Bernard Blier
Encyclopedia
Bernard Blier was a French character actor
. His rotund features and premature baldness allowed him to often play cuckolded husbands in his early career. He proved to be one of France's most versatile and sought-after character actors, performing interchangeably in comedies and dramas. He often worked in Italian films, particularly in the last decade of his life.
He was born in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
, where his father, a researcher at the Institut Pasteur, was posted at the time. He is the father of director Bertrand Blier
, and appeared in a number of his son's films, most notably Buffet froid
(1979). He was awarded an Honorary César
(the French Oscar
) in 1989, a month before he died.
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
. His rotund features and premature baldness allowed him to often play cuckolded husbands in his early career. He proved to be one of France's most versatile and sought-after character actors, performing interchangeably in comedies and dramas. He often worked in Italian films, particularly in the last decade of his life.
He was born in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, where his father, a researcher at the Institut Pasteur, was posted at the time. He is the father of director Bertrand Blier
Bertrand Blier
Bertrand Blier is a French screenwriter and film director.Born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. He is the son of Bernard Blier....
, and appeared in a number of his son's films, most notably Buffet froid
Buffet froid
Buffet froid is a 1979 French film written and directed by Bertrand Blier, starring Gérard Depardieu, Carole Bouquet, Bernard Blier and Jean Carmet. The film is a crime thriller but displays a high degree of black humour as contemporary urban life is depicted as alienating and having a dehumanizing...
(1979). He was awarded an Honorary César
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 Cinema. The following are the recipients of the honorary César award since 1976.- See also :**...
(the French Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
) in 1989, a month before he died.
Selected films
- Hôtel du NordHôtel du NordHôtel du Nord is a 1938 French drama film directed by Marcel Carné and starring Annabella.- Cast :* Annabella - Renée* Jean-Pierre Aumont - Pierre* Louis Jouvet - Monsieur Edmond* Arletty - Raymonde* Paulette Dubost - Ginette* Andrex - Kenel...
(1938) - Le Jour se lèveLe Jour se lèveLe Jour se lève is a 1939 French film directed by Marcel Carné and written by Jacques Prévert, based on a story by Jacques Viot. It is considered one of the principal examples of the French film movement known as poetic realism....
(1939) - Le Pavillon brûleLe Pavillon brûleLe Pavillon brûle is a French comedy drama film from 1941, directed by Jacques de Baroncelli, written by Solange Térac, starring Pierre Renoir and Jean Marais.- Plot :Ramsay, an engineer, works in a mine of copper in the French colonies...
(1941) - La Symphonie fantastiqueLa Symphonie fantastiqueLa Symphonie fantastique is a 1942 French drama film by Christian-Jaque based upon the life of the French composer Hector Berlioz. The title is taken from the five-movement programmatic Symphonie fantastique of 1830...
(1942) - Quai des OrfèvresQuai des OrfèvresQuai des Orfèvres is a 1947 French police procedural drama based on the book Légitime défense by Stanislas-Andre Steeman. Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot the film stars Suzy Delair as Jenny Lamour, Bernard Blier as Maurice Martineau, Louis Jouvet as Inspector Antoine and Simone Renant as...
(1947) - Dédée d'AnversDédée d'AnversDédée d'Anvers is a 1948 French film directed by Yves Allégret. The film stars Simone Signoret, Bernard Blier, Marcel Pagliero and Jane Marken....
(1948) - 18481848 (film)1848 is a 1949 French short documentary film directed by Marguerite de la Mure and Victoria Mercanton. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short....
(1949) - Return to LifeReturn to LifeReturn to Life is a 1949 French drama film directed by Georges Lampin, André Cayatte, Henri-Georges Clouzot and Jean Dréville. It was entered into the 1949 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Paul Azaïs – Le capitaine...
(1949) - ManègesManègesManèges is a French film directed by Yves Allégret and released in 1950. The film stars Simone Signoret , Bernard Blier and Jane Marken. It is shot in black-and-white in film noir style, with extensive use of flashback and the voiceover of characters' unspoken thoughts...
(1950) - ...Sans laisser d'adresse...Sans laisser d'adresse...Sans laisser d'adresse is a 1951 French comedy film directed by Jean-Paul Le Chanois. At the 1st Berlin International Film Festival it won the Golden Bear award.-Cast:* Bernard Blier - Émile Gauthier* Danièle Delorme - Thérèse Ravenaz...
