Boileau-Narcejac
Encyclopedia
Boileau-Narcejac is the nom de plume under which French
crime fiction
writer
s Pierre Boileau (28 April 1906, Paris
– 16 January 1989, Beaulieu-sur-Mer
) and Pierre Ayraud, aka Thomas Narcejac (3 July 1908, Rochefort-sur-Mer
– 9 June 1998, Nice
) collaborated. A number of their works were adapted for film
, including the renowned Les Diaboliques
, directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot
, and Vertigo
, directed by Alfred Hitchcock
. They also notably adapted the novel Les yeux sans visage by Jean Redon into the horror film
known in English as Eyes Without a Face
(1960).
Individually, Boileau and Narcejac were each winners of the prestigious Prix du Roman d'Aventures, awarded each year to the best work of detective fiction
, French
or foreign: Boileau for Le Repos de Bacchus in 1938 and Narcejac for La Mort est du Voyage in 1948, each a locked-room mystery. They met in 1948 at the award dinner for Narcejac, to which Boileauas a prior winnerhad also been invited. Their collaboration began soon after, with Boileau providing the plots and Narcejac the atmosphere and characterisation
, not unlike Frederic Dannay and Manfred Lee ("Ellery Queen
").
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
crime fiction
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
s Pierre Boileau (28 April 1906, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
– 16 January 1989, Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer , Italian: Belluogo, is a seaside village on the French Riviera between Nice and Monaco. It is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department and borders the communes of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Èze, and Villefranche-sur-Mer.-History:...
) and Pierre Ayraud, aka Thomas Narcejac (3 July 1908, Rochefort-sur-Mer
Rochefort, Charente-Maritime
Rochefort is a commune in southwestern France, a port on the Charente estuary. It is a sub-prefecture of the Charente-Maritime department.-History:...
– 9 June 1998, Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
) collaborated. A number of their works were adapted for film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, including the renowned Les Diaboliques
Les Diaboliques (film)
Les Diaboliques , released as Diabolique in the United States and variously translated as The Devils or The Fiends, is a 1955 French black-and-white thriller feature film directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, starring Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot and Paul Meurisse...
, directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot
Henri-Georges Clouzot
Henri-Georges Clouzot was a French film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best remembered for his work in the thriller film genre, having directed The Wages of Fear and Les Diaboliques, which are critically recognized to be among the greatest films from the 1950s...
, and Vertigo
Vertigo (film)
Vertigo is a 1958 psychological thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring James Stewart, Kim Novak, and Barbara Bel Geddes. The screenplay was written by Alec Coppel and Samuel A...
, directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
. They also notably adapted the novel Les yeux sans visage by Jean Redon into the horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
known in English as Eyes Without a Face
Eyes Without a Face
Eyes Without a Face is a 1960 French-language horror film adaptation of Jean Redon's novel, directed by Georges Franju, and starring Pierre Brasseur and Alida Valli. During the film's production, consideration was given to the standards of European censors by setting the right tone, minimizing...
(1960).
Individually, Boileau and Narcejac were each winners of the prestigious Prix du Roman d'Aventures, awarded each year to the best work of detective fiction
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
or foreign: Boileau for Le Repos de Bacchus in 1938 and Narcejac for La Mort est du Voyage in 1948, each a locked-room mystery. They met in 1948 at the award dinner for Narcejac, to which Boileauas a prior winnerhad also been invited. Their collaboration began soon after, with Boileau providing the plots and Narcejac the atmosphere and characterisation
Characterisation
Characterization or characterisation is the art of creating characters for a narrative, including the process of conveying information about them. It may be employed in dramatic works of art or everyday conversation...
, not unlike Frederic Dannay and Manfred Lee ("Ellery Queen
Ellery Queen
Ellery Queen is both a fictional character and a pseudonym used by two American cousins from Brooklyn, New York: Daniel Nathan, alias Frederic Dannay and Manford Lepofsky, alias Manfred Bennington Lee , to write, edit, and anthologize detective fiction.The fictional Ellery Queen created by...
").
Notable adaptations
- 1955 – Les DiaboliquesLes Diaboliques (film)Les Diaboliques , released as Diabolique in the United States and variously translated as The Devils or The Fiends, is a 1955 French black-and-white thriller feature film directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, starring Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot and Paul Meurisse...
, France, directed by ClouzotHenri-Georges ClouzotHenri-Georges Clouzot was a French film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best remembered for his work in the thriller film genre, having directed The Wages of Fear and Les Diaboliques, which are critically recognized to be among the greatest films from the 1950s...
(novel Celle qui n'était plus) - 1957 – S.O.S. NoronhaS.O.S. NoronhaS.O.S. Noronha is a French adventure film from 1957, directed by Georges Rouquier, written by Pierre Boileau, starring Jean Marais. The scenario was based on a novel of Pierre Viré.- Cast :* Jean Marais : Frédéric Coulibaud* Daniel Ivernel : Mastic...
, France, directed by Georges RouquierGeorges RouquierGeorges Rouquier was a French actor, film director and screenwriter. He appeared in 12 films between 1942 and 1982. He also directed ten films between 1942 and 1983.-Selected filmography:... - 1958 – VertigoVertigo (film)Vertigo is a 1958 psychological thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring James Stewart, Kim Novak, and Barbara Bel Geddes. The screenplay was written by Alec Coppel and Samuel A...
, USA, directed by HitchcockAlfred HitchcockSir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
(novel D'entre les morts) - 1960 - Faces in the DarkFaces in the DarkFaces in the Dark is a 1960 British thriller film directed by David Eady and starring John Gregson, Mai Zetterling and John Ireland. A blind inventor is convinced he is going mad, but it soon becomes apparent it is a deliberate attempt by someone else....
, UK, directed by David EadyDavid EadySir David Eady , styled The Hon. Mr Justice Eady, in legal writing Eady J, is a High Court judge in England and Wales. As a judge he is known for having presided over many high-profile libel and privacy cases....
(novel Les Visages de l'ombre) - 1967 – Choice Cuts, USA, abandoned Arthur P. JacobsArthur P. JacobsArthur Jacobs was a twentieth century film producer responsible for numerous classic films of the 1960s and 1970s, including the Planet of the Apes series, Doctor Dolittle, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Play It Again, Sam and Tom Sawyer...
production with James Bridges screenplay (novel Et mon tout est un homme) - 1991 – Body Parts, USA, (novel Et mon tout est un homme)