Writing

François Boyer

Born — Died

1920-03-30 — 2003-05-24

Place of birth

Sézanne, Marne, France

Known for

Writing

Credits

25 titles

François Boyer (1920 - 24 May 2003) was a French screenwriter. He achieved considerable success with his first attempt at screenwriting, Forbidden Games (1952). Initially, he found no studio interested in his work, so he redesigned the screenplay as a novel and published it in 1947 under the title The Secret Game. Although the novel achieved little or no success in its native country, it became a huge commercial success in America. All of a sudden, Boyer's novel was a hot property, so director René Clément, in conjunction with two writers Jean Aurenche and Pierre Bost, helped turn it into a screenplay. While Boyer receives story credit for the film, little is known of how much of his own scr…

Known for

The 25th Hour poster
7.6

A Romanian peasant fights to get back to his family after he's imprisoned by the Nazis.The picture is based on real events. It includes Hungary's government in collaboration with the Nazis, the encroachment of Romania by Stalin's troopers, and other happenings.

The 25th Hour

1967

War of the Buttons poster
7.2

For generations, two rival French villages, Longueverne and Velrans, have been at war. But this is no ordinary conflict, for the on-going hostilities are between two armies of young schoolboys. When he is beaten by his father for having lost his buttons, the leader of the Longueverne army, Lebrac, has an idea which will give his side the advantage: next time, he and his brave soldiers will go in battle without their clothes...

War of the Buttons

1962

Forbidden Games poster
7.8

Orphaned after a Nazi air raid, Paulette, a young Parisian girl, runs into Michel, an older peasant boy, and the two quickly become close. Together, they try to make sense of the chaotic and crumbling world around them, attempting to cope with death as they create a burial ground for Paulette's deceased pet dog. Eventually, however, Paulette's stay with Michel's family is threatened by the harsh realities of wartime.

Forbidden Games

1952

A Monkey in Winter poster
7.6

During World War II, an innkeeper vows to abstain from alcohol for the sake of his family. Years later, as they thrive in Normandy, his resolve is tested by a charming advertising professional who loves to drink.

A Monkey in Winter

1962

People of No Importance poster
5.8

During a stay at a roadside inn, long-distance lorry driver Jean Viard meets a young woman Clothilde who works there. Their friendship soon develops into a passionate love affair, even though Jean is already married and is old enough to be Clothilde’s father. Things take a turn for the worse when Jean loses his job and his wife finds out about his affair. But Clothilde’s predicament is even more distressing...

People of No Importance

1956

The Magician poster
6.6

In a Munich circus, Pierre, who has come to attend the funeral of his father, a famous illusionist, finds love in the arms of the beautiful Hildegarde. But he discovers that Hildegarde has a twin sister, Greta.

The Magician

1960

Film credits

Behind the camera

The 25th Hour poster
7.6

A Romanian peasant fights to get back to his family after he's imprisoned by the Nazis.The picture is based on real events. It includes Hungary's government in collaboration with the Nazis, the encroachment of Romania by Stalin's troopers, and other happenings.

The 25th Hour

1967

War of the Buttons poster
7.2

For generations, two rival French villages, Longueverne and Velrans, have been at war. But this is no ordinary conflict, for the on-going hostilities are between two armies of young schoolboys. When he is beaten by his father for having lost his buttons, the leader of the Longueverne army, Lebrac, has an idea which will give his side the advantage: next time, he and his brave soldiers will go in battle without their clothes...

War of the Buttons

1962

Forbidden Games poster
7.8

Orphaned after a Nazi air raid, Paulette, a young Parisian girl, runs into Michel, an older peasant boy, and the two quickly become close. Together, they try to make sense of the chaotic and crumbling world around them, attempting to cope with death as they create a burial ground for Paulette's deceased pet dog. Eventually, however, Paulette's stay with Michel's family is threatened by the harsh realities of wartime.

Forbidden Games

1952

A Monkey in Winter poster
7.6

During World War II, an innkeeper vows to abstain from alcohol for the sake of his family. Years later, as they thrive in Normandy, his resolve is tested by a charming advertising professional who loves to drink.

