Boris Vian
Biography
Boris Vian (10 March 1920 – 23 June 1959) was a French polymath: writer, poet, musician, singer, translator, critic, actor, inventor and engineer. He is best remembered today for his novels. Those published under the pseudonym Vernon Sullivan were bizarre parodies of criminal fiction, highly controversial at the time of their release. Vian's other fiction, published under his real name, featured a highly individual writing style with numerous made-up words, subtle wordplay and surrealistic plots. L'Écume des jours (Froth on the Daydream) is the best known of these works, and one of the few translated into English. Vian was also an important influence on the French jazz scene. He served as liaison for Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington and Miles Davis in Paris, wrote for several French jazz-reviews (Le Jazz Hot, Paris Jazz) and published numerous articles dealing with jazz both in the United States and in France. His own music and songs enjoyed popularity during his lifetime, particularly the anti-war song "Le Déserteur" (The Deserter).
Personal Details
Movies (34)
Élégie d’un Balcon
Book (Writing)
2026
Flowers
Original Music Composer (Sound)
2024
Rage, Sex, and Jazz: I Spit on Your Graves by Vernon Sullivan
as Self - Writer (archive footage)
2022
Gainsbourg, toute une vie
2021
El Amor es Ciego
Original Story (Writing)
2020
Boris Vian, un cœur qui battait trop fort
as Self (archive footage)
2020
Vadim Mister Cool
as Self (archive footage)
2016
Hôtel La Louisiane
as Self (archive footage)
2015
Conte de fées à l'usage des moyennes personnes
Original Story (Writing)
2015
Ladies Of The Night’s Street
Author (Writing)
2015
Our Faust
Writer (Writing)
2015
The Cowboy of Normandy
Writer (Writing)
2015
Mind Your Own Business
Author (Writing)
2015
The Hitchhiker
Author (Writing)
2014
Mood Indigo
Novel (Writing)
2013
Le cinéma de Boris Vian
as Self (archives)
2011
Boris Vian: The Jazz Life
as Self (archive footage)
2009
Bulles de Vian
Writer (Writing)
2009
Chloe
Novel (Writing)
2001
The Mortal Fortune
Story (Writing)
1989
L'Herbe rouge
Writer (Writing)
1985
Spray of the Days
Novel (Writing)
1968
Le Bel Âge
as Boris
1960
Dangerous Love Affairs
as Prévan
1959
I Spit on Your Grave
Screenplay (Writing)
1959
La Joconde, histoire d'une obsession
as Mona Lisa smile teacher (uncredited)
1958
A Girl in a Pocket
as Baths manager
1957
Chères vieilles choses
Writer (Writing)
1957
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
as The Cardinal
1956
Saint-Tropez, devoirs de vacances
as Self
1954
La chasse à l'homme
1952
Disorder
Music (Sound)
1950
The Miracle of St. Anne
as Un estropié
1950
An amateur Film
as The Vampire Priest
1947
