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Louis Malle Biography

Birth Name:Louis Malle

Birth Place:Thumeries, France

Profession Director, Writer, Producer, Actor, Cinematographer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

  • Awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1956 for "Le monde du silence" at the age of 24
  • Studied political science at the Sorbonne in Paris before pursuing a career in filmmaking
  • Married to actress Candice Bergen from 1980 until his death in 1995
  • His film was subject of the 1964 U․S․ Supreme Court decision for the Jacobellis v․ Ohio case
  • Died in 1995 at the age of 63 after suffering from lymphoma for several months
  • Born to a wealthy family, his grandfather was the founder of the Beghin-Say sugar company
  • Quote: "It is only when memory is filtered through imagination that the films we make will have real depth․"
  • Quote: "I tend to think that I repeat myself, so I try to resist the temptation to return to what I have already explored․"
  • Eventually split his time between Hollywood and French cinema after moving to Los Angeles in the late 1970s
  • After assisting well-known filmmakers such as Jacques Cousteau, he would go on to make his directorial debut with "Elevator to the Gallows" in 1957

Awards

  • 1956Palme d'Or-: winner
  • 1957Critics Award-Best Film: winner
  • 1957Prix Louis Delluc-: winner
  • 1958Special Jury Prize-: winner
  • 1958Golden Lion-: nominated
  • 1963Special Jury Prize-: winner
  • 1963Pasinetti Award-Competition: winner
  • 1963Golden Lion-: nominated
  • 1966Golden Dove-: winner
  • 1966Best Film-International Competition: nominated
  • 1967Grand Prix-: nominated
  • 1969Palme d'Or-: nominated
  • 1970Grand Prix-: winner
  • 1971Palme d'Or-: nominated
  • 1972NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 1973Oscar-Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced: nominated
  • 1975BAFTA Film Award-Best Direction: nominated
  • 1975BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 1975Critics Award-Best Film: winner
  • 1975San Gregorio Prize-: winner
  • 1975Golden Spike-Best Film: nominated
  • 1975Golden Spike-Best Film: nominated
  • 1978Palme d'Or-: nominated
  • 1978Technical Grand Prize-: winner
  • 1980Golden Lion-: winner
  • 1981NYFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1982Oscar-Best Director: nominated
  • 1982BAFTA Film Award-Best Direction: winner
  • 1982DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 1982Fotogramas de Plata-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera): winner
  • 1982Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1982NSFC Award-Best Director: winner
  • 1982Sant Jordi-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera): winner
  • 1984Golden Berlin Bear-: nominated
  • 1984Golden Spike-Best Film: nominated
  • 1987LAFCA Award-Best Foreign Film: winner
  • 1987Prix Louis Delluc-: winner
  • 1987UNICEF Award-: winner
  • 1987Special Golden Ciak-: winner
  • 1987Sergio Trasatti Award-: winner
  • 1987Golden Lion-: winner
  • 1987OCIC Award-: winner
  • 1988Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
  • 1988César-Best Screenplay, Original or Adaptation (Meilleur scénario, original ou adaptation): winner
  • 1988César-Best Director (Meilleur réalisateur): winner
  • 1988César-Best Film (Meilleur film): winner
  • 1988David-Best Foreign Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura Straniera): winner
  • 1988David-Best Foreign Director (Migliore Regista Straniero): winner
  • 1988David-Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero): winner
  • 1988European Film Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1988European Film Award-Best Film: nominated
  • 1988European Film Award-Best Screenwriter: winner
  • 1988Independent Spirit Award-Best Foreign Film: nominated
  • 1988Critics Award-Best Film: winner
  • 1988Silver Ribbon-Best Foreign Director (Regista del Miglior Film Straniero): winner
  • 1989BAFTA Film Award-Best Film not in the English Language: nominated
  • 1989BAFTA Film Award-Best Direction: winner
  • 1989BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay - Original: nominated
  • 1989BAFTA Film Award-Best Film: nominated
  • 1989Bodil-Best European Film (Bedste europæiske film): winner
  • 1989Guild Film Award - Silver-Foreign Film (Ausländischer Film): winner
  • 1989Critics Award-Best Foreign Film (Melhor Filme Estrangeiro): winner
  • 1990David-Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero): nominated
  • 1990David-Best Foreign Director (Migliore Regista Straniero): winner
  • 1991BAFTA Film Award-Best Film not in the English Language: nominated
  • 1994BSFC Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 1994Jury Special Prize-Best Film: winner
  • 1994Golden Spike-Best Film: nominated
  • 1995European Silver Ribbon-: nominated
  • 1995NSFC Award-Best Director: nominated