(1951) - Agence matrimonialeAgence matrimonialeAgence matrimoniale , is a French comedy drama film from 1952, directed by Jean-Paul Le Chanois, written by Jean-Paul Le Chanois, starring by Bernard Blier and Louis de Funès.- Cast :*Bernard Blier : Noël Pailleret, modest clerk of bank...
(1951) - Je l'ai été trois foisJe l'ai été trois foisJe l'ai été trois fois , is a French comedy film from 1952, directed by Sacha Guitry, written by Sacha Guitry, starring Sacha Guitry and Louis de Funès...
(1952) - Before the DelugeBefore the DelugeBefore the Deluge is a 1954 French drama film directed by André Cayatte. It was entered into the 1954 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Antoine Balpêtré - Monsieur Albert Dutoit * Paul Bisciglia - Jean-Jacques Noblet...
(1954) - Scènes de ménageScènes de ménageScènes de ménage , is a French comedy film from 1954, directed by André Berthomieu, written by Marcel Achard, starring Bernard Blier and Louis de Funès...
(1954) - Black DossierBlack Dossier (film)Black Dossier is a 1955 French drama film directed by André Cayatte. It was entered into the 1955 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Jean-Marc Bory as Juge Jacques Arnaud* Danièle Delorme as Yvonne Dutoit* Bernard Blier as Commissaire Noblet...
(1955) - Les HussardsLes HussardsLes Hussards , is a French comedy film from 1955, directed by Alex Joffé, written by Gabriel Arout, starring Bernard Blier and Louis de Funès...
(1955) - The Man in the Raincoat (1957)
- Retour de manivelleRetour de manivelleRetour de manivelle is a 1957 French-language motion picture crime drama directed by Denys de La Patellière who co-wrote screenplay with Michel Audiard, based on novel by James Hadley Chase...
(1957) - Les MisérablesLes Misérables (1958 film)Les Misérables is a film version of the Victor Hugo novel released in France on March 12, 1958. Written by Michel Audiard and René Barjavel, the film was directed by Jean-Paul Le Chanois...
(1958) - Archimède le clochardArchimède le clochardArchimède le clochard is a 1959 French drama film directed by Gilles Grangier. It was entered into the 9th Berlin International Film Festival, where Jean Gabin won the Silver Bear for Best Actor.-Cast:...
(1959) - Le 7 éme juré (1962)
- Les Tontons flingueursLes Tontons flingueursLes Tontons flingueurs is a 1963 French-Italian-German film, made in the French language, directed by Georges Lautner. It is an adaptation of the Albert Simonin book Grisbi or not grisbi.The film was not enormously popular on first release, in 1963...
(1963) - High InfidelityHigh InfidelityHigh Infidelity is a 1964 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli, Elio Petri, Franco Rossi and Luciano Salce.-Cast:* Nino Manfredi as Francesco * Fulvia Franco as Raffaella...
(1964) - Greed in the SunGreed in the SunGreed in the Sun is a 1964 French comedy film directed by Henri Verneuil. It was entered into the 1964 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Jean-Paul Belmondo - Rocco* Lino Ventura - Hervé Marec dit 'Le plouc'* Reginald Kernan - John Steiner alias Peter Frocht...
(1964) - A Question of HonourA Question of HonourA Question of Honour is a 1965 Italian - comedy-drama film directed by Luigi Zampa. It was co-producted with France. The film was entered into the 16th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Ugo Tognazzi - Efisio Mulas...
(1965) - Les Bons VivantsLes Bons VivantsLes Bons Vivants , is a French comedy film from 1965, directed by Gilles Grangier, written by Michel Audiard and Albert Kantof, starring Louis de Funès...
(1965) - Le Grand Restaurant (1966)
- The StrangerThe Stranger (1967 film)The Stranger is a 1967 film by Italian film director Luchino Visconti, based on Albert Camus' novel L'Étranger, with Marcello Mastroianni.-Cast:* Marcello Mastroianni - Arthur Meursault* Anna Karina - Marie Cardona* Bernard Blier - Defense Counsel...
