Jacques Doniol-Valcroze (; 15 March 1920 – 6 October 1989) was a French actor, critic, screenwriter, and director. In 1951, Doniol-Valcroze was a co-founder of the renowned film magazine Cahiers du cinéma, along with André Bazin and Joseph-Marie Lo Duca. The magazine was initially edited by Doniol-Valcroze between 1951–1957. As critic, he championed numerous filmmakers including Orson Welles, Howard Hawks, and Nicholas Ray. In 1955, then 23-year-old François Truffaut made a short film in Doniol-Valcroze's apartment, Une Visite. Jacques's daughter Florence played a minor part in it.
In 1955, he was a member of the jury at the 16th Venice International Film Festival, and in 1964 a member of the jury at the 14th Berlin International Film Festival.
New Wave In his thirties he played a pivotal role in the French New Wave, discussing the beginnings of "the new cinema" as the co-founder of Cahiers du cinéma and defended Alain Robbe-Grillet.Cahiers du Cinema by Jim Hillier, David Wilson, British Film Institute, Nick Browne Jean Douchet wrote that no one had a better New Wave profile, but his work "was overshadowed by the immediate influence of the second generation" of New Wave directors: "His first feature film, l'Eau à la bouche (1960), arrived too late. Not strong enough to surprise, the film earned him only 'sympathetic' reviews. From then on ... criticism displayed a certain distance from the man. Wrongly, it seems."Jean Douchet, Nouvelle vague (Hazan, 1998; ISBN 2850256196), p. 237: "Son premier long métrage, l'Eau à la bouche (1960), arrivait trop tard. Pas assez fort pour surprendre, le film ne lui valut qu’une critique «sympathique ». Désormais, à son tour et définitivement, la critique affichera une certaine distance à l'égard de l’homme. À tort, semble-t-il."
In 1963 he appeared in L'Immortelle, an international co-produced drama art film directed by Alain Robbe-Grillet.
His own works in this area include directing the film L'Eau à la bouche and acting in some New Wave films, including Chantal Akerman's cult classic Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles. Additionally he was friends with François Truffaut who shot his first film Une Visite in his apartment.François Truffaut by Diana Holmes, Robert Ingram, pg 38 He was married to Françoise Brion.Brion, F. (1972) "[Interview with André Gardies]", in: Gardies, A. Alain Robbe-Grillet. Paris: Seghers; pp. 166–68
The Director’s Fortnight, founded in 1968 during the nationwide strikes which closed down the Cannes Film Festival that year, was the brainchild of Jacques Doniol-Valcroze. The event was sponsored by his fledgling Société des Réalisateurs de Films (Film Directors Society) with the intention of "...opening up the Cannes Festival to little-known filmmakers and national cinemas, without concern for budgets or shooting formats."
He died of a ruptured aneurysm in 1989.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1950 Orphée young man at Café des Poètes uncredited1956 Le Coup du berger Jean short; credited as Étienne Loinod1957 Les Surmenés director short1960 L'Eau à la bouche director 1960 Le bel âge Jacques 1962 And Satan Calls the Turns Éric 1963 L'Immortelle N, the Man 1963 Portuguese Vacation Jacques 1963 Los felices sesenta Víctor 1968 Je t'aime, je t'aime the editor 1970 Le Voyou the banker 1971 L'amour c'est gai, l'amour c'est triste first client 1971 Out 1 Etienne 1973 Elle court, elle court la banlieue first dentist 1973 A Full Day's Work the juror Jacquemont, the actor playing Hamlet 1975 Playing with Fire commissaire Laurent 1975 Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles 2nd caller 1977 The Apprentice Heel Deputy Mayor Forelon 1977 Goodbye Emmanuelle Michel Cordier 1978 En l'autre bord 1979 Memoirs of a French Whore 1980 Le soleil en face a guest on the TV debate 1980 Je vais craquer!!! Maxence, literary critic 1984 Le Bon Plaisir lawyer
Director Movies 1957: L'Œil du maître (short film) 1958: Les Surmenés (short film) 1958: Bonjour, Monsieur La Bruyère (short film) 1959: L'Eau à la bouche (A Game for Six Lovers 1960: Le Cœur battant (The French Game (film)) 1961: La Dénonciation 1962: P.X.O. (short film) with Pierre Kast 1965: Jean-Luc Godard (short film) 1967: Le Viol (The Immoral Moment) 1970: La Maison des Bories (The House of the Bories) 1971: L'Homme au cerveau greffé 1977: Une femme fatale
TV films and series 1964: L'Enlèvement d'Antoine Bigut (film) 1967: La Bien-aimée (film) 1979: Le Tourbillon des jours (TV series, 6 episodes, 52 min.) 1981: Les Fiancées de l'Empire (TV series, 6 episodes) 1982: Lorelei (film) 1982: Venise en hiver (film) 1984: Un seul être vous manque (TV series, 8 episodes, 52 min.) 1988: Nick, chasseur de têtes (film) 1989: Nick, chasseur de têtes (TV series) 1989: La Vie en couleurs (film)
Novels Les portes du baptistère, 1955, Editions Denoël Les fiancées de l'Empire, vol. 1: Les hauteurs de Wagram, 1980, Editions JC Lattès Les fiancées de l'Empire, vol. 2: La route d'Espagne, 1981, Editions JC Lattès
See also A Short History of 'Cahiers du Cinéma' by Emilie Bickerton
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