profile

    Robert Hossein

    1927-12-30 (96 years old) in Paris, France

    Robert Hossein was a French film actor of Parsi origin, director and writer. He directed the 1982 adaption of Les Misérables, and appeared in Vice and Virtue, Le Casse, Les Uns et les Autres and Venus Beauty Institute. His most recent roles include starring as Michèle Mercier's husband in the Angélique series and as a Catholic priest who falls in love with Claude Jade and becomes a communist in Prêtres interdits (Forbidden Priests) in 1973. Hossein started directing films in 1956 with Les salauds vont en enfer from a story by Frédéric Dard whose novels and plays went on to furnish Hossein with much of his later film material. Right from the start Hossein established his characteristic trademarks: using a seemingly straightforward suspense plot and subverting its conventions (sometimes to the extent of a complete disregard of the traditional demand for a final twist or revelation) in order to concentrate on ritualistic relationships. This is the director's running preoccupation which is always stressed in his films by an extraordinary command of film space and often striking frame compositions where the geometry of human figures and set design is used to accentuate the psychological set-up of the scene. The mechanisms of guilt and the way it destroys relationships is another recurring theme, presumably influenced by Hossein's lifelong interest in the works of Dostoyevski. Although Hossein had some modest international successes with films like Toi, le venin and Le vampire de Dusseldorf, he was much singled out for scorching criticism by the critics and followers of the New Wave for the unashamedly melodramatic frameworks of his films. The fact that he was essentially an auteur director with a consistent set of themes and an extraordinary mastery of original and unusual approaches to staging his stories, was never appreciated. He was not averse to trying his hand at widely different genres and was never defeated, making the strikingly different spaghetti western Une corde, un Colt and the low-budgeted but daringly subversive period drama J'ai tué Raspoutine. However, because of the lack of wider success and continuing adverse criticism, Hossein virtually ended his film directing career in 1970, having concentrated on theatre where his achievements were never questioned, and subsequently returning to film directing only twice. With two or three exceptions, his films remain commercially unavailable and very difficult to see. He is the son of André Hossein a Zoroastrian French composer of Azerbaijani-Tajik descent, and a Jewish comedy actress from Kiev. He was married three times: first to Marina Vlady (he has two sons with her, Pierre and Igor), later to Caroline Eliacheff (with whom he has a son, Nicholas). He is currently married to actress Candice Patou, with whom he has one son, Julien. According to an article written by Emannuel Peze, Hossein experienced a conversion to Catholicism in 1971 during a visit to the Marian apparition at San Damiano in Lombardo Italy. Description above from the Wikipedia article Robert Hossein, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

