Boris Vian

Born: 1920-03-10

Boris Vian (10 March 1920 – 23 June 1959) was a French polymath: writer, poet, musician, singer, translator, critic, actor, inventor and engineer. He is best remembered today for his novels. Those published under the pseudonym Vernon Sullivan were bizarre parodies of criminal fiction, highly controversial at the time of their release. Vian's other fiction, published under his real name, featured a highly individual writing style with numerous made-up words, subtle wordplay and surrealistic plots. L'Écume des jours (Froth on the Daydream) is the best known of these works, and one of the few translated into English. Vian was also an important influence on the French jazz scene. He served as liaison for Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington and Miles Davis in Paris, wrote for several French jazz-reviews (Le Jazz Hot, Paris Jazz) and published numerous articles dealing with jazz both in the United States and in France. His own music and songs enjoyed popularity during his lifetime, particularly the anti-war song "Le Déserteur" (The Deserter). 


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The Hunchback of Notre Dame

as The Cardinal
Released: 1956-12-19

Paris, 1482. Today is the festival of the fools, taking place like each year in the square...

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Les Liaisons Dangereuses

as Prévan
Released: 1959-09-09

Juliette Merteuil and Valmont is a sophisticated couple, always looking for fun and excitement....

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Saint-Tropez, devoirs de vacances

as Self
Released: 1954-04-15

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A Girl in a Pocket

as Baths manager
Released: 1957-11-06

A professor experimenting in suspended animation accidentally shrinks his dog and later, his...

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La Joconde, histoire d'une obsession

as Mona Lisa smile teacher (uncredited)
Released: 1958-04-30

This is the story of an obsession. Mona Lisa keeps smiling quizzically while our poor hero is...

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Vadim Mister Cool

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2016-12-28

As a poster boy for hedonism, his whole life was one big party. A journalist, filmmaker,...

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Le Bel Âge

as Boris
Released: 1960-02-10

Steph, Jean-Claude and Jacques work in a Parisian art shop, but they mainly work in the field of...

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Le cinéma de Boris Vian

as Self (archives)
Released: 2011-12-17

On June 23, 1959, Boris Vian died of a heart attack while watching the film "I Spit Οn Your...

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La chasse à l'homme

as uncredited
Released: 1952-10-14

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Hôtel La Louisiane

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2015-11-18

Hôtel La Louisiane is, at its core, a film about freedom and dignity. Freedom for those who wish...

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Rage, Sex, and Jazz: I Spit on Your Graves by Vernon Sullivan

as Self - Writer (archive footage)
Released: 2022-11-09

In 1946, the controversial French writer Boris Vian writes his novel I Spit on Your Graves under...

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Boris Vian, un cœur qui battait trop fort

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2020-03-13

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En direct de...

as self
First aired: 1956-02-16

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