Henri Decaë
Encyclopedia
Henri Decaë gained fame as a cinematographer entering 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
. These include Jean-Pierre Melville, Louis Malle
and Claude Chabrol
. 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
. By the time Decaë worked for François Truffaut
on The 400 Blows
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
.
This filmography shows the close involvement of Decaë with New Wave directors prior to and after the 1958-1963 breaking of the wave. Also included are the films which he worked upon with René Clément, who had previously been chastised by Truffaut as being part of the 'Tradition of Quality'.
Decaë is strongly associated with directors who strongly influenced, or were part of, the French New Wave
French New Wave
The New Wave was a blanket term coined by critics for a group of French filmmakers of the late 1950s and 1960s, influenced by Italian Neorealism and classical Hollywood cinema. Although never a formally organized movement, the New Wave filmmakers were linked by their self-conscious rejection of...
. These include Jean-Pierre Melville, Louis Malle
Louis Malle
Louis Malle was a French film director, screenwriter, and producer. He worked in both French cinema and Hollywood. His films include Ascenseur pour l'échafaud , Atlantic City , and Au revoir, les enfants .- Early years in France :Malle was born into a wealthy industrialist family in Thumeries,...
and Claude Chabrol
Claude Chabrol
Claude Chabrol was a French film director, a member of the French New Wave group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s...
. 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
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. By the time Decaë worked for François Truffaut
François Truffaut
François Roland Truffaut was an influential film critic and filmmaker and one of the founders of the French New Wave. In a film career lasting over a quarter of a century, he remains an icon of the French film industry. He was also a screenwriter, producer, and actor working on over twenty-five...
on The 400 Blows
The 400 Blows
The 400 Blows is a 1959 French film directed by François Truffaut. One of the defining films of the French New Wave, it displays many of the characteristic traits of the movement. The story revolves around Antoine Doinel, an ordinary adolescent in Paris, who is thought by his parents and teachers...
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
Cinema of France
The Cinema of France comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad.France is the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Several important cinematic movements, including the Nouvelle...
.
Selected filmography
1949 to 1967. Mainly sourced from Internet Movie Database.This filmography shows the close involvement of Decaë with New Wave directors prior to and after the 1958-1963 breaking of the wave. Also included are the films which he worked upon with René Clément, who had previously been chastised by Truffaut as being part of the 'Tradition of Quality'.
- Silence de la mer, LeLe Silence de la Mer (film)Le Silence de la mer is a 1949 film by Jean-Pierre Melville that takes place in 1941 and concerns a Frenchman and his niece's relationship with a German lieutenant who lives in their house during the German occupation of France...
(1949) Jean-Pierre Melville - Enfants terribles, LesLes Enfants terribles (film)Les Enfants terribles is a 1950 French film directed by Jean-Pierre Melville and based on Jean Cocteau's novel of the same name...
(1950) Jean-Pierre Melville - Bob le flambeurBob le flambeurBob le flambeur is a 1956 French gangster film directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. The film stars Roger Duchesne as Bob...
(1955) Jean-Pierre Melville - Amants, Les (1958) Louis MalleLouis MalleLouis Malle was a French film director, screenwriter, and producer. He worked in both French cinema and Hollywood. His films include Ascenseur pour l'échafaud , Atlantic City , and Au revoir, les enfants .- Early years in France :Malle was born into a wealthy industrialist family in Thumeries,...
- Le Beau SergeLe Beau SergeLe Beau Serge is a French film directed by Claude Chabrol, released in 1958. It is often considered the first product of the Nouvelle Vague or "French New Wave" film movement.-Synopsis:...
(1958) Claude ChabrolClaude ChabrolClaude Chabrol was a French film director, a member of the French New Wave group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s... - Ascenseur pour l'échafaudElevator to the GallowsAscenseur pour l'échafaud is a 1958 French film directed by Louis Malle. It was released as Elevator to the Gallows in the USA and as Lift to the Scaffold in the UK. It stars Jeanne Moreau and Maurice Ronet as criminal lovers whose perfect crime begins to unravel when Ronet is trapped in an elevator...
