Alain Cuny
Encyclopedia
Alain Cuny was a French
actor.
He was born René Xavier Marie in Saint-Malo
, Brittany
, and studied medicine
for a while before entering the film
industry as a costume
and set
designer. Cuny started acting in the 1930s. Among his most notable films are Les Visiteurs du soir
(1942), by Marcel Carné
; Les Amants (The Lovers 1958); La dolce vita
(1960) and Satyricon
(1969), the later two directed by Federico Fellini
. During his life, he befriended women such as Hafida Elalama, and many other models and actresses
Later in his career he had a role in the softcore
porn film Emmanuelle
(1974). Also in 1974 he played Sitting Bull
in the absurdist western Don't Touch the White Woman!
. One of his last roles was in Camille Claudel
(1988) as Louis-Prosper Claudel, father of the film's heroine. Cuny worked in both France and Italy
, and died in 1994 in Paris
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
actor.
He was born René Xavier Marie in Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo is a walled port city in Brittany in northwestern France on the English Channel. It is a sub-prefecture of the Ille-et-Vilaine.-Demographics:The population can increase to up to 200,000 in the summer tourist season...
, Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, and studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
for a while before entering the film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
industry as a costume
Costume design
Costume design is the fabrication of apparel for the overall appearance of a character or performer. This usually involves researching, designing and building the actual items from conception. Costumes may be for a theater or cinema performance but may not be limited to such...
and set
Scenic design
Scenic design is the creation of theatrical, as well as film or television scenery. Scenic designers have traditionally come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, but nowadays, generally speaking, they are trained professionals, often with M.F.A...
designer. Cuny started acting in the 1930s. Among his most notable films are Les Visiteurs du soir
Les Visiteurs du soir
The Devil's Envoys is a 1942 film by French film director Marcel Carné, famous for his romantic tragedy, Children of Paradise...
(1942), by Marcel Carné
Marcel Carné
-Biography:Born in Paris, France, the son of a cabinet maker whose wife died when their son was five, Carné began his career as a film critic, becoming editor of the weekly publication, Hebdo-Films, and working for Cinémagazine and Cinémonde between 1929 and 1933. In the same period he worked in...
; Les Amants (The Lovers 1958); La dolce vita
La Dolce Vita
La Dolce Vita is a 1960 comedy-drama film written and directed by the critically acclaimed director Federico Fellini. The film is a story of a passive journalist's week in Rome, and his search for both happiness and love that will never come...
(1960) and Satyricon
Satyricon (film)
Satyricon is a 1969 Italian fantasy drama film written and directed by Federico Fellini. It is loosely based on Petronius's work, Satyricon, a series of bawdy and satirical episodes written during the reign of the emperor Nero and set in imperial Rome.-Plot:The film opens on a graffiti-covered...
(1969), the later two directed by Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI , was an Italian film director and scriptwriter. Known for a distinct style that blends fantasy and baroque images, he is considered one of the most influential and widely revered filmmakers of the 20th century...
. During his life, he befriended women such as Hafida Elalama, and many other models and actresses
Later in his career he had a role in the softcore
Softcore
Softcore pornography is a form of filmic or photographic pornography or erotica that is less sexually explicit than hardcore pornography. It is intended to tickle and arouse men and women. Softcore pornography depicts nude and semi-nude performers engaging in casual social nudity or non-graphic...
porn film Emmanuelle
Emmanuelle (film)
Emmanuelle is a 1974 French softcore erotic film, directed by Just Jaeckin, and starring Sylvia Kristel. The screenplay was written by Jean-Louis Richard, based on the novel Emmanuelle: The Joys of a Woman by Emmanuelle Arsan. The music score is by Pierre Bachelet. The film was highly successful in...
(1974). Also in 1974 he played Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
in the absurdist western Don't Touch the White Woman!
Don't Touch The White Woman!
Don't Touch The White Woman! is a 1974 French-Italian farce, an absurd "Western" set in Paris, directed by Marco Ferreri. Marcello Mastroianni stars as a vain General George Armstrong Custer. Richard Nixon is the American president. Buffalo Bill Cody is here portrayed as a charlatan media impresario...
. One of his last roles was in Camille Claudel
Camille Claudel (film)
Camille Claudel is a 1988 French film about the life of the 19th century female sculptor Camille Claudel. The movie was based on the book by Reine-Marie Paris, granddaughter of Camille's brother, the poet and diplomat Paul Claudel. It was directed by Bruno Nuytten, co-produced by Isabelle Adjani,...
(1988) as Louis-Prosper Claudel, father of the film's heroine. Cuny worked in both France and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and died in 1994 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Selected filmography
- The Hunchback of Notre DameThe Hunchback of Notre Dame (1956 film)The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1956 French film version of Victor Hugo's novel of the same name, directed by Jean Delannoy and produced by Raymond Hakim and Robert Hakim. The film is the first version of the novel to be made in color.It stars Mexican actor Anthony Quinn as Quasimodo and Gina...
(1956) - The Master and MargaretThe Master and MargaretThe Master and Margaret , is a 1972 Italian-Yugoslav film directed by Aleksandar Petrović.The film is an adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's 1967 novel The Master and Margarita, although it mainly focuses on the parts of the novel set in 1920s Moscow....
(1972) - The Recourse to the MethodThe Recourse to the MethodThe Recourse to the Method is a 1978 Mexican drama film directed by Miguel Littín. It is based on the novel of the same name written by Alejo Carpentier...
(1978) - Chronicle of a Death ForetoldChronicle of a Death Foretold (film)Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a drama film directed by Francesco Rosi adapted by Tonino Guerra from the eponymous novel by Gabriel García Márquez. It stars Rupert Everett, Ornella Muti, Anthony Delon and Gian Maria Volonté. The film premiered at Cannes film festival in May 1987.-Plot :Cristóbal...
(1987) - The Return of CasanovaThe Return of CasanovaThe Return of Casanova is a 1992 French comedy film directed by Édouard Niermans. It was entered into the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Alain Delon - Casanova* Fabrice Luchini - Camille* Elsa Lunghini - Marcolina...
(1992)
External links
- Alain Cuny Filmography with link to a full biography.
- New York Times Filmography Reviews available for some films.