    Movies

    poster
    Raymond Devos dans tous ses sens
    0 %|Nov 3, 2022
    Documentary
    poster
    Love Is Better Than Life
    52 %|Jan 19, 2022
    Comedy, Romance, Music
    poster
    Le Fruit de l'espoir
    0 %|Feb 5, 2020
    Drama
    poster
    Aznavour by Charles
    69 %|Oct 2, 2019
    Documentary, Music
    poster
    Belmondo by Belmondo
    78 %|May 5, 2016
    Documentary
    poster
    Belmondo, il était une fois le beau monde
    60 %|Oct 25, 2011
    TV Movie, Documentary
    poster
    Une femme nommée Marie
    0 %|Aug 13, 2011
    Drama
    poster
    Belmondo, itinéraire...
    76 %|May 18, 2011
    Documentary
    poster
    Les fleurs maladives de Georges Franju
    70 %|May 5, 2009
    Documentary
    poster
    A Man and His Dog
    59 %|Jan 14, 2009
    Drama
    actor
    Annie Girardot, ainsi va la vie
    80 %|Sep 21, 2008
    Documentary
    poster
    Trivial
    42 %|May 23, 2007
    Thriller
    poster
    Denn sie kennen kein Erbarmen: Der Italowestern
    66 %|Apr 23, 2006
    Western, Documentary
    poster
    San Antonio
    36 %|Jul 21, 2004
    Action, Comedy
    poster
    Antigone
    67 %|May 5, 2003
    Drama
    poster
    Gialloparma
    33 %|Feb 26, 1999
    Thriller
    poster
    Venus Beauty Institute
    58 %|Feb 3, 1999
    Comedy, Drama, Romance
    poster
    The Wax Mask
    57 %|Apr 4, 1997
    Horror, Thriller
    poster
    Les Miserables
    68 %|Mar 22, 1995
    Drama
    poster
    L'Affaire
    30 %|Apr 13, 1994
    Thriller
    poster
    Stranger in the House
    64 %|Oct 3, 1992
    Drama
    poster
    Children of Chaos
    51 %|Nov 22, 1989
    Drama
    actor
    La croisade des enfants
    0 %|Apr 7, 1988
    TV Movie, History
    poster
    Levy & Goliath
    51 %|Jan 27, 1987
    Adventure, Comedy, Crime
    poster
    A Man and a Woman: 20 Years Later
    56 %|May 13, 1986
    Drama, Romance
    actor
    Le Caviar rouge
    0 %|Jan 8, 1986
    Drama
    poster
    Surprise Party
    35 %|Apr 20, 1983
    Comedy
    poster
    The Big Pardon
    62 %|Jan 27, 1982
    Crime, Comedy, Drama
    poster
    The Professional
    72.38000000000001 %|Oct 21, 1981
    Action, Adventure, Thriller
    poster
    Bolero: Dance of Life
    68 %|May 27, 1981
    Drama, Music
    poster
    Démons de midi
    0 %|Nov 28, 1979
    Drama
    poster
    The Phoney
    42 %|Oct 14, 1975
    Comedy
    poster
    The Protector
    35 %|Jun 5, 1974
    Drama
    poster
    Le tour d'écrou
    60 %|Feb 25, 1974
    Drama, Horror, Thriller, TV Movie
    poster
    Prêtres interdits
    10 %|Nov 22, 1973
    Drama, History
    poster
    A Murder Is a Murder
    52 %|Aug 23, 1972
    Drama, Crime
    poster
    Hellé
    46 %|May 2, 1972
    Romance, Drama
    poster
    The Burglars
    69.95 %|Oct 27, 1971
    Action, Crime, Thriller
    poster
    The Lion's Share
    40 %|Sep 8, 1971
    Crime
    poster
    Judge Roy Bean
    60 %|Mar 3, 1971
    Western, Comedy
    poster
    Falling Point
    58 %|Sep 11, 1970
    Crime
    poster
    Versatile Lovers
    30 %|May 6, 1970
    Drama
    poster
    Time of the Wolves
    52 %|Jan 21, 1970
    Action, Crime, Drama
    poster
    The Conspirators
    75 %|Oct 24, 1969
    History, Comedy, Drama
    poster
    Desert Assault
    50 %|Jul 30, 1969
    War
    poster
    Crime Thief
    51 %|May 22, 1969
    Crime, Drama
    poster
    Crime Thief
    51 %|May 22, 1969
    Crime, Drama
    poster
    The Scarlet Lady
    57 %|May 14, 1969
    Comedy
    poster
    Misdeal
    30 %|Apr 30, 1969
    Thriller
    poster
    Life Love Death
    51 %|Jan 29, 1969
    Drama
    poster
    Cemetery Without Crosses
    64 %|Jan 25, 1969
    Western
    poster
    The Battle of El Alamein
    53.6 %|Jan 1, 1969
    War, Action
    poster
    Tender Moment
    58 %|Dec 20, 1968
    poster
    OSS 117 Murder for Sale
    57.86 %|Jul 27, 1968
    Action, Crime
    poster
    Angelique and the Sultan
    65 %|Mar 13, 1968
    Adventure, Romance, History
    poster
    A Little Virtuous
    58 %|Feb 21, 1968
    Romance, Drama
    poster
    Lamiel
    42 %|Aug 30, 1967
    Drama, Comedy
    poster
    The Man Who Betrayed the Mafia
    32.5 %|May 20, 1967
    Drama, Thriller
    poster
    I Killed Rasputin
    44 %|May 3, 1967
    Drama
    poster
    La Musica
    44.290000000000006 %|Mar 3, 1967
    Drama
    poster
    Untamable Angelique
    66 %|Jan 1, 1967
    Adventure
    poster
    Brigade Anti Gangs
    62 %|Aug 18, 1966
    Crime
    poster
    Long March
    0 %|May 31, 1966
    Drama, War
    poster
    The Other Truth
    50 %|Apr 19, 1966
    Drama, Crime
    poster
    Angelique and the King
    66 %|Jan 31, 1966
    Adventure, History, Romance
    poster
    Mademoiselle de Maupin
    58 %|Jan 13, 1966
    Adventure, Romance
    poster
    The Thunder of God
    62 %|Sep 8, 1965
    Comedy, Drama
    poster
    Marco the Magnificent
    54 %|Aug 6, 1965
    Adventure
    poster
    The Dirty Game
    58 %|Jun 23, 1965
    Drama, Thriller
    poster
    The Vampire of Dusseldorf
    56 %|Apr 7, 1965
    Adventure, Crime, Thriller
    poster
    Angelique
    69 %|Dec 8, 1964
    Adventure, Romance, History
    poster
    Marked Eyes
    58 %|Sep 2, 1964
    Drama, Crime
    poster
    Why Paris?
    0 %|Jun 24, 1964
    poster
    OSS 117: Panic in Bangkok
    81.14000000000001 %|Jun 12, 1964
    Action, Crime
    poster
    Death of a Killer
    58 %|Apr 1, 1964
    Crime
    poster
    Highway Pick-Up
    68 %|Nov 13, 1963
    Crime, Drama
    actor
    Of Flesh and Blood
    0 %|Jul 8, 1963
    Drama
    poster
    Vice and Virtue
    55 %|Mar 1, 1963
    Drama, Comedy
    poster
    Enough Rope
    53 %|Jan 11, 1963
    Drama, Crime, Thriller
    poster
    Love on a Pillow
    59 %|Sep 5, 1962
    Drama, Romance
    poster
    Paris Pick-Up
    59 %|May 4, 1962
    Crime, Thriller
    poster
    Hitch-Hike
    55 %|Mar 16, 1962
    Comedy
    poster
    Madame
    56 %|Dec 21, 1961
    Comedy, Drama, History, Romance
    poster
    The Game of Truth
    59 %|Nov 26, 1961
    Crime, Mystery
    poster
    The Taste of Violence
    71 %|Aug 10, 1961
    Western
    poster
    The Menace
    55 %|Mar 1, 1961
    Drama
    poster
    The Wretches
    62 %|May 8, 1960
    Drama
    poster
    Take Me As I Am
    60 %|Jan 29, 1960
    Thriller
    poster
    The Verdict
    0 %|Oct 2, 1959
    Drama
    poster
    Double Agents
    54 %|Sep 9, 1959
    Thriller
    poster
    Riff Raff Girls
    58 %|May 20, 1959
    Crime
    poster
    The Road to Shame
    57 %|Apr 30, 1959
    Thriller
    poster
    Blonde in a White Car
    66 %|Mar 27, 1959
    Mystery
    poster
    Provisional Liberty
    40 %|May 16, 1958
    Drama, Romance
    poster
    Young Girls Beware
    53 %|Jul 4, 1957
    Crime, Drama
    poster
    No Sun in Venice
    51 %|May 31, 1957
    Drama
    poster
    Crime and Punishment
    69 %|Dec 4, 1956
    Drama
    poster
    Forgive Our Trespasses
    50 %|Aug 1, 1956
    Drama
    poster
    The Wicked Go to Hell
    62 %|Dec 7, 1955
    Drama, Crime
    poster
    Rififi
    78.31 %|Apr 13, 1955
    Crime, Thriller, Drama
    poster
    Série noire
    20 %|Mar 4, 1955
    Crime, Drama
    poster
    Quai des blondes
    53 %|Apr 7, 1954
    Crime, Drama
    poster
    Maya
    54 %|Dec 9, 1949
    Drama
    poster
    In the Eyes of Memory
    66 %|Nov 24, 1948
    poster
    Sextette
    0 %|Sep 17, 1948
    Comedy, Drama
    poster
    The Devil Who Limped
    64 %|Jul 11, 1948
    History

