Molinaro, Edouard

(1928- )

   Director and screenwriter. Edouard Molinaro began his filmmaking career in the 1950s. A contemporary of the directors of the Nouvelle Vague or New Wave, Molinaro seemed little influenced by the aesthetics and poetics of these directors and is often considered to be a commercial filmmaker rather than a New Wave auteur. His first film was Les Alchimistes (1957), and it was followed by Le dos aux murs (1958), featuring Jeanne Moreau and Gérard Oury, and Des femmes disparaissent (1959), starring Robert Hossein.

   Molinaro is best known for his internationally successful film La Cage aux folles, which was France's best-selling film in 1978. Based on a play by Jean Poiret and starring Michel Serrault alongside Italian actor Ugo Tognazzi, La Cage aux folles is frequently cited in studies of cinematic representations of homosexuality, camp, and comedy. It was nominated for an Oscar in 1980 and was remade in Hollywood as The Birdcage. Its sequel, La Cage aux folles 2 (1980), was also very popular.

   Molinaro has directed a number of other French blockbusters, including Oscar (1967), starring the beloved comic actor Louis de Funès, Hibernatus (1969), also with de Funès, Mon oncle Benjamin (1969), and L'Emmerdeur (1973). Although not a member of the New Wave, he collaborated with several of its icons. He codirected Les Sept Péchés capitaux with Claude Chabrol; Jean-Claude Brialy starred in his Arsène Lupin contre Arsène Lupin (1962) and La Chasse à l'homme (1964); and Brigitte Bardot played the lead in Une ravissante idiote (1964). However, he has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with these films and seems to wish not to be defined by commercial success.

   Molinaro worked with some of France's best-known actors, among them Serrault, who played in La Cage aux folles, La Cage aux folles 2, Quand passent les faisans (1965), and La Liberté en croupe (1970). He has also worked with Lino Ventura in films such as Un témoin dans la ville (1959). Annie Girardot starred in La Mandarine (1971) and Cause toujours . . . tu m'intéresses! (1979). Daniel Auteuil acted in Pour cent briques t'as plus rien (1982), Palace (1985), and L'Amour en douce (1985). Claude Brasseur starred in Palace and Le Souper (1992). Molinaro directed an American film, Just the Way You Are (1984), starring Kristy McNichol. His most recent films for the cinema to date are the heritage film Beaumarchais l'insolent (1995) and Le Mal de mère (2001).

   Historical Dictionary of French Cinema by Dayna Oscherwitz & Mary Ellen Higgins