Gérard Oury
Encyclopedia
Gérard Oury was a French film director, actor and writer. His real name was Max-Gérard Houry Tannenbaum.
and at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art. He became a member of the Comédie-Française
just one year before World War II
, but fled to Switzerland
to escape the anti-Jewish laws decreed by the Vichy
government.
After 1945 he re-started his career as an actor, performing in the theatre and in supporting roles in the cinema. Oury became a movie director in 1959 (The Itchy Palm) and gained his first success in 1961 with Crime Does Not Pay (Le crime ne paie pas).
Joining André Bourvil and Louis de Funès
as a comic duo, he burst into commercial filmmaking with 1965's The Sucker (Le corniaud
). The following year, Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At! (La Grande Vadrouille
) was even more successful, attracting the largest audiences ever in France (17.27 million admissions). This box-office record stood for decades, only surpassed in 1997 by Titanic
from James Cameron
.
Oury shot the 1969 comedy Le Cerveau
(The Brain) in English, starring David Niven
in the lead role as a criminal mastermind.
Living together with the French actress Michèle Morgan
, he was the father of French writer Danièle Thompson
and grandfather of actor/writer Christopher Thompson. He died aged 87 in Saint-Tropez
on 20 July 2006.
A commercially successful French filmmaker
The son of Serge Tannenbaum, a violinist, and Marcelle Houry, a journalist, Oury studied at Lycée Janson de SaillyLycée Janson de Sailly
Lycée Janson de Sailly is a lycée located in the XVIe arrondissement of Paris, France. It is generally considered as one of the most prestigious lycées in Paris...
and at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art. He became a member of the Comédie-Française
Comédie-Française
The Comédie-Française or Théâtre-Français is one of the few state theaters in France. It is the only state theater to have its own troupe of actors. It is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris....
just one year before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but fled to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to escape the anti-Jewish laws decreed by the Vichy
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
government.
After 1945 he re-started his career as an actor, performing in the theatre and in supporting roles in the cinema. Oury became a movie director in 1959 (The Itchy Palm) and gained his first success in 1961 with Crime Does Not Pay (Le crime ne paie pas).
Joining André Bourvil and Louis de Funès
Louis de Funès
Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza was a very popular French actor who is one of the giants of French comedy alongside André Bourvil and Fernandel...
as a comic duo, he burst into commercial filmmaking with 1965's The Sucker (Le corniaud
Le Corniaud
Le Corniaud is a French, Italian and Spanish comedy film by Gérard Oury, released in 1965.-Plot:While leaving his flat in Paris for vacation, Antoine Maréchal has an car accident. His 2CV is totally wrecked by Léopold Saroyan's Bentley, the director of an import-export company...
). The following year, Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At! (La Grande Vadrouille
La Grande Vadrouille
La Grande Vadrouille is a 1966 Franco-British comedy film about how the crew of a Royal Air Force B-17 shot down over Paris must then make their way through German-occupied France with the main help of two French citizens with very different mindsets.For over forty...
) was even more successful, attracting the largest audiences ever in France (17.27 million admissions). This box-office record stood for decades, only surpassed in 1997 by Titanic
Titanic (1997 film)
Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater and Billy Zane as Rose's fiancé, Cal...
from James Cameron
James Cameron
James Francis Cameron is a Canadian-American film director, film producer, screenwriter, editor, environmentalist and inventor...
.
Oury shot the 1969 comedy Le Cerveau
Le Cerveau
The Brain is a 1969 French comedy film directed by Gérard Oury, about a second train robbery by the brains of the Great Train Robbery.-Plot:...
(The Brain) in English, starring David Niven
David Niven
James David Graham Niven , known as David Niven, was a British actor and novelist, best known for his roles as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and Sir Charles Lytton, a.k.a. "the Phantom", in The Pink Panther...
in the lead role as a criminal mastermind.
Living together with the French actress Michèle Morgan
Michèle Morgan
Michèle Morgan is a French film actress, who was a leading lady for three decades.- Career :Morgan was born Simone Renée Roussel in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, a western suburb of Paris....
, he was the father of French writer Danièle Thompson
Danièle Thompson
Danièle Thompson is a French film director and screenwriter. She is the daughter of film director Gérard Oury and actress Jacqueline Roma....
and grandfather of actor/writer Christopher Thompson. He died aged 87 in Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez is a town, 104 km to the east of Marseille, in the Var department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. It is also the principal town in the canton of Saint-Tropez....
on 20 July 2006.
Filmography as director
- Le schpountzLe schpountzLe schpountz is a 1999 French film directed by Gérard Oury . Irénée does not want to work in his uncle's grocery shop and spends his time dreaming of becoming an actor. Irénée's chance comes when a crew of movie makers came to his little village...
(1999) - Fantôme avec chauffeur (1996)
- The Thirst for Gold (1993)
- Vanille fraise (1989)
- Levy and Goliath (1987)
- La Vengeance du serpent à plumes (The Vengeance of the Winged Serpent) (1984)
- L'as des asL'as des asL'as des as is a 1982 French-German comedy film starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and directed by Gérard Oury.-Plot:...
(The Ace of Aces aka. The Super Ace) (1982) - Le Coup du parapluieThe Umbrella CoupThe Umbrella Coup is a 1980 French comedy film directed by Gérard Oury, starring Pierre Richard, Gordon Mitchell and Gert Fröbe.The creation of the film was inspired by several assassinations of Bulgarian dissidents where the so-called Bulgarian umbrella was used as a weapon...
(The Umbrella Coup) (1980) - Out of It (1978)
- Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob (The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob) (1973)
- La folie des grandeurs (Delusions of Grandeur) (1971)
- Le CerveauLe CerveauThe Brain is a 1969 French comedy film directed by Gérard Oury, about a second train robbery by the brains of the Great Train Robbery.-Plot:...
(The Brain) (1969) - La Grande VadrouilleLa Grande VadrouilleLa Grande Vadrouille is a 1966 Franco-British comedy film about how the crew of a Royal Air Force B-17 shot down over Paris must then make their way through German-occupied France with the main help of two French citizens with very different mindsets.For over forty...
(Don't Look Now – We're Being Shot At (1966) - Le CorniaudLe CorniaudLe Corniaud is a French, Italian and Spanish comedy film by Gérard Oury, released in 1965.-Plot:While leaving his flat in Paris for vacation, Antoine Maréchal has an car accident. His 2CV is totally wrecked by Léopold Saroyan's Bentley, the director of an import-export company...
(The Sucker) (1965) - Le Crime ne paie pasLe Crime ne paie pasLe Crime ne paie pas is a 1962 French drama film directed by Gérard Oury. The film stars Danielle Darrieux, Michèle Morgan, Edwige Feuillère and Annie Girardot...
(Crime Does Not Pay) (1962) - The Itchy Palm (1960)
- The Menace (1960)