Alexandre Trauner

Born:August 3, 1906

Place of Birth:Budapest, Austria-Hungary [now Hungary]

Died:December 5, 1993

Known For:Art

Biography

Alexandre Trauner, a legendary production designer in the film industry, left an indelible mark on cinema with his exceptional work. Born in Budapest, Hungary in 1906, Trauner's passion for art and design blossomed at a young age. His family's move to Paris in the 1920s exposed him to the vibrant artistic scene of the city, influencing his creative sensibilities.

Trauner's collaboration with renowned filmmakers like Marcel Carné and Billy Wilder showcased his exceptional talent for creating immersive and visually striking film sets. His meticulous attention to detail and ability to evoke specific time periods and atmospheres through his designs set him apart in the industry. Trauner's work often played a crucial role in enhancing the narrative of the films he worked on, becoming an integral part of the storytelling process.

One of Trauner's most celebrated collaborations was with director Billy Wilder on films like "The Apartment" and "Witness for the Prosecution." His ability to capture the essence of the characters and settings through his designs added depth and authenticity to the storytelling. The iconic sets he created for these films not only served as backgrounds but as integral components of the narrative, contributing to the overall emotional impact of the stories.

Trauner's work was characterized by a blend of realism and artistic flair, creating visually stunning environments that transported audiences to different worlds. His keen eye for composition and aesthetics earned him numerous accolades and awards throughout his career, solidifying his reputation as a visionary in the field of production design. His influence can be seen in the work of many contemporary production designers who continue to be inspired by his innovative approach to set design.

Beyond his technical skills, Trauner's ability to collaborate effectively with directors and cinematographers was also highly praised. His understanding of cinematic language and storytelling allowed him to translate directors' visions into tangible, evocative sets that enhanced the overall visual narrative of the films. This collaborative spirit and dedication to his craft made him a sought-after talent in the industry.

Trauner's legacy continues to resonate in the world of filmmaking, with his contributions to cinema immortalized in the iconic films he worked on. His innovative approach to production design and his commitment to creating authentic and immersive environments have left an enduring impact on the art of filmmaking. Alexandre Trauner's artistic vision and creative genius will continue to inspire generations of filmmakers and production designers for years to come.

Images

Filmography

Acting

Love in the Afternoon

Artist (uncredited)

1957

Lovestruck conservatory student Ariane pretends to be just as much a cosmopolitan lover as the worldly mature Frank Flannagan hoping that l’amour will take hold.

Production

The Apartment

Production Design

1960

Bud Baxter is a minor clerk in a huge New York insurance company, until he discovers a quick way to climb the corporate ladder. He lends out his apartment to the executives as a place to take their mistresses. Although he often has to deal with the aftermath of their visits, one night he's left with a major problem to solve.

Witness for the Prosecution

Art Direction

1957

An ailing famous barrister agrees to defend a man in a sensational murder trial where his self-possessed wife's unconvincing testimony confuses him.

Rififi

Production Design

1955

Out of prison after a five-year stretch, jewel thief Tony turns down a quick job his friend Jo offers him, until he discovers that his old girlfriend Mado has become the lover of local gangster Pierre Grutter during Tony's absence. Expanding a minor smash-and-grab into a full-scale jewel heist, Tony and his crew appear to get away clean, but their actions after the job is completed threaten the lives of everyone involved.

Subway

Art Direction

1985

Fred, a raffish safe blower, takes refuge in the Paris Metro after being chased by the henchmen of a shady businessman from whom he has just stolen some documents. While hiding out in the back rooms and conduits of the Metro, Fred encounters a subterranean society of eccentric characters and petty criminals.

How to Steal a Million

Production Design

1966

A woman must steal a statue from a Paris museum to help conceal her father's art forgeries.

The Man Who Would Be King

Production Design

1975

A robust adventure about two British adventurers who take over primitive Kafiristan as "godlike" rulers, meeting a tragic end through their desire for a native girl. Based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling.

Irma la Douce

Production Design

1963

When a naive policeman falls in love with a prostitute, he doesn’t want her seeing other men and creates an alter ego who’s to be her only customer.

One, Two, Three

Production Design

1961

C.R. MacNamara is a managing director for Coca Cola in West Berlin during the Cold War, just before the Wall is put up. When Scarlett, the rebellious daughter of his boss, comes to West Berlin, MacNamara has to look after her, but this turns out to be a difficult task when she reveals to be married to a communist.

Children of Paradise

Production Design

1945

In a chaotic 19th-century Paris teeming with aristocrats, thieves, psychics, and courtesans, theater mime Baptiste is in love with the mysterious actress Garance. But Garance, in turn, is loved by three other men: pretentious actor Frederick, conniving thief Lacenaire, and Count Edouard of Montray.

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

Production Design

1970

Holmes and Dr. Watson take on the case of a beautiful woman whose husband has vanished. The investigation proves strange indeed, involving six missing midgets, villainous monks, a Scottish castle, the Loch Ness monster, and covert naval experiments.

'Round Midnight

Production Design

1986

Inside the Blue Note nightclub one night in 1959 Paris, an aged, ailing jazzman coaxes an eloquent wail from his tenor sax. Outside, a young Parisian too broke to buy a glass of wine strains to hear those notes. Soon they will form a friendship that sparks a final burst of genius.

Love in the Afternoon

Production Design

1957

Lovestruck conservatory student Ariane pretends to be just as much a cosmopolitan lover as the worldly mature Frank Flannagan hoping that l’amour will take hold.

L'Âge d'or

Production Design

1930

The film consists of a series of tightly interlinked vignettes, the most sustained of which details the story of a man and a woman who are passionately in love. Their attempts to consummate their passion are constantly thwarted, by their families, by the Church and bourgeois society in general.