(1967) - Coplan Saves His SkinCoplan Saves His SkinCoplan Saves His Skin is a 1968 French Francis Coplan spy film directed by Yves Boisset and starring Claudio Brook.-Cast:* Claudio Brook - Francis Coplan* Margaret Lee - Mara / Eva* Jean Servais - Saroghu* Bernard Blier - Marscar...
(1968) - My Uncle Benjamin (1969)
- Le DistraitLe DistraitLe Distrait is a 1970 French comedy film directed by Pierre Richard, starring Pierre Richard, Marie-Christine Barrault and Bernard Blier....
(1970) - Le grand blond avec une chaussure noire (1972) — The film is known in UK as Follow That Guy with the One Black Shoe, in Germany as Der Große Blonde mit dem schwarzen Schuh, and recast in the USA as The Tall Blond Man with One Black ShoeThe Tall Blond Man with One Black ShoeThe Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe is a 1972 French comedy film directed by Yves Robert, written by Francis Veber, starring Pierre Richard, Jean Rochefort and Bernard Blier...
. - Je sais rien, mais je dirai tout (1973)
- Le retour du grand blond (1974)
- Ante UpAnte Up (film)Ante Up is a 1974 Italian comedy film directed by Paolo Nuzzi. It was entered into the 25th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Aldo Maccione - Camola* Agostina Belli - Ines* Andréa Ferréol - Cantante Lirica...
(1974) - Cher VictorCher VictorCher Victor is a 1975 French comedy film directed by Robin Davis. It was entered into the 1975 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Bernard Blier - Anselme* Jacques Dufilho - Victor Lasalle* Alida Valli - Anne* Jacqueline Doyen - Micheline...
(1975) - Calmos (Femmes Fatales)CalmosCalmos is a 1976 French film directed by Bertrand Blier.-Plot:Two men, fortyish, worn out by their wives, abandon everything to go and live in the back of beyond. There they meet a truculent priest, a boozer, Émile who recalls them to life's simple pleasures. Calm, that's what they want...
(1976) - Golden NightGolden NightGolden Night is a 1976 French drama film directed by Serge Moati and starring Klaus Kinski.-Cast:* Bernard Blier - Commissaire Pidoux* Klaus Kinski - Michel Fournier* Marie Dubois - Véronique* Jean-Luc Bideau - Henri Fournier...
(1976) - Buffet froidBuffet froidBuffet froid is a 1979 French film written and directed by Bertrand Blier, starring Gérard Depardieu, Carole Bouquet, Bernard Blier and Jean Carmet. The film is a crime thriller but displays a high degree of black humour as contemporary urban life is depicted as alienating and having a dehumanizing...
(1979) - Série noireSérie noire (film)Série noire is a 1979 French crime film directed by Alain Corneau. It was entered into the 1979 Cannes Film Festival. It is based on the novel Hell of a Woman by Jim Thompson.-Cast:* Patrick Dewaere - Franck Poupart* Myriam Boyer - Jeanne...
(1979) - Passion of LovePassion of LovePassion of Love is a 1981 Italian drama film directed by Ettore Scola. It was entered into the 1981 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Bernard Giraudeau - Capt. Giorgio Bacchetti* Valeria D'Obici - Fosca* Laura Antonelli - Clara...
(1981) - The Two Lives of Mattia PascalThe Two Lives of Mattia PascalThe Two Lives of Mattia Pascal is a 1985 Italian drama film directed by Mario Monicelli. It was entered into the 1985 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Marcello Mastroianni - Mattia Pascal* Senta Berger - Clara* Flavio Bucci - Terenzio Papiano...
(1985) - Madman at WarMadman at WarMadman at War is a 1985 Italian-French comedy film directed by Dino Risi. It was entered into the 1985 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Coluche as Oscar Pilli* Beppe Grillo as Marcello Lupi* Bernard Blier as Belucci* Fabio Testi as Boda...
(1985) - The Possessed (1988)
- MigrationsMigrations (film)Migrations is a 1988 French – Yugoslavian drama film directed by Aleksandar Petrović and starring Isabelle Huppert.-Cast:* Avtandil Makharadze – Vuk Isaković* Isabelle Huppert – Dafina Isaković* Richard Berry – Aranđel Isaković* Bernard Blier...
(1988)