François Chalais
Encyclopedia
François Chalais was a prominent French
reporter, journalist
, writer
and film historian. The François Chalais Prize
at the annual Cannes Film Festival
is named after him.
Born in Strasbourg
in 1919, Chalais' real name was François-Charles Bauer. His journalism career began under the German occupation of France during World War II, as a writer for several collaborationist publications. Nevertheless, he was awarded the Médaille de la Résistance
after the liberation and continued a lengthy and distinguished career, most notably with France Soir
from 1976 to 1986 and Le Figaro
from 1980 to 1987. Chalais was a regular fixture on French television during the Cannes festival, interviewing celebrities and movie stars, often with his first wife and cohost France Roche
.
In one of his reports for the French television program Panorama, titled "Spécial Vietnam: le nord vu par François Chalais" (Vietnam Special: The North as seen by François Chalais), Chalais interviewed an American pilot who was in a North Vietnamese prison hospital. The pilot's name was John McCain
. The report offered a rare glimpse of everyday life in North Vietnam during the war, and featured an interview with the North Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Dong
.
Chalais was the author of numerous books, including 18 novels and 3 memoirs.
Chalais married his second wife Mei-Chen (née Nguyen Thi Hoa) after his famed 1968 broadcast on North Vietnam. In 1969, he was a member of the jury at the 19th Berlin International Film Festival
.
Chalais died of leukemia
in Paris
in 1996.
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...
reporter, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and film historian. The François Chalais Prize
François Chalais Prize
The Francois Chalais Prize is given at the Cannes Film Festival, beginning in 1997. It was created to pay tribute to French journalist and film historian François Chalais, under the auspices of his wife Mei Chen...
at the annual Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
is named after him.
Born in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
in 1919, Chalais' real name was François-Charles Bauer. His journalism career began under the German occupation of France during World War II, as a writer for several collaborationist publications. Nevertheless, he was awarded the Médaille de la Résistance
Médaille de la Résistance
The French Médaille de la Résistance was awarded by General Charles de Gaulle "to recognise the remarkable acts of faith and of courage that, in France, in the empire and abroad, have contributed to the resistance of the French people against the enemy and against its accomplices since June 18,...
after the liberation and continued a lengthy and distinguished career, most notably with France Soir
France Soir
France Soir is a French daily newspaper that prospered during the 1950s and 1960s, but it has declined since then under various owners. It was re-launched as a populist tabloid in 2006.-History:...
from 1976 to 1986 and Le Figaro
Le Figaro
Le Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
from 1980 to 1987. Chalais was a regular fixture on French television during the Cannes festival, interviewing celebrities and movie stars, often with his first wife and cohost France Roche
France Roche
France Roche is a French film actress and screenwriter. She appeared in 17 films between 1951 and 1979. She was a member of the jury at the 11th Berlin International Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
.
In one of his reports for the French television program Panorama, titled "Spécial Vietnam: le nord vu par François Chalais" (Vietnam Special: The North as seen by François Chalais), Chalais interviewed an American pilot who was in a North Vietnamese prison hospital. The pilot's name was John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
. The report offered a rare glimpse of everyday life in North Vietnam during the war, and featured an interview with the North Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Dong
Pham Van Dong
Phạm Văn Đồng was an associate of Ho Chi Minh. He served as prime minister of North Vietnam from 1955 through 1976, and was prime minister of a unified Vietnam from 1976 until he retired in 1987.- Early life :...
.
Chalais was the author of numerous books, including 18 novels and 3 memoirs.
Chalais married his second wife Mei-Chen (née Nguyen Thi Hoa) after his famed 1968 broadcast on North Vietnam. In 1969, he was a member of the jury at the 19th Berlin International Film Festival
19th Berlin International Film Festival
The 19th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 25 to July 6, 1969.-Jury:* Johannes Schaaf * Agnesa Kalinova* José P...
.
Chalais died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
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...
in 1996.
See also
- Au diable la vertuAu diable la vertuAu diable la vertu , is a French comedy film from 1954, directed by Jean Laviron, written by François Chalais, starring Henri Génès and Louis de Funès...
(1953) - Candide ou l'Optimisme au XXe siècleCandide ou l'optimisme au XXe siècleCandide ou l'Optimisme du XXe siècle is a 1960 French comedy drama film directed by Norbert Carbonnaux and written by Carbonnaux and Albert Simonin. It stars Jean-Pierre Cassel as Candide, Pierre Brasseur as Pangloss, Louis de Funès as the officer of the Gestapo, and Daliah Lavi as Cunégonde...
(1960)
External links
- 2004 French presidential decree making Mei-Chen Chalais a Knight of National Order of Merit
- Biography for François Chalais
- François Chalais, le rendez-vous manqué (about 1997 trip to Vietnam by Mei-Chen Chalais and Chalais' cameraman Jean-Pierre Janssen, a trip François had promised to his wife)
- French Archives Release Footage of McCain's Vietnam Captivity
- John McCain au Vietnam - Panorama - ITA (Institut national de l'audiovisuel) Archive footage
- Mort de François Chalais - Obituary, L’Humanité
- Reporter's widow plans to sue over McCain interview
- Association Francois Chalais