    Series

    poster
    The Little Murders of Agatha Christie
    74.03999999999999 %|Jan 9, 2009
    Crime, Mystery, Comedy, Drama
    poster
    Petits Meurtres en famille
    80 %|Nov 14, 2006
    Crime, Mystery
    poster
    Le Juge
    90 %|May 23, 2005
    Crime, Drama, Mystery
    poster
    Vivement dimanche
    28 %|Sep 20, 1998
    Talk
    poster
    Stars 90
    62 %|Sep 3, 1990
    Reality
    poster
    Le Gorille
    70 %|Apr 29, 1990
    Crime, Action & Adventure, Comedy
    poster
    Sacrée soirée
    62 %|Sep 2, 1987
    Talk
    poster
    Nulle part ailleurs
    58 %|Aug 31, 1987
    Talk
    poster
    Champs-Elysées
    65 %|Jan 16, 1982
    Talk
    poster
    Apostrophes
    85 %|Jan 10, 1975
    Talk
    poster
    Spécial cinéma
    0 %|Sep 25, 1974
    Talk
    actor
    Midi trente
    60 %|Mar 6, 1972
    Reality
    poster
    Le Grand Échiquier
    80 %|Jan 12, 1972
    Reality
    poster
    Le Grand Échiquier
    80 %|Jan 12, 1972
    Reality
    actor
    Samedi soir
    60 %|Jan 9, 1971
    Talk
    poster
    Cinépanorama
    80 %|Feb 4, 1956
    Documentary, Family, Talk