Writing

Jacques Prévert

Born February 4, 1900 · Neuilly-sur-Seine, Seine [now Hauts-de-Seine], France

Died April 11, 1977 · aged 77

Jacques Prévert was a French poet and screenwriter. His poems became and remain popular in the French-speaking world, particularly in schools. His best-regarded films formed part of the poetic realist movement, and include Les Enfants du Paradis (1945).

Known For

The Dog Who Loved MusicThe Dog Who Loved Music · 1973
The Dog Who Loved Music
7.11973
MovieAnimation
In Paul Grimault's satire of the arms trade, the dealer is alerted to the breakout of war by a signal on his map, so travels in turn to each of two warring countries (his journey is traced for us on the map), selling to each the means of destroying its neighbour. —The Cine-Tourist
L'Âge d'orL'Âge d'or · 1930
L'Âge d'or
6.81930
MovieRomanceComedy
The film consists of a series of tightly interlinked vignettes, the most sustained of which details the story of a man and a woman who are passionately in love. Their attempts to consummate their passion are constantly thwarted, by their families, by the Church and bourgeois society in general.
The Hunchback of Notre DameThe Hunchback of Notre Dame · 1956
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
6.71956
MovieDramaHorror
Paris, 1482. Today is the festival of the fools, taking place like each year in the square outside Cathedral Notre Dame. Among jugglers and other entertainers, Esmeralda, a sensuous gypsy, performs a bewitching dance in front of delighted spectators. From up in a tower of the cathedral, Frollo, an alchemist, gazes at her lustfully. Later in the night, Frollo orders Quasimodo, the deformed bell ringer and his faithful servant, to kidnap Esmeralda. But when the ugly freak comes close to her is touched by the young woman's beauty...
Children of ParadiseChildren of Paradise · 1945
Children of Paradise
8.11945
MovieDramaRomance
In a chaotic 19th-century Paris teeming with aristocrats, thieves, psychics, and courtesans, theater mime Baptiste is in love with the mysterious actress Garance. But Garance, in turn, is loved by three other men: pretentious actor Frederick, conniving thief Lacenaire, and Count Edouard of Montray.
The Devil's EnvoysThe Devil's Envoys · 1942
The Devil's Envoys
6.81942
MovieRomanceFantasy
At the end of the 15th century, a man and a woman, posing as traveling minstrels, are sent by the Devil to a castle to seduce its inhabitants.
Mystery TourMystery Tour · 1947
Mystery Tour
5.41947
MovieComedy
The basic premise: A retired bus driver fulfills his lifelong dream of providing an extended "voyage surprise" (the title is translated as "Mystery Tour") for unsuspecting vacationers. They soon realize, while riding in the old man's home-made bus, that he hasn't bothered to plan any kind of itinerary. As a result, they end up in completely preposterous situations, of course. Voyage surprise!
Stormy WatersStormy Waters · 1941
Stormy Waters
6.81941
MovieDramaRomance
A married tugboat captain falls for a woman he rescues from a sinking ship.
The Free Trade HotelThe Free Trade Hotel · 1934
The Free Trade Hotel
7.01934
MovieComedy
There's never a dull moment at the Hôtel du Libre Echange. Deceptions, hitches and other misunderstandings make a few people mingle whereas, for their own sake, they should not. An example among others: an expert who has come to the hotel for professional reasons had better not meet his wife, who is there to cheat on him with his best friend.

