- Malle avoided repeating himself - tried to explore something different in every film he made. And he liked to take his time making films, which is why he avoided working with Hollywood.
- He originally planned to direct Pretty Baby (1978), a film about photographer E.J. Bellocq, with the intention of casting Jane Fonda as the mother and Jodie Foster as the daughter. The former actress was unavailable due to a schedule conflict, while the latter actress turned down the role for a fear of being typecast as a nymphet.
- Planned to direct a political satire "Moon Over Miami," starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. The film was canceled due to Belushi's death in 1982.
- Before turning to film studies, he studied political science at the Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) in Paris.
- Born as fifth of seven children to a wealthy industrialist family. His grandfather Henri Béghin had founded the sugar company "Béghin which diversified into many sectors under the aegis of his uncle Ferdinand . who later merged the company with the Say entity and it became Béghin-Say.
- Went to several Catholic boarding schools, which inspired him to make one of his greatest movies, Goodbye, Children (1987).
- Directed 3 actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Burt Lancaster (Best Actor, Atlantic City (1980)), Susan Sarandon (Best Actress, Atlantic City (1980)), and Miranda Richardson (Best Supporting Actress, Damage (1992)).
- Was voted the 40th Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
- President of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993
- Son-in-law of Edgar Bergen and Frances Bergen.
- Ancient student at L'IDHEC (La FEMIS)
- He has directed one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Atlantic City (1980).
- Ex-brother-in-law of Dorothy Lyman.
- Brother-in-law of Kris Bergen.
- Nephew Frederic Malle runs a perfume house in France.
- Biography in John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985," pp. 639-646. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content