Richard Pottier, born in 1906 in the vibrant city of Budapest, Hungary, embarked on his illustrious career as an assistant to the renowned filmmaker, Sternberg. His directorial debut coincided with the dawn of the talkies, marking the beginning of an extraordinary journey that would span numerous genres and decades.
Throughout his long and storied career, Pottier effortlessly navigated a wide range of cinematic styles, from comedies like "Si J'Etais Le Patron" to adventures such as "Les Secrets De La Mer rouge", and even ventured into science fiction with "Le Monde Tremblera", featuring a machine capable of predicting the date of one's demise.
His repertoire also included detective films like "Picpus", musicals like "Violettes Imperiales", and melodramas like "Defense D'Aimer", showcasing his versatility and mastery of various storytelling formats. Pottier's dedication to his craft was unwavering, and he undoubtedly deserved better than the scorn he received from critics.
In fact, his influence can be seen in the work of other notable filmmakers, such as Billy Wilder, who drew inspiration from Pottier's German remake of "Fanfare D'Amour" when creating the classic "Some Like It Hot".
Pottier was a trailblazer in many ways, tackling taboo subjects like euthanasia in his 1950 film "Meurtres", a bold move considering the sensitive nature of the topic at the time. His 1952 film "Caroline Chérie" also predated the popular "Angélique Marquise Des Anges" saga by a decade, demonstrating his innovative spirit.
In addition to his dramatic works, Pottier also explored the thriller genre with "La Ferme Aux Loups", which reimagined the classic tale of twins. Although his career began to decline after 1950, he continued to produce films, including the sword and sandals epics "David Et Goliath" (starring Orson Welles) and "L'Enlèvement Des Sabines" (starring Roger Moore).
Pottier retired in the mid-1960s, but lived on for another thirty years, passing away in 1994.
