Bernard Launois (French pronunciation: [bɛʁ.naʁ lonwa], born 8 April 1930) is a French exploitation film director,[1] screenwriter and actor. As an actor, he sometimes used the pseudonym Bob Gary.[2]

He was born in Mézières, France.[1] After studying pharmacology for two years in the university, he sought a career in the film industry instead. He worked as a trainee editor and then briefly as an assistant director. In 1953, he was employed by Paramount's programming department in Paris.[2]

During the 1960s, he worked for several film distribution and production companies, such as Parafrance and Les Films Copernic.[2] In 1979, he founded his own company, Lancaster Film, to finance the films he wrote and directed. He also edited film trailers and played minor roles as an actor.[2] His debut film as director, Lâchez les chiennes (lit. 'Unleash the Bitches'; 1972), was an improvised work that he wrote in three days.[1] Devil Story, his seventh and last feature film, gained a cult following despite its reputation as one of the worst films in history.[1][3]

He founded Delta Films and bought a four-theatre multiplex in 1987.[2] He retired from the filmmaking business at the end of the 1980s.[1]

Filmography

Director

  • 1972: Lâchez les chiennes
  • 1975: Les Dépravées du plaisir or Le Gibier
  • 1976: Les Machines à sous
  • 1976: La Grande Suédoise or Partouzes franco-suédoises
  • 1980: Sacrés Gendarmes
  • 1980: Touch' pas à mon biniou or Gueules de vacances
  • 1985: Devil Story or Il était une fois... le diable

Producer

  • 1976: Les Machines à sous
  • 1980: Touch' pas à mon biniou or Gueules de vacances

Actor

  • 1970: Le Voyageur by Daniel Daert
  • 1971: Une Femme libre de Claude Pierson
  • 1971: Chaleurs or La femme créa l'amant by Daniel Daert
  • 1971: Caroline mannequin nu by Daniel Lesueur
  • 1971: Deux mâles pour Alexa (Fieras sin jaula) by Juan Logar
  • 1973: Pigalle carrefour des illusions by Pierre Chevalier
  • 1973: Les Infidèles (1973 film) by Christian Lara
  • 1980: Touch' pas à mon biniou or Gueules de vacances
  • 1985: Devil Story or Il était une fois... le diable

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Mignard, Frédéric. "Bernard Launois". CinéDweller.com (in French). Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Rège, Philippe (2009). Encyclopedia of French Film Directors, Volume 1. Scarecrow Press. p. 600. ISBN 9780810869394. Retrieved 24 February 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ↑ "Devil Story". American Genre Film Archive. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
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