Pierre Chenal

Pierre Chenal
Born
Pierre Cohen

5 December 1904
Brussels, Belgium
Died23 December 1990(1990-12-23) (aged 86)
Paris, France
Other namesDave Young
Occupation(s)Director, screenwriter
Years active1929–1985
SpouseFlorence Marly (1937–1955)

Pierre Chenal (French: [ʃənal]; 5 December 1904 – 23 December 1990) was a French director and screenwriter who flourished in the 1930s. He was married to Czech-born French film actress Florence Marly from 1937 to 1955.

Work

Chenal was best known for film noir thrillers such as the 1937 film L'Alibi, where he worked with Erich von Stroheim and Louis Jouvet.[1] In 1939 he made Le Dernier Tournant, the first of many film treatments of James M. Cain's celebrated novel, The Postman Always Rings Twice.

Chenal was Jewish and was forced in 1942 to flee occupied France with his wife, Czech actress Florence Marly, for South America.[2] He made a number of films while living in Argentina and more in France after the war; but his post-war work never achieved the success and popularity of his pre-war efforts.[3]

Filmography

Bibliography

  • Chenal, Pierre, Souvenirs du cinéaste, filmographie, temoignages, documents (Collection 24 souvenirs/seconde), [Autobiography, French Edition, Paperback], Dujarric, en collaboration avec les Amis de Ciné-sous-Bois, Aulnay-sous-Bois, 1987, ISBN 2-85947-043-3
  • Chenal, Pierre, La dernière tempête (L'Aventure vécue), [French Edition, Paperback], Flammarion, Paris, 1975, ISBN 2-08-065015-7

References

  1. ^ L’Alibi at Films de France
  2. ^ Sadoul, Georges (1972), Dictionary of Film Makers, Translated, edited, and updated by Peter Morris, University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, ISBN 0-520-02151-7
  3. ^ Pierre Chenal at the Internet Movie Database
  4. ^ Pierre Chenal Filmography at Fandango