(1958) Louis Malle - Quatre cents coups, LesThe 400 BlowsThe 400 Blows is a 1959 French film directed by François Truffaut. One of the defining films of the French New Wave, it displays many of the characteristic traits of the movement. The story revolves around Antoine Doinel, an ordinary adolescent in Paris, who is thought by his parents and teachers...
(1959). François TruffautFrançois TruffautFrançois Roland Truffaut was an influential film critic and filmmaker and one of the founders of the French New Wave. In a film career lasting over a quarter of a century, he remains an icon of the French film industry. He was also a screenwriter, producer, and actor working on over twenty-five... - Les CousinsLes CousinsLes Cousins may refer to:* Les Cousins , a 1960s folk and blues club in Greek Street, Soho, London* Les Cousins , a 1959 film by Claude Chabrol-See also:* Les Cousins Branchaud, folk group from Sainte-Ursule, Quebec...
(1959). Claude Chabrol - À double tourÀ double tourÀ double tour is a 1959 French suspense thriller film directed by Claude Chabrol and based on the novel by American writer Stanley Ellin. It was Chabrol's first film in the thriller genre, which would be his genre of choice for the rest of his career. The film had a total of 1,445,587 admissions...
(1959) Claude Chabrol (his third Feature, released in December) - Che gioia vivere (1960) René Clément (a comedy)
- Plein SoleilPlein SoleilPurple Noon is a 1960 film directed by René Clément, based on The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith, and starring Alain Delon in his first major movie...
(1960) René Clément (Suspense thriller) - Les Bonnes FemmesLes Bonnes FemmesLes Bonnes Femmes is a French crime drama directed by Claude Chabrol. It was one of the earliest and most revered films of the French New Wave, although it was a financial flop on its initial release....
(1960) Claude Chabrol (his fourth feature, released in April; critical and box office reception unfavourable - a flop) - Léon Morin, prêtre (1961) Jean-Pierre Melville
- Vie privée (1962) Louis Malle
- EvaEVAEva or EVA may refer to:* Eva , a given name for women** Eva , a list of people with the name EvaIt may also refer to:-In business and economics:* Earned Value Analysis, a measurement of project progress...
(1962) (uncredited) Joseph LoseyJoseph LoseyJoseph Walton Losey was an American theater and film director. After studying in Germany with Bertolt Brecht, Losey returned to the United States, eventually making his way to Hollywood... - Les Sept péchés capitauxLes Sept péchés capitauxLes Sept péchés capitaux is a 1962 film composed of seven different segments, one for each of the seven deadly sins.- External links :...
(1962) Philippe de BrocaPhilippe de BrocaPhilippe de Broca was a French film director.Born Philippe Claude Alex de Broca de Ferrussac in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, the son of a photographer of noble origins. de Broca was a cinephile from an early age, and he studied at the l'École technique de photographie et de cinématographie...
/ Claude Chabrol. This is a blend of the commercial work of 'Cinéma de papa' directors and representatives of the New Wave including Jean-Luc GodardJean-Luc GodardJean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic. He is often identified with the 1960s French film movement, French Nouvelle Vague, or "New Wave"....
, Chabrol, Jacques DemyJacques DemyJacques Demy was one of the most approachable filmmakers to appear in the wake of the French New Wave. Uninterested in the formal experimentation of Alain Resnais, or the political agitation of Jean-Luc Godard, Demy instead created a self-contained fantasy world closer to that of François...
and Roger VadimRoger VadimRoger Vadim was a French screenwriter, director, and producer as well as a journalist, author and actor, who launched Brigitte Bardot's career in the film And God Created Woman.-Early life:...
. 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 ConstantineEddie ConstantineEddie Constantine was an American-born French actor and singer who spent his career working in Europe....
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) René Clément. (Action / Drama / War)
- L’Aîné des Ferchaux (1963) Jean-Pierre Melville : Stars Jean-Paul BelmondoJean-Paul BelmondoJean-Paul Belmondo is a French actor initially associated with the New Wave of the 1960s.-Career:Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, west of Paris, Belmondo did not perform well in school, but developed a passion for boxing and football."Did you box professionally very long?" "Not very long...