Filmography

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The Dog Who Loved MusicThe Dog Who Loved Music · 1973
The Dog Who Loved Music
7.11973
MovieAnimation
In Paul Grimault's satire of the arms trade, the dealer is alerted to the breakout of war by a signal on his map, so travels in turn to each of two warring countries (his journey is traced for us on the map), selling to each the means of destroying its neighbour. —The Cine-Tourist
L'Âge d'orL'Âge d'or · 1930
L'Âge d'or
6.81930
MovieRomanceComedy
The film consists of a series of tightly interlinked vignettes, the most sustained of which details the story of a man and a woman who are passionately in love. Their attempts to consummate their passion are constantly thwarted, by their families, by the Church and bourgeois society in general.
The Hunchback of Notre DameThe Hunchback of Notre Dame · 1956
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
6.71956
MovieDramaHorror
Paris, 1482. Today is the festival of the fools, taking place like each year in the square outside Cathedral Notre Dame. Among jugglers and other entertainers, Esmeralda, a sensuous gypsy, performs a bewitching dance in front of delighted spectators. From up in a tower of the cathedral, Frollo, an alchemist, gazes at her lustfully. Later in the night, Frollo orders Quasimodo, the deformed bell ringer and his faithful servant, to kidnap Esmeralda. But when the ugly freak comes close to her is touched by the young woman's beauty...
Children of ParadiseChildren of Paradise · 1945
Children of Paradise
8.11945
MovieDramaRomance
In a chaotic 19th-century Paris teeming with aristocrats, thieves, psychics, and courtesans, theater mime Baptiste is in love with the mysterious actress Garance. But Garance, in turn, is loved by three other men: pretentious actor Frederick, conniving thief Lacenaire, and Count Edouard of Montray.
The Devil's EnvoysThe Devil's Envoys · 1942
The Devil's Envoys
6.81942
MovieRomanceFantasy
At the end of the 15th century, a man and a woman, posing as traveling minstrels, are sent by the Devil to a castle to seduce its inhabitants.
Mystery TourMystery Tour · 1947
Mystery Tour
5.41947
MovieComedy
The basic premise: A retired bus driver fulfills his lifelong dream of providing an extended "voyage surprise" (the title is translated as "Mystery Tour") for unsuspecting vacationers. They soon realize, while riding in the old man's home-made bus, that he hasn't bothered to plan any kind of itinerary. As a result, they end up in completely preposterous situations, of course. Voyage surprise!
Stormy WatersStormy Waters · 1941
Stormy Waters
6.81941
MovieDramaRomance
A married tugboat captain falls for a woman he rescues from a sinking ship.
The Free Trade HotelThe Free Trade Hotel · 1934
The Free Trade Hotel
7.01934
MovieComedy
There's never a dull moment at the Hôtel du Libre Echange. Deceptions, hitches and other misunderstandings make a few people mingle whereas, for their own sake, they should not. An example among others: an expert who has come to the hotel for professional reasons had better not meet his wife, who is there to cheat on him with his best friend.
EscargotsEscargots · 2006
Escargots
2006
MovieDrama
An adaptation of a children's poem called Chanson des escargots qui vont à l'enterrement by Jacques Prévert, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Filmed in Paris, France and Los Angeles, California.
CibouletteCiboulette · 1933
Ciboulette
8.01933
MovieMusicComedy
Duparquet is the controller of Les Halles, and plays matchmaker between the young farm-girl Ciboulette and Antonin, a young spoiled aristocrat.
The King and the MockingbirdThe King and the Mockingbird · 1980
The King and the Mockingbird
7.81980
MovieAnimationFamily
A young shepherdess and a chimneysweep plan to get married and escape the clutches of a tyrannical king in love with her, assisted by the guile of a cheeky mockingbird, the king's archenemy.
Bizarre, BizarreBizarre, Bizarre · 1937
Bizarre, Bizarre
6.91937
MovieComedy
A French farce set in Victorian London where a botanist and his wife get into trouble when they pretend to go missing in order to hide from their sanctimonious cousin – an Anglican bishop who is leading a campaign against such writing.
Port of ShadowsPort of Shadows · 1938
Port of Shadows
7.41938
MovieRomanceDrama
Down a foggy, desolate road to the port city of Le Havre travels Jean, an army deserter looking for another chance to make good on life. Fate, however, has a different plan for him, as acts of both revenge and kindness render him front-page news.
Fanfares of LoveFanfares of Love · 1951
Fanfares of Love
5.01951
MovieComedyMusic
Two out of work musicians put on drag to get work in an all girl band. Inevitable comical romantic complications ensue.
Summer LightSummer Light · 1943
Summer Light
7.01943
MovieDrama
A shimmering glass hotel at the top of a remote Provençal mountain provides the setting for a tragicomic tapestry about an obsessive love pentangle, whose principals range from an artist to a hotel manager to a dam worker.
The Lovers of VeronaThe Lovers of Verona · 1949
The Lovers of Verona
5.01949
MovieDrama
Angelo, a glass-blower from Murano, and Georgia Maglia, the pretty daughter of a fallen fascist magistrate, are chosen to be the stand-ins for the stars of a film version of "Romeo and Juliet" being shot on location in Venice and Verona. It is not long before they fall in love and their romance parallels that of Shakespeare's timeless heroes. Indeed their union is threatened by the schemings of Raffaele, the Maglia family's dubious tout...
Arletty, Lady PanameArletty, Lady Paname · 2007
Arletty, Lady Paname
6.02007
MovieDocumentary
A biography of the French actress Arletty.
Les Enfants du ParadisLes Enfants du Paradis · 2008
Les Enfants du Paradis
2008
MovieRomanceDrama
The choreographer brings the Paris of yesteryear back to life: the city of the Boulevard du Crime from the first half of the 19th century, with its artists, theaters, and cabarets. In a staging reminiscent of a movie set, the mime Baptiste bathes in his memories, tell about his encounter with Garance, his impossible love for a marvelous yet unattainable woman, the magical universe of the stage, life behind the scenes, and the tenuous line performers maintain between reality and illusion. Marc-Oliver Dupin's original score provides the musical backdrop for a choreography alternating between larger ensemble numbers and intimate love duets.
L'AtalanteL'Atalante · 1934
L'Atalante
7.51934
MovieComedyDrama
Newly married couple Juliette and ship captain Jean struggle through marriage as they travel on the L'Atalante along with the captain's first mate and a cabin boy.
The Seine Meets ParisThe Seine Meets Paris · 1957
The Seine Meets Paris
6.91957
MovieDocumentary
A poetic ode to the River Seine, Ivens' distinguished camera eye surveys its lively banks and step-stone canals with a vérité candor, a beguiling elan.
The Little SoldierThe Little Soldier · 1947
The Little Soldier
6.41947
MovieAnimationFamily
A budding romance between two toy dancers is put into dangers when the boy is conscripted into the toy army.
Souvenir de ParisSouvenir de Paris · 1928
Souvenir de Paris
1928
MovieDocumentary
Famous Love AffairsFamous Love Affairs · 1961
Famous Love Affairs
4.41961
MovieHistoryRomance
An anthology of four historical love affairs: at Versailles, Louis XIV shares his mistress with one of his subjects; a courtesan tries to disfigure her lover with acid; a medieval wife faces the wrath of her husband's father, who has her condemned to death; and a stage actress provides advice on life and love to her young colleague.
Noah's ArkNoah's Ark · 1947
Noah's Ark
7.51947
MovieDramaComedy
Bitru is a carefree fellow who, one day, decides to buy a houseboat on the River Seine. He moves there and starts living surrounded by a circle of colorful friends. Among them, the daughter of an auto maker but also a group of scientists who have developed "Aqua Simplex", a device that could enable motorists to fill their tanks with... water ! Panic sets in in the automobile industry and Bitru is appointed his friends' middle man to represent them on the various car makers directors' boards.
DiscoramaDiscorama · 1959
Discorama
8.01959
Series
Pour le plaisirPour le plaisir · 1964
Pour le plaisir
1964
SeriesDocumentary