and the directorial debut of François Truffaut, who also co-wrote the film. Shot in the anamorphic format List of anamorphic forma ...

'' he came with a reputation, which meant that he was the highest-paid person on the film. Decaë's liking for natural light, his ability to work at speed as well as his excellent photographic sensibility led to him working with René Clément on several features beginning with ''Plein soleil'' (1960). It was Decaë "...who liberated the camera, from its fixed tripod. He made the New Wave possible, backing up Melville, Malle, Chabrol and Truffaut." (Marie, 2003 p 89) For bibliographical references see bibliography under

Cinema of France The cinema of France comprises the film industry and its film productions, whether made within the nation of France or by French film production companies abroad. It is the oldest and largest precursor of national cinemas in Europe, with prima ...

Selected filmography

*'' Le Silence de la mer'' (1949), directed by

*'' Les Enfants terribles'' (1950), directed by Jean-Pierre Melville * '' Bernard and the Lion'' (1951) * '' Heart of the Casbah'' (1952) *'' Bob le flambeur'' (1955), directed by Jean-Pierre Melville *'' Les Amants'' (1958), directed by

*'' Le Beau Serge'' (1958), directed by

*'' Ascenseur pour l'échafaud'' (1958), directed by Louis Malle *'' Les Quatre cents coups'' (1959), directed by

*'' Les Cousins'' (1959), directed by Claude Chabrol *''

À double tour ''Web of Passion'' (also released as ''Leda'', original French title: ''À double tour'') is a 1959 French/Italian psychological Thriller (genre), thriller film directed by Claude Chabrol and based on the novel ''The Key to Nicholas Street'' by Am ...

'' (1959), directed by Claude Chabrol (his third feature, released in December) *'' Che gioia vivere'' (1960), directed by

René Clément René Clément (; 18 March 1913 – 17 March 1996) was a French film director and screenwriter. He is known for directing the films ''The Battle of the Rails'' (1946), ''Forbidden Games'' (1952), ''Gervaise (film), Gervaise'' (1956), ''Purple No ...

(a comedy) *'' Plein Soleil'' (1960), directed by René Clément (Suspense thriller) *'' Les Bonnes Femmes'' (1960), directed by Claude Chabrol (his fourth feature, released in April; critical and box office reception unfavourable - a flop) *'' Léon Morin, prêtre'' (1961), directed by Jean-Pierre Melville *''

Vie privée Vie or VIE may refer to: * Vie, Oradea, a district of Oradea, a city in Romania *Vie (river), a river in western France *, another river in France and tributary of the Dives (river), Dives *Vie (cards), a term in card games * VIE, the IATA code fo ...

'' (1962), directed by Louis Malle *'' Eva'' (1962) (uncredited), directed by

Joseph Losey Joseph Walton Losey III (; January 14, 1909 – June 22, 1984) was an American film and theatre director, producer, and screenwriter. Born in Wisconsin, he studied in Germany with Bertolt Brecht and then returned to the United States. Hollywood ...

*'' Les dimanches de Ville d'Avray'' (1962), directed by Serge Bourguignon *'' Les Sept péchés capitaux'' (1962), directed by

Philippe de Broca Philippe Claude Alex de Broca de Ferrussac (; 15 March 1933 – 26 November 2004) was a French film director. He directed 30 full-length feature films, including the highly successful ''That Man from Rio (''L'Homme de Rio'')'', ''Le Magnifique, ...

/ Claude Chabrol. This is a blend of the commercial work of 'Cinéma de papa' directors and representatives of the New Wave including

Jean-Luc Godard Jean-Luc Godard ( , ; ; 3 December 193013 September 2022) was a French and Swiss film director, screenwriter, and film critic. He rose to prominence as a pioneer of the French New Wave film movement of the 1960s, alongside such filmmakers as ...

, Chabrol,

Jacques Demy Jacques Demy (; 5 June 1931 – 27 October 1990) was a French director, screenwriter and lyricist. He appeared at the height of the French New Wave alongside contemporaries like Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut. Demy's films are celebrated ...

and

Roger Vadim Roger Vadim Plemiannikov (; 26 January 1928 – 11 February 2000) was a French screenwriter, film director, and producer, as well as an author, artist, and occasional actor. His best-known works are visually lavish films with erotic qualities, s ...

