Denis Héroux
Encyclopedia
Denis Héroux, OC
(born July 15, 1940, Montreal
, Quebec
) is a Canadian film director and producer.
and Stéphane Venne
on the 1962 film about life as a student, Seul ou avec d’autres. That year he went on to become a teacher and for the next six years, in addition to teaching, he also wrote two history books and continued to direct.
By the late 1960s Héroux had become one of the most successful independent filmmakers with hits like 1968's Valérie and L'Initiation in 1970. In 1975, riding the success of several other popular features he directed, such as the swashbuckler Quelques arpents de neige (1973), he became involved in co-production projects and big-budget Quebec features. He went on to helm international co-productions with films such as Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
(1975), Atlantic City (1980), and Quest for Fire
(1981). He was a co-founder of Alliance Entertainment
, a company he left in the late eighties.
Héroux won a Best Picture Genie for producing Les Plouffe
in 1981 and The Bay Boy
in 1985. He also received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture for Atlantic City.
Héroux was a member of the jury at the 31st Berlin International Film Festival
in 1981.
In 1983, Héroux was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. He is the older brother of prolific Quebec film and television producer Claude Héroux.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born July 15, 1940, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
) is a Canadian film director and producer.
Biography
Héroux wanted to become a teacher when he collaborated with Denys ArcandDenys Arcand
Georges-Henri Denys Arcand, is a Canadian film director, screenwriter and producer. He has won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2004 for The Barbarian Invasions...
and Stéphane Venne
Stéphane Venne
Stéphane Venne is a French-Canadian songwriter and composer. He also worked as head of production for the Canadian arm of Barclay Records and as a radio station executive....
on the 1962 film about life as a student, Seul ou avec d’autres. That year he went on to become a teacher and for the next six years, in addition to teaching, he also wrote two history books and continued to direct.
By the late 1960s Héroux had become one of the most successful independent filmmakers with hits like 1968's Valérie and L'Initiation in 1970. In 1975, riding the success of several other popular features he directed, such as the swashbuckler Quelques arpents de neige (1973), he became involved in co-production projects and big-budget Quebec features. He went on to helm international co-productions with films such as Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (film)
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is a 1975 French/Canadian musical film directed by Denis Héroux. The screenplay by Eric Blau is an adaptation of his book for the long-running off-Broadway revue of the same name...
(1975), Atlantic City (1980), and Quest for Fire
Quest for Fire (film)
Quest for Fire is a 1981 film adaptation of the 1911 Belgian novel by J.-H. Rosny aîné . Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and adapted by Gérard Brach, the film stars Everett McGill, Ron Perlman, Nameer El-Kadi, and Rae Dawn Chong. It won the Academy Award for Makeup. Michael D...
(1981). He was a co-founder of Alliance Entertainment
Alliance Entertainment
Alliance Entertainment, LLC is a distributor of music, movies, and game software. From 1995 through 2005, Alliance Entertainment was also the parent company of All Media Guide. In 2005, it merged with Source Interlink. Platinum Equity and the Gores Group acquired Alliance in 2010....
, a company he left in the late eighties.
Héroux won a Best Picture Genie for producing Les Plouffe
Les Plouffe
Les Plouffe is a Canadian drama film, based on a novel, about the titular Plouffe family, set during World War II.-Awards:...
in 1981 and The Bay Boy
The Bay Boy
The Bay Boy is a 1984 Canadian film. It is a semi-autobiographical film based on director Daniel Petrie's experiences of growing up in Glace Bay, a mining town on Cape Breton Island, during the Great Depression...
in 1985. He also received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture for Atlantic City.
Héroux was a member of the jury at the 31st Berlin International Film Festival
31st Berlin International Film Festival
The 31st annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 13 to 24 February 1981.-Jury:* Jutta Brückner * Denis Héroux* Astrid Henning-Jensen* Irina Petrovna Kuptschenko* Peter Bichsel* Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi...
in 1981.
In 1983, Héroux was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. He is the older brother of prolific Quebec film and television producer Claude Héroux.
Features
- Seul ou avec d'autres (Co-Directed with Denys ArcandDenys ArcandGeorges-Henri Denys Arcand, is a Canadian film director, screenwriter and producer. He has won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 2004 for The Barbarian Invasions...
and Stéphane Venne, 1962) - Jusqu'au cou (1964)
- Pas de vacances pour les idoles (1965)
- Valérie (1968)
- L'initiation (1969)
- L'amour humain (aka Virgin Lovers, 1970)
- Les defroques (1971)
- 7 fois... par jour (1971)
- Quelques arpents de neigeA few acres of snow"A few acres of snow" is one of several quotations from Voltaire, the 18th-century writer, which are representative of his sneering evaluation of Canada, and by extension New France, as lacking economic value and strategic importance to 18th-century France...
(1972) - J'ai mon voyage! (1973)
- Y'a toujours moyen de moyenner!Y'a toujours moyen de moyenner!Y'a toujours moyen de moyenner! is a Quebecois film directed by Denis Héroux and with a scenario by Marcel Lefebvre with input from Héroux, Guy Fournier, Gilles Gauthier, and Jean-Guy Moreau; it was released in 1973.-Cast:* Jean-Guy Moreau : Sam...
(1973) - Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in ParisJacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (film)Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris is a 1975 French/Canadian musical film directed by Denis Héroux. The screenplay by Eric Blau is an adaptation of his book for the long-running off-Broadway revue of the same name...
(1974) - Pousse mais pousse égal (1974)
- Born for Hell (1976)
- The UncannyThe Uncanny (1977 film)The Uncanny is a 1977 British portmanteau horror film, concerning feline revenge. The film was written by Michael Parry, directed by Denis Héroux and stars Peter Cushing, Donald Pleasence, Ray Milland, Joan Greenwood, Donald Pilon, Samantha Eggar, and John Vernon.Although it is similar to the...
(1977) - The Blood of OthersThe Blood of Others (film)The Blood of Others is a 1984 film directed by Claude Chabrol. It is based on the 1945 novel The Blood of Others by Simone de Beauvoir. The film was originally made as a three hour television mini-series and then recut down 40 minutes for a theatrical release-Plot:In Nazi occupied France, Jean...
(1984)
Other Work
- Cent ans déjà (Documentary short, 1967)
- Mais où sont les Anglais d'antan? (Documentary, 1967)
- Un ville à vivre (Documentary short, 1967)
- Les Acadiens (TV episode of the series La feuille d'érable, 1971)
- La fille du Roy (TV episode of the series La feuille d'érable, 1971)
- Bureau des inventeurs (Documentary short, 1971)
- Transports et communications (Documentary short, 1971)
- Un enfant comme les autres (Documentary, 1972)
- Le Ministère de l'Industrie et du Commerce du Canada (Short film, 1972)
- Le Ministère des Transports du Canada (Short film, 1972)
- La vallée-jardin (Short film Co-Directed with Justine Héroux, 1974)
- The Strikebreaker (TV episode of the series SidestreetSidestreetSidestreet was a Canadian television drama, which aired Sundays on CBC from 1975 to 1978. It starred Sean McCann and Donnelly Rhodes as police working in 1970s Toronto.-Background:Sidestreet succeeded The Collaborators as the CBC's main series drama...
, 1975)