Léo Joannon
Encyclopedia
Léo Joannon was a French
writer
and film director
. Born in Aix-en-Provence
, Joannon was originally a law student who became a novelist and journalist
before entering the film industry in the 1920s as a cameraman.
Joannon first attracted international attention in early 1939 during the production of S.O.S. Mediterranean, when his attempts to include shots of a German naval ship docked in the port of Tangier
created a diplomatic incident between the pre-World War II
French and German governments. The film later won the Grand Prix du Cinema Français.
Joannon is best known to international audiences as the director of the comedy film
Atoll K
(1951), which was the final motion picture starring Stan Laurel
and Oliver Hardy
. Among his other films were Le Defroque
(1954) and Fort du Fou/Outpost in Indochina (1962).
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
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....
and film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. Born in Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
, Joannon was originally a law student who became a novelist and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
before entering the film industry in the 1920s as a cameraman.
Joannon first attracted international attention in early 1939 during the production of S.O.S. Mediterranean, when his attempts to include shots of a German naval ship docked in the port of Tangier
Tangier
Tangier, also Tangiers is a city in northern Morocco with a population of about 700,000 . It lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel...
created a diplomatic incident between the pre-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
French and German governments. The film later won the Grand Prix du Cinema Français.
Joannon is best known to international audiences as the director of the comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
Atoll K
Atoll K
Atoll K is a French/Italian film—also known as Robinson Crusoeland in the UK and Utopia in the US—starring the comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in their final screen appearance. The film co-stars French singer/actress Suzy Delair and was directed by Léo Joannon, with uncredited...
(1951), which was the final motion picture starring Stan Laurel
Stan Laurel
Arthur Stanley "Stan" Jefferson , better known as Stan Laurel, was an English comic actor, writer and film director, famous as the first half of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy. His film acting career stretched between 1917 and 1951 and included a starring role in the Academy Award winning film...
and Oliver Hardy
Oliver Hardy
Oliver Hardy was an American comic actor famous as one half of Laurel and Hardy, the classic double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted nearly 30 years, from 1927 to 1955.-Early life:...
. Among his other films were Le Defroque
The Unfrocked One
The Unfrocked One is a 1954 French drama film directed by Léo Joannon. At the 4th Berlin International Film Festival it won the Bronze Berlin Bear award.-Cast:* Pierre Fresnay - Maurice Morand* Pierre Trabaud - Gérard Lacassagne...
(1954) and Fort du Fou/Outpost in Indochina (1962).