Daniel Toscan du Plantier was handed the general management of Gaumont at thirty-five, after ten years spent in advertising. He went on to preside over Unifrance, then over the Academy that awards the Césars, and to found the Marrakech festival, occupying the ground of French cinema as no one else of his generation did. He died in 2003, in Berlin. His stone retains three things: a name and two dates.
The story
Daniel Toscan du Plantier was thirty-four when Gaumont was handed to him, in 1975. Born in Chambéry on 7 April 1941, a graduate of Sciences Po, he had just spent more than ten years in advertising, and was taking over as managing director of one of the great houses of French cinema.
President of Unifrance from 1988 until his death — the body charged with selling French cinema abroad -, president of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma, which awards the César, head of Erato Disques and Erato Films from 1985 to 2003, co-founder of the Marrakech International Film Festival: he covered French cinema as no one else of his generation did.
He died in Berlin on 11 February 2003, of a heart attack, in the middle of the Berlinale — the festival where he had come to sell French cinema, as he had done for fifteen years. The stone in Division 45 carries only his name and two dates.
The grave
An inscription reduced to three elements: “Daniel TOSCAN du PLANTIER 1941-2003”. Neither Gaumont, of which he was managing director at thirty-five, nor Unifrance, which he presided over for fifteen years, nor the Académie des César, nor the Marrakech Festival, which he co-founded. The most visible producer in French cinema of his generation rests beneath a name and two dates.
On site, do not miss
An inscription reduced to three elements: “Daniel TOSCAN du PLANTIER 1941-2003.” Neither Gaumont, of which he was managing director, nor the Marrakech Festival, which he co-founded.
Visitors' questions
Where is Toscan du Plantier's grave?
In Division 45, Avenue Transversale No. 1, first row — not far from Gilbert Bécaud and Marie Trintignant. The inscription runs to three elements: “Daniel TOSCAN du PLANTIER 1941-2003”. He died in Berlin in 2003, and lies in Division 45.
Gilbert BécaudWhat did he run?
Gaumont, where he became managing director at thirty-five, then Erato Disques and Erato Films (1985-2003). He also chaired Unifrance from 1988, and the Academy of the arts and techniques of cinema.
Yves BoissetWhat did he found?
The Marrakech International Film Festival, of which he was a co-founder. A graduate of Sciences Po, he had spent more than ten years in advertising before he came into cinema.
Claude ChabrolWho were his wives?
In turn the actress Marie-Christine Barrault and the Italian director Francesca Comencini. He was himself the son of an industrialist, Jacques Toscan du Plantier, and of Françoise de Ganay.
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