(born Nov. 11, 1898, Paris, France—died March 15, 1981, Neuilly-sur-Seine) French film director. He acted in silent films from 1920 until 1923, when he wrote and directed
Paris qui dort. That film, along with
Entr'acte (1924) and the satiric farce
The Italian Straw Hat (1927), established his reputation as a leader of the avant-garde. He used sound creatively in early talkies such as
Sous les toits de Paris (1930) and
A nous la liberté! (1931).
The Ghost Goes West (1935), made in England, was an international success. During World War II he directed several Hollywood films, including
And Then There Were None (1945), then returned to France to make
Le Silence est d'or (1947) and
Les Belles de nuit (1952).
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
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