. - Dragées au poivre (1963) by Jacques Baratier, but stars Belmondo, Monica Vitti, Anna Karina and Roger Vadim–these last in small parts.
- Les FélinsLes félinsLes Félins, also known as The Love Cage and Joy House , is a 1964 black-and-white film based on the novel Joy House by Day Keene. Directed by René Clément and starring Alain Delon, Jane Fonda, and Lola Albright, this mystery/thriller features a criminal on the run from both police and killers...
(1964) René Clément. Stars Alain DelonAlain DelonAlain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
and Jane FondaJane FondaJane Fonda is an American actress, writer, political activist, former fashion model, and fitness guru. She rose to fame in the 1960s with films such as Barbarella and Cat Ballou. She has won two Academy Awards and received several other movie awards and nominations during more than 50 years as an...
. B & W. Thriller - La RondeLa Ronde (1964 film)La Ronde is a 1964 film directed by Roger Vadim and based on Arthur Schnitzler's 1897 play of the same name.-Cast:* Jean-Claude Brialy - Alfred / Der 'Junge Herr'...
(1964) Roger Vadim (not to be confused with the Max OphülsMax OphülsMaximillian Oppenheimer — known as Max Ophüls — was an influential German-born film director who worked in Germany , France , the United States , and France again...
version of 1950). Starred famous New Wave actress Anna KarinaAnna KarinaAnna Karina is a Danish film actress, director, and screenwriter who has spent most of her working life in France. Karina is known as a muse of the director, Jean-Luc Godard, one of the pioneers of the French New Wave...
as well as Jane FondaJane FondaJane Fonda is an American actress, writer, political activist, former fashion model, and fitness guru. She rose to fame in the 1960s with films such as Barbarella and Cat Ballou. She has won two Academy Awards and received several other movie awards and nominations during more than 50 years as an...
. - Viva Maria!Viva Maria!Viva Maria! is a 1965 comedy-adventure film starring Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau as two women named Maria who meet and become revolutionaries in the early 20th century. It also starred George Hamilton as Florès, a revolutionary leader. It was co-written and directed by Louis Malle, and...
1965) Louis Malle. Stars Brigitte BardotBrigitte BardotBrigitte Anne-Marie Bardot is a French former fashion model, actress, singer and animal rights activist. She was one of the best-known sex-symbols of the 1960s.In her early life, Bardot was an aspiring ballet dancer...
, Jeanne MoreauJeanne MoreauJeanne Moreau is a French actress, singer, screenwriter and director.She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française...
. Genre: Adventure / Comedy / Western. - The Thief of ParisThe Thief of ParisThe Thief of Paris is a 1967 French film directed by Louis Malle and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo as a professional thief at the turn of the century in Paris. The movie is based on a book of the same title by Georges Darien. The story centers on his burglaries as well as his ongoing relationship...
(Le voleur) (1967) Louis Malle. Stars Belmondo. - Le SamouraïLe SamouraïLe Samouraï is a 1967 French crime film directed by French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville, starring Alain Delon.- Plot :The story follows a perfectionist free-agent hitman, Jef Costello , who religiously adheres to a strict code of duty...
(1967). Jean-Pierre Melville. Stars Delon. - Army of Shadows (1969). Jean-Pierre Melville. Stars Lino Ventura, Simone Signoret.
- Two PeopleTwo People (film)Two People is a 1973 American drama film produced and directed by Robert Wise. It stars Peter Fonda and Lindsay Wagner. The screenplay by Richard De Roy focuses on the brief relationship shared by a Vietnam War deserter and a fashion model.-Plot:...
(1973) Directed by Robert WiseRobert WiseRobert Earl Wise was an American sound effects editor, film editor, film producer and director...
, stars Peter FondaPeter FondaPeter Henry Fonda is an American actor. He is the son of Henry Fonda, brother of Jane Fonda, and father of Bridget and Justin Fonda...
and Lindsay WagnerLindsay WagnerLindsay Jean Wagner is an American actress. She is probably best known for her portrayal of Jaime Sommers in the 1970s television series The Bionic Woman , though she has maintained a lengthy career in a variety of other film and television productions since.-Early life:Wagner was born in Los...