Fifty years after his ing, LaCinetek pays tribute to Michel Simon, the legendary actor once hailed by Charlie Chaplin as “the greatest in the world.”
With nearly 145 screen credits to his name, Simon captivated audiences from the 1930s through the 1960s. He rose to fame through his unforgettable collaborations with Jean Renoir, and went on to work with cinema’s most visionary directors: Carl Theodor Dreyer, Jean Vigo, Marcel Carné, Sacha Guitry, Claude Berri, and many more.
Renowned for his range, from tragic intensity to burlesque comedy, Michel Simon remains one of the most singular and transformative actors of the 20th century. In 1967, his performance in The Two of Us (Le Vieil Homme et l’Enfant) earned him the Silver Bear for Best Actor in Berlin.
Explore a selection of his finest performances now on LaCinetek:
The ion of Joan of Arc by Carl Theodor Dreyer –
La Chienne by Jean Renoir
Le Quai des brumes by Marcel Carné
Fric-Frac by Maurice Lehmann
La Vie d’un honnête homme by Sacha Guitry
Jean Renoir, le Patron – Episode 2: Michel Simon, la direction d’acteur by Jacques Rivette
