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IMDbPro

René Clément(1913-1996)

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
René Clément in Purple Noon (1960)
René Clément was one of the leading French directors of the post-World War II era. He directed what are regarded as some of the greatest films of the time, such as The Battle of the Rails (1946), Forbidden Games (1952) and The Day and the Hour (1963). He was later almost forgotten as a director. He was back in public attention briefly when his epic Is Paris Burning? (1966) (with an all-star cast of famous actors) was released in 1966, but it was much criticized.

During the 1960s and 1970s Clement directed a number of unnoticed international productions, always with his usual brio and technical virtuosity. Indeed, what characterizes most of his films is how, even to serve sometimes very unexceptional scripts, the directing is always breathtakingly original, inventive, featuring technical virtuosity and the use of special effects. When a remarkable script is associated with these qualities, a film such as Forbidden Games (1952) is the result: the masterpiece of a lifetime. I think we can say that René Clément was one of the most unlucky talented filmmakers who existed, but unfortunate career choices damaged his legacy.

He died in March 1996.
BornMarch 18, 1913
DiedMarch 17, 1996(82)
BornMarch 18, 1913
DiedMarch 17, 1996(82)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
    • 15 wins & 8 nominations total

Photos1

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Known for

Alain Delon in Purple Noon (1960)
Purple Noon
7.7
  • Director
  • 1960
Amédée, Brigitte Fossey, and Georges Poujouly in Forbidden Games (1952)
Forbidden Games
8.0
  • Director
  • 1952
The Battle of the Rails (1946)
The Battle of the Rails
7.0
  • Director
  • 1946
Knave of Hearts (1954)
Knave of Hearts
6.8
  • Director
  • 1954

Credits

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IMDbPro

Director



  • Sydne Rome and Maria Schneider in Wanted: Babysitter (1975)
    Wanted: Babysitter
    5.4
    • Director
    • 1975
  • Jean-Louis Trintignant and Robert Ryan in ...And Hope to Die (1972)
    ...And Hope to Die
    6.7
    • Director
    • 1972
  • The Deadly Trap (1971)
    The Deadly Trap
    5.6
    • Director
    • 1971
  • Rider on the Rain (1970)
    Rider on the Rain
    6.6
    • Director
    • 1970
  • Is Paris Burning? (1966)
    Is Paris Burning?
    6.8
    • Director
    • 1966
  • Jane Fonda and Alain Delon in Joy House (1964)
    Joy House
    7.0
    • Director
    • 1964
  • Simone Signoret and Stuart Whitman in The Day and the Hour (1963)
    The Day and the Hour
    6.6
    • Director
    • 1963
  • The Joy of Living (1961)
    The Joy of Living
    6.4
    • Director
    • 1961
  • Alain Delon in Purple Noon (1960)
    Purple Noon
    7.7
    • Director
    • 1960
  • This Angry Age (1958)
    This Angry Age
    5.8
    • Director
    • 1958
  • Gervaise (1956)
    Gervaise
    7.4
    • Director
    • 1956
  • Knave of Hearts (1954)
    Knave of Hearts
    6.8
    • Director
    • 1954
  • Amédée, Brigitte Fossey, and Georges Poujouly in Forbidden Games (1952)
    Forbidden Games
    8.0
    • Director
    • 1952
  • Michèle Morgan and Jean Marais in The Glass Castle (1950)
    The Glass Castle
    6.1
    • Director
    • 1950
  • The Walls of Malapaga (1949)
    The Walls of Malapaga
    6.8
    • Director
    • 1949

Writer



  • Sydne Rome and Maria Schneider in Wanted: Babysitter (1975)
    Wanted: Babysitter
    5.4
    • screenplay
    • 1975
  • The Deadly Trap (1971)
    The Deadly Trap
    5.6
    • adaptation
    • 1971
  • Jane Fonda and Alain Delon in Joy House (1964)
    Joy House
    7.0
    • written by
    • 1964
  • Simone Signoret and Stuart Whitman in The Day and the Hour (1963)
    The Day and the Hour
    6.6
    • adaptation
    • 1963
  • The Joy of Living (1961)
    The Joy of Living
    6.4
    • written by
    • 1961
  • Alain Delon in Purple Noon (1960)
    Purple Noon
    7.7
    • adaptation by
    • dialogue by
    • 1960
  • This Angry Age (1958)
    This Angry Age
    5.8
    • screenplay (as Rene Clement)
    • 1958
  • Knave of Hearts (1954)
    Knave of Hearts
    6.8
    • adaptation
    • 1954
  • Amédée, Brigitte Fossey, and Georges Poujouly in Forbidden Games (1952)
    Forbidden Games
    8.0
    • screen adaptation
    • 1952
  • Michèle Morgan and Jean Marais in The Glass Castle (1950)
    The Glass Castle
    6.1
    • screenplay
    • 1950
  • The Damned (1947)
    The Damned
    7.0
    • adaptation
    • 1947
  • The Battle of the Rails (1946)
    The Battle of the Rails
    7.0
    • scenario
    • 1946
  • Chefs de demain
    Short
    • screenplay & dialogue
    • 1944
  • César chez les Gaulois (1931)
    César chez les Gaulois
    5.0
    Short
    • Writer
    • 1931

Actor



  • Yoroppa tokkyu (1984)
    Yoroppa tokkyu
    7.8
    • 1984
  • The Joy of Living (1961)
    The Joy of Living
    6.4
    • Le général
    • 1961
  • Alain Delon in Purple Noon (1960)
    Purple Noon
    7.7
    • Le serveur maladroit (uncredited)
    • 1960

Personal details

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  • Alternative name
    • Rene Clement
  • Born
    • March 18, 1913
    • Bordeaux, Gironde, France
  • Died
    • March 17, 1996
    • Monte Carlo, Monaco(undisclosed)
  • Spouses
      Johanna Harwood1986 - March 17, 1996 (his death)
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Print Biographies
    • 1 Article

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    His movie Gervaise (1956) was Oscar-nominated for "Best Foreign Language Film". The Walls of Malapaga (1949) and Forbidden Games (1952) won Honorary Awards as Best Foreign Language Films.

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