Maurice Delbez

Directing • 1922-07-28 • Bezons, Val-d'Oise, France

Maurice Delbez was a French film director and screenwriter known for his contributions to mid-20th-century French cinema. Born in Bezons, he pursued his education at the Lycée Charlemagne in Paris. During World War II, Delbez joined the French Resistance, participating in student protests against the German occupation. After the war, he attended the Institut des hautes études cinématographiques (IDHEC). Delbez began his career as an assistant director, collaborating with filmmakers such as Maurice Cloche, Jean Grémillon, and Robert Bresson. He made his directorial debut with La Roue (1957) and gained recognition with À pied, à cheval et en voiture (1957), a box office success. His notable work, Rue des Cascades (1964), addressed themes of racism and interracial relationships. Delbez also directed television documentaries, including "La Mémoire aux images," broadcast on France 3. His autobiography, Ma vie racontée à mon chien cinéphile, was published in 2001.