Édouard Molinaro (13 November 1928 – 7 December 2013) was a French film director, screenwriter, and actor. Throughout his career, which spanned over five decades, Molinaro directed more than 40 feature films and numerous television productions, often excelling in the genre of comedy while also working in thrillers and dramas. He is best known internationally for his 1978 comedy La Cage aux Folles, which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Early Life and Career Beginnings Born in Bordeaux, France, Édouard Molinaro developed an early interest in filmmaking. He began his career in the late 1940s as an assistant director, working with notable filmmakers such as André Berthomieu and Roger Vadim. His initial directorial efforts in the late 1950s and early 1960s were primarily thrillers and detective films, showcasing his technical skill and a knack for suspense. These early works, such as Le Dos au mur (1958) and Un témoin dans la ville (1959), established him as a competent and versatile director within the French film industry.
Rise to Prominence through Comedy Molinaro's career gained significant momentum in the late 1960s when he began directing comedies, often collaborating with some of France's most popular comedic actors. His collaborations with the legendary Louis de Funès were particularly successful, including the highly popular films Oscar (1967) and Hibernatus (1969). These films showcased Molinaro's ability to handle fast-paced comedic timing and extract strong performances from his cast. He also directed Jacques Brel in the period comedy Mon Oncle Benjamin (1969), further cementing his reputation as a master of the genre.
International Success with La Cage aux Folles Molinaro achieved global recognition with his 1978 film La Cage aux Folles (Birds of a Feather in some English markets), a comedy about a gay couple who must pretend to be straight when their son introduces them to his fiancée's ultraconservative parents. Starring Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault, the film was a massive international hit, earning Molinaro Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. It became one of the highest-grossing foreign-language films released in the United States at the time and spawned sequels and a successful Broadway musical adaptation (later a film remake as The Birdcage).
Later Career and Television Work Following the success of La Cage aux Folles, Molinaro continued to direct a variety of films, including comedies like Pour cent briques, t'as plus rien! (1982) and dramas such as Just the Way You Are (1984), starring George Segal and Mary Tyler Moore. In the latter part of his career, Molinaro also became a prolific director for television, helming numerous TV movies and series episodes. His television work included adaptations of literary classics and original productions, maintaining his characteristic blend of humor and human observation. His final feature film was Le Souper (1992), an historical drama, and he continued directing for television until the early 2000s.
Legacy Édouard Molinaro is remembered as a versatile and prolific filmmaker whose work consistently entertained audiences while often exploring themes of identity, social convention, and human relationships with warmth and wit. He was a craftsman of popular cinema, adept at both intricate plotting and character-driven storytelling. His contribution to French comedy, particularly through his collaborations with iconic actors and the international success of La Cage aux Folles, remains a significant part of his cinematic legacy. Molinaro was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, a prestigious French honor, in 1996. He passed away in Paris at the age of 85.
Selected Filmography
- Le Dos au mur (Back to the Wall) (1958)
- Un témoin dans la ville (A Witness in the City) (1959)
- Une fille pour l'été (A Girl for the Summer) (1960)
- La Mort de Belle (The Death of Belle) (1961)
- Arsène Lupin contre Arsène Lupin (Arsène Lupin Against Arsène Lupin) (1962)
- Les Ennemis (The Enemies) (1962)
- Une ravissante idiote (A Ravishing Idiot) (1964)
- Quand passent les faisans (When the Pheasants Pass) (1965)
- Oscar (1967)
- Hibernatus (1969)
- Mon Oncle Benjamin (My Uncle Benjamin) (1969)
- La Liberté en croupe (Freedom on the Saddle) (1970)
- Les Aveux les plus doux (The Most Gentle Confessions) (1971)
- La Mandarine (The Tangerine) (1972)
- L'Emmerdeur (The Pain in the A**) (1973)
- Le Téléphone rose (The Pink Telephone) (1975)
- Dracula père et fils (Dracula and Son) (1976)
- L'Homme pressé (The Hurried Man) (1977)
- La Cage aux Folles (Birds of a Feather / The Crazies' Cage) (1978)
- Cause toujours... tu m'intéresses! (Keep Talking, You Interest Me!) (1979)
- Les Séducteurs (The Seducers) (segment "L'ambassadeur") (1980)
- Pour cent briques, t'as plus rien! (For a Hundred Bricks, You've Got Nothing Left!) (1982)
- Just the Way You Are (1984)
- Le Septième Ciel (Seventh Heaven) (1987)
- À gauche en sortant de l'ascenseur (Door on the Left as You Leave the Elevator) (1988)
- Le Souper (The Supper) (1992)
Awards and Nominations
- Academy Awards:
- Nomination for Best Director - La Cage aux Folles (1979)
- Nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay - La Cage aux Folles (1979)
- César Awards:
- Nomination for Best Director - L'Emmerdeur (1974)
- Nomination for Best Film - La Cage aux Folles (1979)
- Nomination for Best Director - La Cage aux Folles (1979)
- Nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay - La Cage aux Folles (1979)
- Nomination for Best Film - Le Souper (1993)
- Nomination for Best Director - Le Souper (1993)
- Nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay - Le Souper (1993)
- Ordre des Arts et des Lettres:
- Chevalier (Knight) - 1996
See Also
- Cinema of France
- List of French film directors
References (This section would typically contain citations to reliable sources)