. Anger is the first sin to be treated by Sylvain Dhomme. Molinaro makes a version of Envy. Philippe de Broca makes Gluttony. Jacques Demy is next with Lust. Godard tackles Sloth with Eddie Constantine playing a loafer for a change, not his Lemmy Caution-like nerveless violence. Pride comes from Roger Vadim; Chabrol is last with Greed. *'' Le Jour et l'heure'' (1963), directed by René Clément. (Action / Drama / War) *'' L’Aîné des Ferchaux'' (1963), directed by Jean-Pierre Melville : Stars

Jean-Paul Belmondo Jean-Paul Charles Belmondo (; 9 April 19336 September 2021) was a French actor. Initially associated with the New Wave of the 1960s, he was a major French film star for several decades from the 1960s onward, frequently portraying police officer ...

. * '' The Bread Peddler'' (1963) *'' Dragées au poivre'' (1963), directed by Jacques Baratier, but stars Belmondo, Monica Vitti, Anna Karina and Roger Vadim–these last in small parts. *'' Les Félins'' (1964), directed by René Clément, stars

Alain Delon Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon (; 8 November 1935 – 18 August 2024) was a French actor, film producer, screenwriter, singer, and businessman. Acknowledged as a cultural and cinematic leading man of the 20th century, Delon emerged as one of ...

and

Jane Fonda Jane Seymour Fonda (born December 21, 1937) is an American actress and activist. Recognized as a film icon, Jane Fonda filmography, Fonda's work spans several genres and over six decades of film and television. She is the recipient of List of a ...

. B & W. Thriller *'' La Ronde'' (1964), directed by Roger Vadim (not to be confused with the

Max Ophüls Maximillian Oppenheimer ( , ; 6 May 1902 – 26 March 1957), known as Max Ophüls ( , , ) or simply Ophuls, was a German and French film director and screenwriter. He was known for his opulent and lyrical visual style, with heavy use of trac ...

version of 1950). Starred famous New Wave actress

Anna Karina Anna Karina (born Hanne Karin Blarke Bayer; 23 September 1940 – 14 December 2019)

as well as

. * '' The Black Tulip'' (1964) *'' Viva Maria!'' 1965), directed by Louis Malle, stars

Brigitte Bardot Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot ( ; ; born 28 September 1934), often referred to by her initials B.B., is a French former actress, singer, and model as well as an animal rights activist. Famous for portraying characters with Hedonism, hedonistic life ...

Jeanne Moreau Jeanne Moreau (; 23 January 1928 – 31 July 2017) was a French actress, singer, screenwriter, director, and socialite. She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française. Mo ...

. Genre: Adventure / Comedy / Western. *'' The Thief of Paris'' (''Le voleur'') (1967), directed by Louis Malle, stars Jean-Paul Belmondo. *''

Le Samouraï ''Le Samouraï'' (; ) is a 1967 neo-noir crime thriller film written and directed by Jean-Pierre Melville and starring Alain Delon, François Périer, Nathalie Delon, and Cathy Rosier. A Franco-Italian production, it depicts the intersecting pa ...

'' (1967), directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, stars Alain Delon. *'' The Sicilian Clan'' (1969), directed by Henri Verneuil and starring

*'' Two People'' (1973), directed by

Robert Wise Robert Earl Wise (September 10, 1914 – September 14, 2005) was an American filmmaker. He won the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture for his musical films ''West Side Story'' (1961) and ''The Sound of Music'' (1965). He was als ...

, stars

Peter Fonda Peter Henry Fonda (February 23, 1940 – August 16, 2019) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. He was a two-time Academy Award nominee, both for acting and screenwriting, and a two-time Golden Globe Award winner for his a ...

and Lindsay Wagner *''

Operation Daybreak ''Operation Daybreak'' (also known as ''The Price of Freedom'' in the U.S. and ''Seven Men at Daybreak'' during production) is a 1975 war film based on the true story of Operation Anthropoid, the assassination of SS general Reinhard Heydrich i ...

