Arnaud, Etienne

(1880-1955)

   Director and film pioneer. Etienne Arnaud was born Chiaffredo Arnaud. He became a silent film-era director during the pioneer days of cinema. He was hired on at Gaumont in about 1905, along with numerous other writer-directors, including Louis Feuillade. At first, Arnaud specialized in chase films, such as Un Coup de vent (1906) and La Brouette (1908), but over time, he began to cross genres and ultimately made films ranging from féeries, to social dramas such as Le Crime du braconnier (1908), to historical films such as Le Dernier requiem de Mozart (1909) and André Chenier (1912). His best-known film is undoubtedly La Course aux potirons (1908) made with Emile Cohl.

   Aranud remained at Gaumont until 1914, when he was hired away by Éclair to head up production at its U.S. studios. He streamlined Éclair's production and developed films more in keeping with American tastes, but much of his work was for nothing, as the Fort Lee studios at which Éclair was based burned down in 1914. Arnaud was replaced as head of production the same year. He remained in the United States, but appears to have given up filmmaking after that point.