René Clément (; 18 March 1913 – 17 March 1996) was a French
film director
A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfillment of that Goal, vision. The director has a key role ...
and
screenwriter
A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...
. He is known for directing the films ''
The Battle of the Rails'' (1946), ''
Forbidden Games'' (1952), ''
Gervaise'' (1956), ''
Purple Noon
''Purple Noon'' (; ; also known as ''Full Sun'', ''Blazing Sun'', ''Lust for Evil'', and ''Talented Mr. Ripley'') is a 1960 crime thriller film starring Alain Delon (in his first major role), alongside Marie Laforêt and Maurice Ronet; Romy Schn ...
'' (1960), and ''
Is Paris Burning Is Paris Burning? () was a demand said to have been directed by Adolf Hitler at his military governor of Paris, General Dietrich von Choltitz, or in another account at Hitler's chief of staff, General Alfred Jodl, in August 1944 as Paris was falli ...
'' (1966). He received numerous accolades including five prizes at the
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world.
Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
and the
Honorary César
The César Award is France's national film award. Recipients are selected by the members of the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma
An academy ( Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of ...
in 1984.
Early life
Clément studied architecture at the
École des Beaux-Arts
; ) refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The term is associated with the Beaux-Arts architecture, Beaux-Arts style in architecture and city planning that thrived in France and other countries during the late nineteenth centu ...
where he developed an interest in filmmaking. In 1936, he directed his first film, a 20-minute short written by and featuring
Jacques Tati
Jacques Tati (; born Jacques Tatischeff, ; 9 October 1907 – 5 November 1982) was a French mime, filmmaker, actor and screenwriter. In an ''Entertainment Weekly'' poll of the Greatest Movie Directors, he was voted 46th (a list of the top 50 was ...
. Clément spent the latter part of the 1930s making documentaries in parts of the Middle East and Africa. In 1937, he and archaeologist Jules Barthou were in
Yemen
Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...
making preparations to film a
documentary
A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...
, the first ever of that country and one that includes the only known film image of
Imam Yahya.
Career
Almost ten years passed before Clément directed a feature but his
French Resistance
The French Resistance ( ) was a collection of groups that fought the German military administration in occupied France during World War II, Nazi occupation and the Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy#France, collaborationist Vic ...
film, ''
La Bataille du rail
LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States of America.
La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* La (musical note), or A, the sixth note
*"L.A.", a song by Elliott Smi ...
'' (1945), gained much critical and commercial success. From there Clément became one of his country's most successful and respected directors, garnering numerous awards including two films that won the
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...
, the first in 1950 for ''
The Walls of Malapaga'' (''Au-delà des grilles'') and the second time two years later for ''
Forbidden Games'' (''Jeux interdits''). Clément had international success with several films but his star-studded 1966 epic ''
Is Paris Burning?'', written by
Gore Vidal
Eugene Luther Gore Vidal ( ; born Eugene Louis Vidal, October 3, 1925 – July 31, 2012) was an American writer and public intellectual known for his acerbic epigrammatic wit. His novels and essays interrogated the Social norm, social and sexual ...
and
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola ( ; born April 7, 1939) is an American filmmaker. He is considered one of the leading figures of the New Hollywood and one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. List of awards and nominations received by Francis Ford Coppo ...
and produced by
Paul Graetz was a costly box office failure.
He began directing ''
Play Dirty'' (a.k.a. ''Written in the Sand'') but quit early in production due to disputes with the film's producer
Harry Saltzman. He directed the thriller ''
Joy House'' (1964) with
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 ...
and
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 ...
. In May 2023 on ''
Watch What Happens Live!'' with
Andy Cohen
Andrew Joseph Cohen (born June 2, 1968) is an American radio and television talk show host, producer, and writer. He is the host and executive producer of ''The Real Housewives'' Multimedia franchise, franchise and Bravo (American TV network), B ...
, Fonda alleged that Clément
sexually harassed her during the film's production telling her that the film involved a love scene and that she needed to sleep with him so that he could judge her
orgasm
Orgasm (from Greek , ; "excitement, swelling"), sexual climax, or simply climax, is the sudden release of accumulated sexual excitement during the sexual response cycle, characterized by intense sexual pleasure resulting in rhythmic, involu ...
. During the production he was 51 and she was 27.
In 1973 he was a member of the jury at the
8th Moscow International Film Festival
The 8th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 10 to 23 July 1973. The Golden Prizes were awarded to the Soviet film '' That Sweet Word: Liberty!'' directed by Vytautas Žalakevičius and the Bulgarian film '' Affection'' directed by ...
.
Clément continued to make a few films until his retirement in 1975, including an international success with ''
Rider on the Rain'' that starred
Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson (born Charles Dennis Buchinsky; November 3, 1921 – August 30, 2003) was an American actor. He was known for his roles in action films and his "granite features and brawny physique". Bronson was born into extreme poverty in ...
and
Marlène Jobert. In 1984 the French motion picture industry honored his lifetime contribution to film with a special
César Award Cesar or César may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* César (film), ''César'' (film), a 1936 French romantic drama
* César (film), ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt
Places
* Cesar, Portugal
* Cesar Department, Colombia
* Cesar R ...