'' (1975), directed by Lewis Gilbert, stars Timothy Bottoms, Anthony Andrews, Martin Shaw and

Joss Ackland Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland (29 February 1928 – 19 November 2023) was an English actor who appeared in more than 130 film, radio and television roles. He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for portraying ...

*'' Seven Nights in Japan'' (1976), directed by Lewis Gilbert, stars

Michael York Michael York (born Michael Hugh Johnson; 27 March 1942) is an English film, television, and stage actor. After performing on stage with the Royal National Theatre, he had a breakthrough in films by playing Tybalt in Franco Zeffirelli's ''Romeo ...

and James Villiers *'' Bobby Deerfield'' (1977), directed by

Sydney Pollack Sydney Irwin Pollack (July 1, 1934 – May 26, 2008) was an American film director, producer, and actor. Pollack is known for directing commercially and critically acclaimed studio films. Over his forty year career he received numerous accolades ...

, stars

Al Pacino Alfredo James Pacino ( ; ; born April 25, 1940) is an American actor. Known for his intense performances on stage and screen, Pacino is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. His career spans more than five decades, duri ...

and Marthe Keller *'' The Boys from Brazil'' (1978), directed by

Franklin J. Schaffner Franklin James Schaffner (May 30, 1920July 2, 1989) was an American film, television, and stage director. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for '' Patton'' (1970), and is known for the films ''Planet of the Apes'' (1968), '' Nicholas and ...

, stars

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...

Gregory Peck Eldred Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an American actor and one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, 12th-greatest male ...

and

James Mason James Neville Mason (; 15 May 190927 July 1984) was an English actor. He achieved considerable success in British cinema before becoming a star in Hollywood. He was nominated for three Academy Awards, three Golden Globes (winning once) and two ...

*'' An Almost Perfect Affair'' (1979), directed by Michael Ritchie, stars Keith Carradine,

Monica Vitti Maria Luisa Ceciarelli (3 November 1931 – 2 February 2022), known professionally as Monica Vitti, was an Italian actress who starred in several award-winning films directed by Michelangelo Antonioni during the 1960s. She appeared with Marcel ...

and Raf Vallone * ''The Hard Way'' (1980), directed by Michael Dryhurst, stars

Patrick McGoohan Patrick Joseph McGoohan (; March 19, 1928 – January 13, 2009) was an Irish-American actor of film, television, and theatre. Born in New York City to Irish parents, he was raised in Ireland and England. He began his career in England during t ...

and

Lee Van Cleef Clarence LeRoy Van Cleef Jr. (January 9, 1925 – December 16, 1989) was an American actor. He appeared in over 170 film and television roles in a career spanning nearly 40 years, but is best known as a star of spaghetti Westerns, particularly t ...

*'' The Island'' (1980), directed by Michael Ritchie, stars

Michael Caine Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, 14 March 1933) is a retired English actor. Known for his distinct Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films over Michael Caine filmography, a career that spanned eight decades an ...

, David Warner and Frank Middlemass *'' La vengeance du serpent à plumes'' (1984), directed by

Gérard Oury Gérard Oury (; born Max-Gérard Houry Tannenbaum; 29 April 1919 – 20 July 2006) was a French film director, actor and writer. Life and career Max-Gérard Houry-Tannenbaum was the only son of Serge Tannenbaum, a violinist of Russian-Jewish or ...

, stars

Coluche Michel Gérard Joseph Colucci (, ; 28 October 1944 – 19 June 1986), better known under his stage name Coluche (), was a French stage comedian, cinema actor, activist and philanthropist. He adopted ''Coluche'' as a stage name at age 26, when he ...

and

Josiane Balasko Josiane Balasko (born Josiane Balašković; 15 April 1950) is a French actress, writer, and director. She has been nominated seven times for César Awards, and won twice. Career One of Balasko's most recognized roles among English speakers is ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Decae, Henri 1915 births 1987 deaths French cinematographers People from Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis French Army personnel of World War II