Alexandre Trauner

Trauner, Alexandre (1906-93). A set-designer (of Hungarian origin) with probably the longest continuing career in French cinema—from assistant on Clair's A nous la liberté (1931) through to Besson's Subway (1985). His great achievement remains his sets for Carné, responsible as much as the actors or Prévert's scripts for the films' potent atmosphere.

[KAR]

• Born: Aug 03, 1906 in Budapest, Hungary
• Died: 1993 12 in Omonville-La-Petit, Normandy, France
• Active: '30s-'80s
• Major Genres: Drama, Comedy
• Career Highlights: Don Giovanni, The Apartment, The Children of Paradise
• First Major Screen Credit: La Kermesse Héroïque (1935)

Biography

Hungarian art director Alexander Trauner originally aspired to become a painter. For this purpose, he left his native Budapest and moved to Paris. But there he instead became the assistant to distinguished French art director Lazare Meerson, the creator of "poetic realism," a studio- (rather than location) based movement of cinematic style. During the early '30s, he worked on many of René Clair's musical comedies and furthered his mentor Meerson's style. When the Nazis invaded France, Trauner (who was Jewish) went into hiding, but still managed to work uncredited on films. In that capacity he worked on Marcel Carné's Les Visiteurs du Soir (1942) and Les Enfants du Paradis (1945). In 1952, he created the exquisite sets for Orson Welles' Othello. Later he accepted the invitation of Billy Wilder and came to Hollywood where he worked on a wide variety of films ranging from The Apartment (1960) to Irma La Douce. Over his long, distinguished career, Trauner worked with such directors as Joseph Losey, Claude Berri, and Bertrand Tavernier. He worked on his 100th film, Reunion, in 1989. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Reunion Buy this Movie	Return of the Living Dead Part II Buy this Movie	Love in the Afternoon Buy this Movie	'Round Midnight Buy this Movie
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