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Henri Decaë

Henri Decaë

Cinematographer, also editor · Died March 7, 1987, aged 71 · Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Henri Decaë (31 July 1915 – 7 March 1987) gained fame as a cinematographer entering the film industry as a sound engineer and sound editor. He was a photojournalist in the French army during World War II. After the war he began making documentary shorts, directing and photographing industrial and commercial films. In 1947 he made his first feature film. Decaë is strongly associated with directors who strongly influenced, or were part of, the French New Wave. These include Jean-Pierre Melville, Louis Malle and Claude Chabrol. Decaë first worked as a cinematographer with Melville on Le Silence de la Mer (1949). Decaë also edited and mixed the sound. Although Decaë worked with Melville on Les enfants terribles, which as Williams commented (1992, p333) "...the work is more accurately to be viewed as a stunning demonstration of the cinematic possibilities of faithful literary adaptation in the hands of a gifted director", according to Marie (p 88) it was his distinctive camera work on Bob le flambeur which caught the attention of the Cahiers critics. Malle hired him for his first two features and Chabrol for his first three features. They had been lucky as Decaë was finding it hard to get work at that time as he was being informally shunned by many after participating in a critical film about the Korean War. By the time Decaë worked for François Truffaut on The 400 Blows he came with a reputation, which meant that he was the highest-paid person on the film. Decaë's liking for natural light, his ability to work at speed as well as his excellent photographic sensibility led to him working with René Clément on several features beginning with Plein soleil (1960). It was Decaë "...who liberated the camera, from its fixed tripod. He made the New Wave possible, backing up Melville, Malle, Chabrol and Truffaut." (Marie, 2003 p 89)

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 31, 1915
Died
March 7, 1987 (aged 71)
From
Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France
Works as
Cinematographer, also editor
Titles
50 on MovieCove · 75 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 20% in 30 days

What are Henri Decaë's films like?

Across their 50 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Crime14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
38%
Self
19%
Bonds
14%
Power
13%
Survival
9%
Society
6%
Ideas
2%
Deception19 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 50 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 19 · Serious 11 · Dark 20

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 16 · Stylized 24 · Heightened 10

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 11 · Charged 18 · Intense 21

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 21 · Shifting 29 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 30 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 14

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 20 · Even-paced 24 · Relentless 6

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 18 · Engaged 24 · Full focus 8

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 19 · Affecting 23 · Heavy 8

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 16 · Ambiguous 7

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
27
Melancholic
18
Joyful
14
Thrilling
10
Absurd
10
Other
46

How their films linger

Bittersweet21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic12
  • Ambiguous12

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Henri Decaë's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 50 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Henri Decaë's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

75 credits, 50 with a MovieCove page.

  • La vengeance du serpent à plumes(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • My Other Husband(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Exposed(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Professional(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Inspector Blunder(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Umbrella Coup(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Island(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Le Guignolo(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Hard Way(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • An Almost Perfect Affair(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Cop or Hood(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Boys from Brazil(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • These Sorcerers Are Mad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Cinematographer

  • Death of a Corrupt Man(1977)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Bobby Deerfield(1977)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Seven Nights in Japan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Cinematographer

  • La Course à l'échalote(1975)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Operation Daybreak(1975)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • I'm Losing My Temper(1974)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob(1973)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Two People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Cinematographer

  • Don Juan, or If Don Juan Were a Woman(1973)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Right to Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Cinematographer

  • Delusions of Grandeur(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Jo(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Light at the Edge of the World(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Red Circle(1970)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Hello-Goodbye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Cinematographer

  • The Only Game in Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Cinematographer

  • The Sicilian Clan(1969)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Castle Keep(1969)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • D-Day Revisited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Cinematographer

  • Diabolically Yours(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Comedians(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Le Samouraï(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Thief of Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Cinematographer

  • The Night of the Generals(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Hotel Paradiso (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Cinematographer

  • Viva Maria!(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Sucker(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Weekend at Dunkirk(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Circle of Love(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Joy House(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Black Tulip(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Magnet of Doom(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Sweet and Sour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Cinematographer

  • The Day and the Hour(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Sundays and Cybèle(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Eva(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • La Paresse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Cinematographer

  • Lust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Cinematographer

  • Pride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Cinematographer

  • The Seven Deadly Sins(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • A Very Private Affair(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Léon Morin, Priest(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Joy of Living (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Cinematographer

  • Les Bonnes Femmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • Purple Noon(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Web of Passion(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Verdict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Camera Operator

  • The 400 Blows(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Witness in the City(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Cousins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • Le Beau Serge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • The Lovers(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Elevator to the Gallows(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • S.O.S. Noronha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • Bob le Flambeur(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Le masque de Toutankhamon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • Heartbreak Ridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Cinematographer

  • Heart of the Casbah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Faits d'hiver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • The Strange Ones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • The Silence of the Sea(1949)

    Cinematographer · Editor

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Pour bien filmer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 74 titles from 1937 to 1984.

Biggest box office

The Island (1980)

$16M worldwide

Highest rated

Elevator to the Gallows (1958)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

The 400 Blows (1959)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing2 of 74: 1 only directing, 1 with another roleCinematography72 of 74: 70 only cinematography, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thEditing1 of 74: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 74: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1930s1 · crew1940s1 · crew1950s15 · crew1960s29 · crew1970s19 · crew1980s9 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Henri Decaë's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 50; across their 50 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Approval · how many liked their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Reach · how many have seen their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Midcredits score across 50 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 50 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · cinematographer

Exposed (1983)

56th percentile spread · 38% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Elevator to the Gallows (1958)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 77/100 in their films, across 40 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 60. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Henri Decaë's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles30–81 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles12–55 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles5–48 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles30–46 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles34–67 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Henri Decaë work with?

People who share at least 2 of Henri Decaë's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alain Delon shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers