René Clément

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.

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1964

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.

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.

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.

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.

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890-1945". Pages 137-140. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1987.