**Henri-Georges Clouzot (1907-1977)** was an influential French director, screenwriter, and producer, renowned for his mastery of the psychological thriller and film noir.

Born in Niort, Clouzot established himself in the post-war period with a cynical and meticulous style, exploring themes of ambiguous morality and human darkness. His filmography is dominated by high-tension works. Among his masterpieces are *The Wages of Fear* (Le Salaire de la Peur, 1953), a gripping existential thriller that won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and the Golden Bear at Berlin, and *Diabolique* (Les Diaboliques, 1955), an iconic psychological thriller that influenced generations of filmmakers. Other notable films include *The Raven* (Le Corbeau, 1943) and *Quai des Orfèvres* (1947).

His style is characterized by a relentless build-up of suspense, complex and often morally compromised characters, and a keen insight into human fragility under pressure. Clouzot is remembered as one of the masters of classic French cinema.