Léo Joannon

Léo Joannon (21 August 1904 – 28 March 1969) was a French writer and film director. Born in Aix-en-Provence,[1] Joannon was originally a law student who became a novelist and journalist before entering the film industry in the 1920s as a cameraman.[2]

Léo Joannon
Born(1904-08-21)21 August 1904
France
Died28 March 1969(1969-03-28) (aged 64)
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
OccupationFilm director
Years active1930–1967

Career

Joannon first attracted international attention in early 1939 during the production of S.O.S. Mediterranean, when his attempts to include shots of a German naval ship docked in the port of Tangier created a diplomatic incident between the pre-World War II French and German governments. The film later won the Grand Prix du Cinema Français.[3]

Joannon is best known to international audiences as the director of the comedy film Atoll K (1951), which was the final motion picture starring the legendary comedic double act Laurel and Hardy. Among his other better-known films were Le Defroqué (1954) and Fort du Fou (Outpost in Indochina) (1962).[2]

Joannon died in Neuilly-sur-Seine.

Selected filmography

See also

References
  1. Turner Classic Movies profile
  2. New York Times/Allmovie profile
  3. New York Times review, 31 December 1939 (fee required for access)
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