Donatien, E. B.

(Emile Wessbecher / June 20, 1887, Paris, France - November 8, 1955, Appoigny, Yonne, France)

   The son of Alsatian manufacturers, he studied art and became a stage designer. A painter, poster artist, and ceramist, he entered films as a production de­signer (1919 Rose-France, Marcel L'Herbier; L'Accusateur, Edouard-Emile Violet; Li-Hang le Cruel, Edouard-Emile Vi­olet; Les Mains flétries, also actor; Papillons, also costume designer; Edouard-Emile Violet; 1921 Blanchette, René Hervil; L'Epingle rouge, Edouard-Emile Violet; La Ruse, also actor, Edouard-Emile Violet; 1924 J'ai tué / Fidélité / USA: I Have Killed, Roger Lion). He gave up cinema in 1932 to dedicate himself to scuplture and painting. His muse and wife was actress Lucienne Legrand.

 Filmography

        ◘ Une Histoire de Brigands (also production designer, actor)

        ◘ L'Auberge (co-director with Edouard-Emile Violet; also screenwriter, adapter, production designer, actor)

        ◘ L'Ile de la Mort (also producer, production designer, actor)

        ◘ Les Hommes nouveaux (as Emile-Bernard Do­natien; co-director with Edouard-Emile Violet; also production designer, actor)

        ◘ Pierre et Jean (also producer, production de­signer, actor)

        ◘ La sin ventura (La Malchanceuse) (also screenwriter, adapter, producer, production designer, actor)

        ◘ La Chevauchée blanche (also producer, produc­tion designer, actor)

        ◘ Princesse Lulu (co-director with Camille de Morlhon; also screenwriter, set designer, actor, editor)

1925 ◘ Mantas (four chapters; also producer, production designer, actor)

        ◘ Mon Curé chez les Riches (also screenwriter, adapter, co-production designer, actor)

1926 ◘ Mon Curé chez les Pauvres (also screenwriter, adapter, co-production designer, actor)

        ◘ Le Château de la mort lente (also screenwriter, adapter, producer, production designer, actor)

        ◘ Simone (also production designer, actor)

        ◘ Au Revoir . . . et merci / Pneumatiques (co-direc­tor with Pièrre Colombier; also production designer, actor)

        ◘ Florine, la Fleur du Valois (also production de­signer, actor)

        ◘ Le Martyre de Sainte Maxence, la Légende de la primitive Eglise Miss Edith, Duchesse (also screenwriter, production designer, actor)

        ◘ L'Arpète (also production designer, actor)

        ◘ C'est un Pari (short; also screenwriter, produc­tion designer, actor, editor)

        ◘ Pogrom / Une Nuit de Terreur (short; also screenwriter, producer, production designer, actor, editor; the movie was destroyed by a fire that partially consumed the Éclair Stu­dios)

1932 ◘ Mon Curé chez les Riches

        ◘ L'Aimable Lingère (short; also screenwriter, adapter)