Jacques Besnard (Also known as Jacques Treyens; born 15 July 1929 in Le Petit-Quevilly - died 9 November 2013 in Boutigny-Prouais) was a French film director, assistant director, producer, actor and screenwriter. Best known for Le Grand Restaurant (1966), (1967) and (1976).
Life and career Jacques Besnard was born on 15 July 1929 in Le Petit-Quevilly, Seine-Maritime, France. He began his career in 1962 as the first assistant to director André Hunebelle, after having had some previous experience as an actor in 1955 and as an assistant director under Maurice Régamey, Yves Robert and Alberto Lattuada between 1956 and 1961. Besnard worked alongside Hunebelle on movies such as: Les Mystères de Paris (1962), Banco à Bangkok pour OSS 117 (1964), Fantômas (1964), Furia à Bahia pour OSS 117 (1965) and Fantômas se déchaîne (1965). It was during this time that Besnard met actor Louis de Funès when they worked together on the two Fantômas movies.
Besnard would go on to direct his own movie titled Le Grand Restaurant in 1966, which he co-wrote with Jean Halain and Louis de Funès. It starred de Funès and Bernard Blier as the main characters of the comedy film, and ranked as the eighth-most-popular film at the French box office that year. In 1967 Besnard would go on to direct the comedy film starring Jean Lefebvre and Bernard Blier, from which he attainted much acclaim and public popularity. Besnard directed a few Boulevard comedies in the 1970s with varying degrees of success. He most notably worked as assistant director under Gérard Oury in the 1973 comedy Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob, starring Louis de Funès. However, by the 1980s, Besnard left the silver screen to focus on directing opportunities for television shows and movies.
In 1976 he directed the erotic film Et si tu n'en veux pas (also known as Joëlle et Pauline or Baby Love) with Joëlle Coeur, Gilda Arancio and Alice Arno in the cast.
Jacques Besnard died on 9 November 2013 in Boutigny-Prouais, Eure-et-Loir, France, aged 84. He is the father of French director .
Filmography Director & Screenwriter Year Title Cast Notes1966Le Grand Restaurantstarring Louis de Funèsand Bernard Blier1967Estouffade à la Caraïbestarring Jean Sebergand Serge Gainsbourgstarring Jean Lefebvreand Bernard Blier1972starring Michel Serrault, Rosy Varte and Michel Galabru1974starring Bernard Blier, Michel Serrault and Jean Lefebvre1975starring Michel Serrault and Jean Lefebvre1976starring Jean Lefebvre, Pierre Tornade and Darry CowlEt si tu n'en veux passtarring , and Françoise Pascaldistributed under his pseudonym Jacques Treyens1978starring Darry Cowl and Roger Dumas1982starring Michel Galabru and Aldo Maccione1984Allo Béatricestarring André Dussollier and Nicole Courceltelevision series (6 episodes)1985starring Corinne Touzet and television series (2 episodes)1988starring Daniel Ceccaldi and Catherine Richtelevision series1990starring and Sophie Barjactelevision series (1 episode)1992Feu Adrien Musetstarring Jean Lefebvretelevision film994Avantistarring Patrick Bouchitey and Farid Chopeltelevision filmAssistant director Year Title Director Notes1956Honoré de MarseilleMaurice Régamey1957Comme un cheveu sur la soupeMaurice Régamey1959Cigarettes, Whisky et P'tites PépéesMaurice RégameySigné Arsène LupinYves Robert1960Maurice RégameyLa Famille FenouillardAlberto LattuadaItalian film, co-produced by France1961L'imprevistoYves Robert1962Les Mystères de ParisAndré HunebelleLe Masque de ferHenri Decoin1964Banco à Bangkok pour OSS 117André HunebelleFantômasAndré Hunebelle1965Furia à Bahia pour OSS 117André HunebelleFantômas se déchaîneAndré Hunebelle1968Sous le signe de Monte-CristoAndré Hunebelle1971La Folie des grandeursGérard Oury1973Les Aventures de Rabbi JacobGérard Oury1974André HunebelleWriter only Year Title Director Notes1995television film1997Un petit grain de folietelevision film2004L'AntidotefilmActor Year Title Director Notes1955Série noirePierre FoucaudDu rififi chez les hommesJules DassinChantageGuy Lefranc
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