A Monkey in Winter

1962

People of No Importance poster
5.8

During a stay at a roadside inn, long-distance lorry driver Jean Viard meets a young woman Clothilde who works there. Their friendship soon develops into a passionate love affair, even though Jean is already married and is old enough to be Clothilde’s father. Things take a turn for the worse when Jean loses his job and his wife finds out about his affair. But Clothilde’s predicament is even more distressing...

People of No Importance

1956

The Magician poster
6.6

In a Munich circus, Pierre, who has come to attend the funeral of his father, a famous illusionist, finds love in the arms of the beautiful Hildegarde. But he discovers that Hildegarde has a twin sister, Greta.

The Magician

1960

A Kiss for a Killer poster
5.6

In Nice, a wealthy widow is charmed by a young man who marries her and manages her finances. He soon starts an affair with her secretary, who proves to be even more ruthless than he is.

A Kiss for a Killer

1957

Prêtres interdits poster
6.0

No synopsis available yet.

Prêtres interdits

1973

The Scheming Women poster
5.6

The renowned theatre manager, Paul Rémy, is accused by his general secretary Andrieux of having killed his partner. On the advice of his wife Mona, Paul goes into hiding in a psychiatric hospital to escape from the police. But Andrieux seduces Mona who then turns against her husband.

The Scheming Women

1954

Under the Sign of the Bull poster
6.5

Albert is an eccentric inventor of missiles who comes under fire from his investors when his first prototype explodes. Even his sympathetic mistress has her doubts, as Albert lashes out in a verbal tirade condemning those of little faith in his genius.

Under the Sign of the Bull

1969

The Gambler poster
6.7

In 1866, a young Muscovite named Alexei Ivanovitch arrives in Baden Baden, then the gambling capital of Austria, and is soon engaged by General Zagorianski to look after his children. Alexei discovers that his employer is a compulsive gambler who has been almost ruined by his addiction. The only money the General has is provided by the Marquis de Grieux, an adventurer who intends to marry Zagorianski’s sister, Pauline. In doing so, de Grieux hopes to profit from the vast inheritance that will come the General’s way from his Aunt Antonina, who is presently very ill. Alexei is appalled by this society which lives only for money. He loves Pauline and wants to take her to a healthier place, but when she refuses to marry him, he begins to gamble at the casino…

The Gambler

1958

The Bar at the Crossing poster
4.6

In 1916, Vincent van Horst leaves Europe to return to his Canadian homeland. There, he seeks his former love, Maria... but the lady's pride is hurt and she refuses to see him. Vincent then falls for a younger woman, Annie.

The Bar at the Crossing

1972

The Gardener of Argenteuil poster
6.4

Tulipe, is an old man who lives alone in an old railway carriage in the Argentueil region of Paris. His main passions are gardening and oil painting, but he also has a secret source of income. His godson discovers that Tulipe is actually a master forger, producing perfect copies of 10 franc notes. His godson’s girlfriend sees this as an opportunity to get very rich – but she must persuade Tulipe to forge 500 franc notes. Assuming Tulipe’s agreement, his godson and his girlfriend buy an expensive new car and luxury villa in provincial France – but there is a cruel turn of fate in store for them when Tulipe strikes up a friendship with a millionaire playboy.

The Gardener of Argenteuil

1966

The Woman in Blue poster
5.7

Leading man Michel Piccoli plays Pierre, a young musician who briefly catches sight of a beautiful woman dressed in blue and soon spends all of his time trying to track her down. After roaming the streets of Paris in search of the mystery woman, he recruits an old friend to help find her.

The Woman in Blue

1973

Don't Bite, We Love You poster
4.2

Georges,a trucker, is the single father of young Frédéric. His job prevents him from seeing his son as often as he could, as often as he should. Brought up by his grandparents, Frédéric proves a difficult child. His only friend is his twelve-year-old neighbor Rose. One day, Georges tells his son how Agnès, his mother, abandoned him at birth. Upset by such a revelation, Frédéric decides to be revenged...

