Calef, Henri

(July 20, 1910, Filippopoli [now Plovdiv], Bulgaria-August 17, 1994, Paris, France)

   After studying philosophy in Paris, he made his pro­fessional debut as a journalist writing articles for Paris-Soir and Paris-Midi (1932-1934) before work­ing as second director (1933 Quelqu'un a tué, Jack Forrester) and then first assistant director (1935 La Famille de Madame Angot, also co-screenwriter, Jean-Bernard Derosne; Paris-Camargue, Jack Forrester; Les Gaietés de la Finance, Jack Forrester; 1936 Les Gaietés du Palace, also co-screenwriter, Walter Kapps; Pantins d'Amour, also co-screenwriter, Walter Kapps; L'Escadrille de la Chance, Max de Vaucorbeil; L'Affaire Lafarge / USA: The Lafarge CaseL also co-adapter, Pierre Chenal; Les Nouveaux Riches, An­dré Berthomieu; L'Inconnue de Monte-Carlo, also co-screenwriter, André Berthomieu; La Maison du Maltais / USA: Sirocco, Pierre Chenal; 1939 Eusèbe Député, André Berthomieu; Le Dernier Tournant, Pierre Chenal; Tourbillon de Paris / USA: Whirl of Paris / Whirl­wind of Paris, Henri Diamant-Berger; 1942 Soyez les Bienvenus, Jacques de Baroncelli, shot in 1940). Dur­ing the occupation of France, he was a member of a group of screenwriters gathered by Jacques Cohen in the Free Zone (1942-1943). He collaborated on many unfilmed projects, including Le Cocu magnifique (Serge de Poligny, 1939). At the liberation of France, producer Sacha Gordine gave him the opportunity to direct his first movie. He was vice president (1965) and then president (1967-1972) of the Association des Auteurs de Films. Other credit (uncredited co-screenwriter): 1945 La Fiancée des Ténèbres (Serge de Poligny). Books: 1980 Jean Moulin, une Vie (Editions Plon); 1988 Victoire de l'Ambiguïté: Le Sabordage de la IIIe République (Librairie Académique Perrin).

 Filmography

        ◘ L'Extravagante Mission

        ◘ Jéricho (also co-screenwriter)

        ◘ Les Chouans

        ◘ La Maison sous la Mer

        ◘ Gli uomini sono nemici / Le Carrefour des Passions (movie completed by Ettore Giannini, who is credited as the only director; Italy / France)

        ◘ Bagarres / USA: Wench (also co-adapter)

        ◘ Les Eaux troubles (also co-screenwriter, co-adapter)

        ◘ La Souricière

        ◘ La Passante (also co-screenwriter, co-adapter)

        ◘ Ombre et la Lumière (also co-adapter)

        ◘ Les Amours finissent à l'Aube / UK: Fatal Affair (also co-adapter)

        ◘ Le Secret d'Hélène Marimon / Il segreto di Elena / Il tradimento di Elena Marimon (also co-screenwriter, co-adapter; France / Italy)

        ◘ Paris, Ville aux Sept Collines (documentary; also co-screenwriter)

        ◘ Les Violents (also adapter, co-dialogist)

        ◘ Doit-on les punir? (documentary; short)

1961 ◘ De Ciel et d'Azur (documentary; short; also screenwriter, editor)

        ◘ Le Temps de la Fureur (documentary; short)

1965 L'Heure de la Vérité / Sha'at Emet / The Hour of Truth (also co-dialogist, co-editor; France / Israel)

        ◘ Les Archives de France (documentary; short; also author of commentary)

        ◘ Lido (short; also author of commentary)

1969 ◘ Les Armes de la Colère (unreleased)

1973 ◘ Féminin, Féminin / Vrouk—Vrouwelijk / Feminine— Feminine (co-director with Joâo Correa; also co-screenwriter, co-adapter, co-dialogist, editor; France / Belgium / Portugal; shot in 1971)

 Television Filmography

1973 ◘ Destin du Siècle: L'Eglise de Vatican I à Vatican II (documentary; short)

        ◘ George Sand et la Musique à Nohant et ses En­virons (documentary; short)

        ◘ La Chouette

        ◘ Lontevrault-l'Abbaye (documentary; short)

        ◘ Mary Marquet, une Leçon de Tragédie (documentary; short)

        ◘ Caractères et Caricatures (Daumier et d'Autres) (documentary; short)

        ◘ Le Monde de la Justice (documentary; short)

        ◘ Le Monde du Spectacle (documentary; short)

        ◘ Le Monde du Blue-Jean (documentary; short)

1977 ◘ Le Monde des petits Métiers de Paris (documentary; short)

        ◘ La Seine-Saint-Denis (documentary; short)

        ◘ Lean Moulin (also co-screenwriter, co-dialogist)

1978 ◘ Musique dans votre Ville (documentary; shorts;

        ◘ Les Conservatoires de Musique: Le Vésinet, Bobigny, Chatou, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Montfermeil, Issy-les-Moulineaux, Rouen, Paris)

        ◘ Le Professeur François Jacob (documentary; short)

        ◘ Ombre et Lumière chez le Peintre-Graveur Pierre-Yves Trémois (documentary; short)

1979 ◘ Le Procès de Riom (also co-screenwriter, co-dialogist)

        ◘ Les Cris de Paris (documentary)

        ◘ Courteline (documentary)