.
Personal life
Clément's second wife was Irish screenwriter
Johanna Harwood whom he had met on the set of his 1954 film ''
Monsieur Ripois''.
Death
Clément died on 17 March 1996, a day before his 83rd birthday, and was buried in the local cemetery in
Menton
Menton (; in classical norm or in Mistralian norm, , ; ; or depending on the orthography) is a Commune in France, commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera, close to the Italia ...
on the
French Riviera
The French Riviera, known in French as the (; , ; ), is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France. There is no official boundary, but it is considered to be the coastal area of the Alpes-Maritimes department, extending fr ...
where he had spent his years in retirement.
Films
Director
*''
Soigne ton gauche'', 1936
*''
Paris la nuit'', 1939
*''
La Bataille du rail
LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States of America.
La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* La (musical note), or A, the sixth note
*"L.A.", a song by Elliott Smi ...
'' (Battle of the Rails), 1946
*''
Le Père tranquille'' (Mr. Orchid), 1946
*''
Les Maudits'' (The Damned), 1947
*''
Au-delà des grilles
''The Walls of Malapaga'' (, ), is a 1949 French-Italian drama film directed by René Clément and starring Jean Gabin, Isa Miranda and Andrea Checchi. It was a co-production made by Francinex and Italia Produzione, produced by Alfredo Guarini ...
'' (The Walls of Malapaga), 1949
*''
Le Château de verre'' (Glass Castle), 1950
*''
Jeux interdits'' (Forbidden Games), 1952
*''
Monsieur Ripois'' (Knave of Hearts), 1954
*''
Gervaise'', 1956
*''
This Angry Age'' (Barrage contre le Pacifique, La Diga sul Pacifico), 1958
*''
Plein soleil'' (Purple Noon), 1960
*''
Quelle joie de vivre'' (The Joy of Living, Che gioia vivere), 1961
*''
Le Jour et l'Heure'' (The Day and the Hour), 1963
*''
Les Félins'' (Love Cage/Joy House), 1964
*''
Paris brûle-t-il?'' (Is Paris Burning?), 1966
*''
Le Passager de la pluie'' (Rider on the Rain), 1969
*''
La Maison sous les arbres'' (The Deadly Trap), 1971
*' (...and Hope to Die), 1972
*''
La Baby-Sitter'' (Wanted: Babysitter), 1975
Actor
*''
Plein soleil'' (1960) – Le serveur maladroit (uncredited)
*''
The Joy of Living'' (1963) – French General
*''Yoroppa tokkyu'' (1984) – (final film role)
Accolades
*1946: International Jury Prize at the
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world.
Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
– ''
La Bataille du rail
LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States of America.
La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* La (musical note), or A, the sixth note
*"L.A.", a song by Elliott Smi ...
'' (Battle of the Rails)
*1949:
Cannes Film Festival Best Director award – ''
Au-delà des grilles
''The Walls of Malapaga'' (, ), is a 1949 French-Italian drama film directed by René Clément and starring Jean Gabin, Isa Miranda and Andrea Checchi. It was a co-production made by Francinex and Italia Produzione, produced by Alfredo Guarini ...
'' (The Walls of Malapaga)
*1952:
Golden Lion
The Golden Lion () is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is regarded as one of the film industry's most prestigious and distinguished prizes. In 1970, a ...
at the
Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival (, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival held in Venice, Italy. It is the world's oldest film festival and one of the ...
– ''
Forbidden Games'' (''Jeux interdits'')
*1952:
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
The New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) is an American film critic organization founded in 1935 by Wanda Hale from the New York ''Daily News''. Its membership includes over 30 film critics from New York–based daily and weekly newspapers, ma ...
for Best Foreign Language Film – ''Forbidden Games'' (''Jeux interdits'')
*1953:
BAFTA Award for Best Film
The BAFTA Award for Best Film is a film award given annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and presented at the British Academy Film Awards. It has been given since the 1st BAFTA Awards, representing the best films of 19 ...
– ''Forbidden Games'' (''Jeux interdits'')
*1954:
Prix du jury at Cannes Film Festival – ''
Monsieur Ripois'' (Lover Boy)
*1956:
Golden Lion
The Golden Lion () is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is regarded as one of the film industry's most prestigious and distinguished prizes. In 1970, a ...
at the Venice Film Festival – ''
Gervaise''
*1956: BAFTA Award for Best Film – ''Gervaise''
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clement, Rene
1913 births
1996 deaths
Mass media people from Bordeaux
École des Beaux-Arts alumni
French film directors
Directors of Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award winners
Directors of Palme d'Or winners
Directors of Golden Lion winners
Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director winners
César Honorary Award recipients