Alexandre Trauner

Alexandre Trauner ( born August 3, 1906 in Budapest, † December 5, 1993 in Omonville- la -Petite, France ) was one of the most important European Designer, and later of American cinema.

Life and work

After studying painting at the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest, he moved to Paris, where he became assistant to the film production designer Lazare Meerson 1929 (À nous la liberté, Under the Roofs of Paris by René Clair, La Kermesse héroïque by Jacques Feyder ).

In 1937 he was Chefszenenbildner and has worked with many notable directors. His scene image has been the trend for the poetic realism. So he created the decorations for the films of Marcel Carné ( Drôle de drame, harbor in the fog, Hôtel du Nord, The day is dawning, Children of Paradise ). Trauner, by origin a Hungarian Jew who survived the German occupation with the help of his friend, the poet Jacques Prévert, in a hideout in the Alpes- Maritimes in Tourrettes- sur -Loup.

After the war he continued his career with frames for Marcel Carné and Yves Allégret, but also for Orson Welles, Joseph Losey and John Huston. The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes by Billy Wilder and Subway by Luc Besson were designed by him.

For Les Routes du Sud by Joseph Losey his house was in Omonville- la -Petite on the Cotentin peninsula as decor.

Trauner in 1960 was awarded the Oscar for Best Production Design (Category black and white) for The Apartment by Billy Wilder.

Because of the friendship with the Hungarian producer André Libik took Trauner 1982, the artistic director for the television film The case Sylvester Matuska. From selbigem reason the actor Armin Mueller-Stahl was involved. Alexandre Trauner's last collaboration was the film The Rainbow Thief by Alejandro Jodorowsky 1990.

He is buried in the small cemetery of Omonville -la -Petite (Manche) on the side of his friend Jacques Prévert.

Quote

If it were up to me he would make a single movie more. The time has come that he teaches. It would not be fair if one so unique blessed man did not share his talent, knowledge and expertise with future generations of filmmakers. Should he ever do it, I would like to register first. I want to be hearers of the Master. Billy Wilder on Alexandre Trauner

Pictures of Alexandre Trauner

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