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Louis Malle
Malle2.jpg
Born
Louis Marie Malle

(1932-10-30)30 October 1932
Thumeries, Nord, France
Died 23 November 1995(1995-11-23) (aged 63)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Alma mater Sciences Po
La Fémis
Occupation
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
Years active 1953–1995
Spouse(s)
Anne-Marie Deschodt
​
​
(m. 1965; div. 1967)​

​
(m. 1980)​
Children 3

Louis Malle (born October 30, 1932 – died November 23, 1995) was a famous French film director, writer, and producer. He made movies in both France and Hollywood, USA. People often described his work as "varied" because he directed many different types of films. These included documentaries, romantic movies, historical dramas, and thrillers. He was known for exploring topics that sometimes made people think or talk a lot.

Some of his most well-known films are the thriller Elevator to the Gallows (1958) and the romantic movie The Lovers (1958). He also directed Lacombe, Lucien (1974), a drama set during World War II. Later, he made Pretty Baby (1978) and the crime film Atlantic City (1980). His movie My Dinner with Andre (1981) was a unique comedy-drama. One of his most personal films was Au revoir les enfants (1987), which was based on his own childhood.

Louis Malle also worked with Jacques Cousteau on the important underwater documentary The Silent World (1956). This film won the top prize, the Palme d'Or, at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. It also won an Oscar in 1957. Malle was one of only four directors to win the Golden Lion award twice at the Venice Film Festival. He also won several other major awards, including three Césars (French film awards) and two BAFTAs (British film awards). He was nominated for three Oscars.

Early Life and Education

Louis Malle was born into a wealthy family in Thumeries, France. His parents were Françoise Béghin and Pierre Malle.

During World War II, when Louis was about 11 years old, he went to a Catholic boarding school. He saw a terrible event there: secret police raided the school. They took away three Jewish students, including a close friend of his, and a Jewish teacher. These people were sent to a concentration camp. The school's headmaster, Père Jacques, was also arrested for hiding them. Louis Malle later used these memories to make his powerful film Au revoir les enfants in 1987.

When he was older, Malle first studied political science at Sciences Po from 1950 to 1952. After that, he decided to follow his passion for film. He went to film school at IDHEC.

His Film Career Begins

Louis Malle started his film career working with the famous underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau. He was a co-director and cameraman for the documentary The Silent World (1956). This film was a huge success, winning both an Oscar and the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

After that, he helped director Robert Bresson with his film A Man Escaped (1956). Then, in 1957, Malle made his very first feature film, Ascenseur pour l'échafaud. This was a thrilling movie with music by the jazz legend Miles Davis. It helped make Jeanne Moreau an international film star. Louis Malle was only 24 years old when he directed this film.

Malle is sometimes linked to the "nouvelle vague" (New Wave) film movement in France. This was a new style of filmmaking that emerged in the late 1950s. While his work didn't perfectly fit with all the ideas of the New Wave directors, he did use some of their techniques. For example, he often filmed using natural light and shot scenes in real locations, not just in studios. His film Zazie dans le Métro (1960) was even praised by another famous New Wave director, François Truffaut.

Documentaries About India

In 1968, Louis Malle traveled to India. He was very interested in the country and made a seven-part documentary series called L'Inde fantôme: Reflexions sur un voyage. He also made a film for cinemas called Calcutta. Malle wanted to show the real India, including its traditions and festivals. However, the Indian government was not happy with how he showed the country. They felt he focused too much on older ways of life. Because of this, the BBC was not allowed to film in India for several years. Even so, Malle later said that his documentary on India was his favorite film.

Making Films in the U.S.

Later in his career, Louis Malle moved to the United States. He continued to direct many films there. Some of his later movies include Pretty Baby (1978) and Atlantic City (1980). He also directed My Dinner with Andre (1981), which became a very influential film in American independent cinema. This means it was made outside of the big Hollywood studios and had a unique style.

He also made Crackers (1984) and Alamo Bay (1985). He continued to make films in French too, like Au revoir les enfants (1987) and Milou en Mai (1990), which was called May Fools in the U.S. His last films were Damage (1992) and Vanya on 42nd Street (1994).

Personal Life

Louis Malle was married to actress Anne-Marie Deschodt from 1965 to 1967. He had a son, Manuel, with German actress Gila von Weitershausen. He also had a daughter, Justine, who is also a filmmaker, with Canadian actress Alexandra Stewart.

In 1980, he married the American actress Candice Bergen. They had one daughter together, Chloé Françoise Malle, born in 1985. Louis Malle passed away from a type of cancer called lymphoma on November 23, 1995. He was 63 years old and died at his home in Beverly Hills, California.

Filmography

Feature films

Year Title Director Writer Producer Other Notes
1953 Crazeologie Yes Yes Short film
1954 Station 307 Yes Yes Yes Short film; Also cinematographer
1958 Elevator to the Gallows Yes Yes
1960 Zazie in the Metro Yes Yes Yes
1962 A Very Private Affair Yes Yes Yes Appeared as a journalist
1963 The Fire Within Yes Yes
1965 Viva Maria! Yes Yes
1967 The Thief of Paris Yes Yes
1968 Spirits of the Dead Yes Yes Segment: "William Wilson"
1969 A Very Curious Girl Yes Appeared as Jésus
1971 Murmur of the Heart Yes Yes
1974 Lacombe, Lucien Yes Yes Yes
1975 Black Moon Yes Yes
1978 Pretty Baby Yes Yes
1980 Atlantic City Yes
1981 My Dinner with Andre Yes
1984 Crackers Yes
1985 Alamo Bay Yes Yes
1987 Au revoir les enfants Yes Yes Yes
1990 May Fools Yes Yes Yes
1992 La Vie de Bohème Yes Appeared in a cameo
1992 Damage Yes Yes
1994 Vanya on 42nd Street Yes Yes

Documentary films

Year Title Director Writer Producer Other Notes
1956 The Silent World Yes Co-directed with Jacques Cousteau
1962 Vive le Tour Yes Yes Yes Also cinematographer
1969 Calcutta Yes Yes Yes Also narrator
1973 Human, Too Human Yes
1974 Place de la République Yes Yes Appeared as himself
1976 Close Up Yes Short film
1986 And the Pursuit of Happiness Yes Yes Also cinematographer and narrator

Television

Year Title Director Writer Producer Other Notes
1964 Bons baisers de Bangkok Yes Short film
1969 Phantom India Yes Yes Miniseries; Also narrator
1985 God's Country Yes Yes Also cinematographer and narrator
1994 Murphy Brown Yes Appeared as himself; Episode: "My Movie with Louis"

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

  • Malle2

    Louis Malle, a famous French film director.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Louis Malle para niños

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