Don't Bite, We Love You

1976

Bebert and the Train poster
6.4

The Martin family is shopping in a department store. Tiennot is responsible for looking after his little brother, Bébert, but he prefers to chase girls. On the train home, Tiennot leaves Bébert alone. On arrival, Bébert has disappeared. The Martin family sets out to find him.

Bebert and the Train

1963

Élisa poster
8.0

Recently released from reform school, Élisa works at Madame Irma's before moving to Paris, where her success is growing. On a trip to the provinces, she meets Bernard, a blind man. They soon fall in love, but Élisa hides her activities from him. When he finds out, he hits her. The situation quickly degenerates.

Élisa

1957

The Most Beautiful Month poster
6.0

The life of the inhabitants of a village in the Drôme region during the debacle of May-June 1940. Liberated, Cyprien Boromès returns to his village to learn that his daughter Rosine has had a child out of wedlock with the mayor's son, Bruno Besson.

The Most Beautiful Month

1968

The Buddies poster
5.3

Seven old pals live inseparable lives, dividing their time between hilarious pranks and memorable drinking bouts. Bénin is the mastermind, Broudier the enforcer and Lesueur the prankster. One evening, a grandiose plan was hatched: to wreak havoc in two peaceful sub-prefectures: Ambert and Issoire. Broudier begins: in the middle of the night, disguised as a minister, he wakes up a barracks in Ambert and sets in motion a thunderous maneuver. The next day, disguised as a Dominican, Bénin climbed to the pulpit of the cathedral and delivered a sermon insulting Christian doctrine. The same day, in Issoire, the local authorities were preparing to unveil a statue of Vercingetorix. But the statue came to life, pelting the crowd with tomatoes: it was Lesueur. With their minds at rest, the friends headed off to the Côte-d'Or for a vacation. But already, one of them begins to perform a new prank.

The Buddies

1965

Wild Fruit poster
5.7

Lyon, 1953. Maria Manzana is the oldest of a family with five children and the only one who has a job. Maria's mother is deceased and her father is regularly drunk and violent. One evening when he wants to beat his daughter Christine, Mary helps her sister and accidentally she kills her father. At Maria's advice the family would prefer to flee. Anna, the girlfriend of Mary's brother Michael, accompanies them. Michael doesn't want to leave her behind. A friendly trucker brings Mary and her company to the south. The group then walks on deserted roads to a village, that was abandoned more than 25 years ago due to lack of water.

Wild Fruit

1954

Le Petit Bougnat poster
6.6

When the long awaited departure day arrives, le Petit Bougnat, a child coal merchant eager to go to summer camp, realizes that his mother forgot to register his name with the rest of the group. Desperate to join them, the young coal merchant tries to find a way to integrate himself with the other campers. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Rose (Isabelle Adjani), who refuses to join the kids and goes so far as to run away from the bus. While the coal merchant is busy avoiding authorities who want to remove him from the rest of the group, Rose continues to sulk and search for a way back home. Despite her initial doubtfulness, Rose eventually comes to see the charms of the camp, and walks away from an offer to leave.

Le Petit Bougnat

1970

Que les hommes sont bêtes poster
6.0

Sylvie is a young cashier in a Montmartre café, "le bar des Philosophes", owned and run by Monsieur Marcel, a former safe cracker. One day, the pretty creature accepts to give a helping hand to two regulars, Francis and Josélito. But what the naive girl does not know is that the two men are gangsters and that they plan to steal 50 million francs deposited in the safe of Maître Roland Devert, a charming young notary. Actually things do not go according to plan all the more as a love story between the notary and Sylvie was not at all on the two gangsters' agenda.

Que les hommes sont bêtes

1957

Gross Paris poster
5.5

Bernard, a journalist, and his friend Jules, a butcher by trade, are both passionate about horse racing.

Gross Paris

1974

It Only Happens to the Living poster
8.0

A young garage owner, Henri, whose business is not going well, fixes the lovely Gloria's car on the road. She suggests he let part of his garage to her friends.

It Only Happens to the Living

1959