Profile of Jacques Tourneur on Famous Like Me

Jacques Tourneur (November 12, 1904–December 19, 1977) was a French film director.

Born in Paris, France, he was the son of noted director Maurice Tourneur. As a young man, Jacques went to live in New York City and proceeded to Hollywood with his father. He is famous for directing three atmospheric "horror" movies (in fact, film noir–influenced films of understated terror) with producer Val Lewton at RKO Radio Pictures in the 1940s: Cat People, I Walked with a Zombie and The Leopard Man. His 1957 film Night of the Demon also enjoys a high reputation and is considered one of the best horror/supernatural films in movie history. Tourneur also directed one of the classics of film noir, Out of the Past in 1947.

In 1964 Tourneur directed an episode of The Twilight Zone, Night Call (Episode 139, February 7, 1964): superb and an excellent showcase for Tourneur's directing style. His television work also included episodes of Adventures in Paradise ("A Bride for the Captain," 1962), Bonanza ("Denver McKee," 1962), and T.H.E. Cat (1966).

He met his wife, actress Christiane Virideau, while assisting his father on the 1929 German film production Das Schiff der verlorenen Menschen.

Jacques Tourneur died in 1977 in Bergerac, Dordogne, France.

Jacques Tourneur received recognition for his contribution to the film industry in the book "Jacques Tourneur - The Cinema of Nightfall" (1998) by Chris Fujiwara.

Partial filmography

• Cat People 1942
• I Walked with a Zombie 1943
• The Leopard Man 1943
• Experiment Perilous 1944
• Out of the Past 1947
• Berlin Express 1948
• Stars in My Crown 1950
• The Flame and the Arrow 1950
• Stranger on Horseback 1955
• Wichita 1955
• Great Day in the Morning 1956
• Nightfall 1957
• Night of the Demon 1957

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