Henri Decaë
FilmmakerFrench·b. 1915 – d. 1987
Known for:
The 400 Blows (1959), Le Silence de la Mer (1949), Elevator to the Gallows (1958), Le Beau Serge (1958), Bob le Flambeur (1956)
French cinematographer who helped define the visual language of the French New Wave with his naturalistic lighting and fluid handheld camerawork. Originally a photojournalist in the French army during WWII, he transitioned to filmmaking and became the go-to DP for directors like Melville, Truffaut, Malle, and Chabrol.
Henri Decaë's Gear List(1)
Eclair
Product description
The Eclair Cameflex (also called the CM3) is a portable, shoulder-held 35mm motion picture camera designed by Jacques Mathot and André Coutant and introduced in 1947. It features a three-lens turret with reflex mirror shutter, variable speeds from 8 to 48 fps, and interchangeable magazines that can be swapped with the motor still running. Its lightweight, handheld design made it a key tool of the French New Wave, and it received an Academy Award in 1949.
Connection note
Used the Cameflex on The 400 Blows (1959), enabling the lightweight location shooting that defined the French New Wave
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Last updated March 24, 2026