Encyclopedia of French Film Directors

914 • SAVARY, JÉRÔME
SAVARY, JÉRÔME (June 27, 1942, Buenos Aires,
Argentina–)
His father was a writer and his mother the daughter
of Frank Higgins, a New York State governor. In
France since 1947, he moved to Paris to study music
before enrolling in the Ecole of Art Décoratifs. At age
nineteen, he went to New York, where he dedicated
himself to his passion, jazz music, and met Count Basie,
Thelonious Monk, and stand-up comedian Lenny
Bruce. Having returned to France, he created a theatrical
company, La Compagnie Jérôme Savary, and cofounded
Le Grand Théâtre Panique with Arrabal and
Copi. In 1968, he formed a new troupe that soon became
famous, Le Grand Magic Circus et ses Animaux
tristes. After the dissolution of the group, he directed
many plays and operas, wrote the music for two
fi lms (1972 Ca va, ça vient, Pierre Barouh; 1973 La Vie
facile, also co-screenwriter, actor, Francis Warin, shot
in 1971), and managed several theaters. He authored
the following books: 1974 Le Grand Magic Circus et ses
Animaux tristes (Editions Belfond); 1985 La Vie privée
d’un Magicien ordinaire (Editions Ramsay); 1991 Ma Vie
commence à 20h30 (Editions Stock); Marilyn Montreuil
(novel, Editions de l’Archipel); 1996 Jérôme Savary, un
Enfant dans la Tête (by Colette Godard, Editions du
Rocher); Magic Circus, 1966–1996, 30 Ans d’Aventures
et d’Amour (Editions Bernard Chevry); 2000 Habana
Blues (novel, Editions Grasset); 2004 Dictionnaire
amoureux du Spectacle (Editions Plon).
Filmography
1975 Le Boucher, la Star et l’Orpheline (also coscreenwriter,
actor, co-lyricist; shot in 1973)
La Fille du Garde-Barrière / UK: The Gatekeeper’s
Daughter (also co-screenwriter, co-dialogist,
actor)
SAVIGNAC, JEAN-PAUL (May 8, 1936, Versailles,
Yvelines, France–)
The son of a painter, he was educated at Pierre-de-
Fermat high school in Toulouse. In 1954, he moved
to Paris and spent fi ve years at the Ecole of Arts Décoratifs
(1954–1959). He began as an assistant production
designer (1960 Le Baron de l’Ecluse / Il barone,
Jean Delannoy, France / Italy) before turning a second
assistant director (1962 Vivre sa vie: Film en Douze Tableaux
/ UK: It’s My Life / USA: My Life to Live, also actor,
Jean-Luc Godard; 1963 L’Abominable Homme des
Douanes, Marc Allégret) and then fi rst assistant director
(1963 Les Carabiniers / UK: The Soldiers / USA: The
Rifl emen, Jean-Luc Godard, France / Italy; Rogopag /
Ro.Go.Pa.G / USA: Let’s Have a Brainwash, segment “Le
Nouveau Monde” / “Il nuovo mondo,” Jean-Luc Godard,
France / Italy; 1964 Les Parapluies de Cherbourg /
Die Regenschirme von Cherbourg / USA: The Umbrellas
of Cherbourg, Jacques Demy, France / West Germany;
Bande à Part / UK: The Outsiders / USA: Band of Outsiders,
Jean-Luc Godard; 1965 Alphaville, une étrange
Aventure de Lemmy Caution / Alphaville / Agente Lemmy
Caution: Missione Alphaville / UK: Alphaville, a Strange
Adventure of Lemmy Caution / Alphaville, a Strange Case
of Lemmy Caution / USA: Dick Tracy on Mars, Jean-Luc
Godard, France / Italy; Le Bonheur / UK and USA: Happiness,
Agnès Varda). He also edited Jean-Luc Godard’s
Week-end (France / Italy, 1967) trailer. After directing
a few fi lms, he dedicated himself to painting.
Filmography
1965 Nick Carter et le Trèfl e rouge / Nick Carter e il
trifoglio rosso (also co-screenwriter, co-dialogist;
France / Italy)
1966 Sésame (short; also screenwriter, dialogist;
shot in 1964)
1967 Jean-Luc Godard (documentary)
1968 Que s’est-il passé en Mai!? (documentary;
short; also producer)
1973 Député (documentary; also producer, cinematographer)
1975 Les Liaisons perverses (as Edgar P. Sullivan;
also producer, cinematographer, production
designer)
SAYTOR, TONY (Alexandre Saytor / August 28,
1911, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France–April 11, 1991,
Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France)
A former second assistant director (1952 Bouquet de
Joie, Maurice Cam), he directed mostly comedies.
Filmography
1950 Crystal Palace (short)
1957 Filous et Compagnie
1959 Ca n’arrive qu’aux Vivants
El casco blanco / Casque blanc (co-director
with Pedro Baláña and Pedro Bonvehi; Spain
/ France)
1963 La Bande à Bobo
SBRAIRE, HARMEL (May 12, 1955–)
A dialogue coach (1995 Le Hussard sur le Toit / USA:
The Horseman on the Roof, Jean-Paul Rappeneau;