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Jean Desailly

Jean Desailly

Actor · Died June 11, 2008, aged 87 · Paris, France

Jean Desailly (August 24, 1920, Paris – June 11, 2008) was a French actor. He was a member of the Comédie-Française from 1942 – 1946, and later participated in about ninety movies. Desailly was married to the French actress Simone Valère.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 24, 1920
Died
June 11, 2008 (aged 87)
From
Paris, France
Works as
Actor
Titles
20 on MovieCove · 88 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 15% in 30 days

What are Jean Desailly's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Society.

Genres

Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
43%
Society
20%
Bonds
11%
Survival
9%
Self
9%
Ideas
6%
Power
2%
Betrayal5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 2 · Dark 9

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 7 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 7 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 7 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 3

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 2 of 5 analyzed roles.

Mentor
2 of 5
Shadow
2 of 5
Hero
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Melancholic
7
Contemplative
4
Cold
4
Warm
4
Other
7

How their films linger

Thought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jean Desailly's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 20 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jean Desailly's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

88 credits, 20 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Morceaux de Cannes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • La Dilettante (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Edmond Thibault

  • Le radeau de la Méduse(1990)

    as La Tullaye

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • François Truffaut: The Man Who Loved Cinema - Love & Death(1996)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Équipe de nuit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Le père

  • Les Grandes Familles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 4 episodes · as Père Boudref

  • Les Tisserands du pouvoir 2, la révolte (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Les Tisserands du pouvoir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Auguste Roussel

  • Cambiamento d'aria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Ricky Lefèvre

  • La Dixième de Beethoven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Stephen Fauldgate

  • Le fou du roi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Louis XIV

  • The Professional(1981)

    as Ministre

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Le Pain de fougère (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Evêque d'Angers

  • Heads or Tails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Bourgon-Massenet, directeur de la police

  • La pitié dangereuse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Mr. de Kesfalva

  • Orient Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul

  • I've Got You, You've Got Me by the Chin Hairs(1979)

    as Le directeur de la PJ

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Practice Makes Perfect(1979)

    as Charles-Edmond

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Claudine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 4 episodes · as Claude, le père de Claudine

  • The Irony of Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as M. Desvrières

  • The Serpent(1973)

    as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Inheritor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Jean-Pierre Carnavan

  • The Accursed Kings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 6 episodes · as Le narrateur (voix)

  • A Cop(1972)

    as Distinguished Man

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Assassination of Trotsky(1972)

    as Alfred Rosmer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Maigret en vacances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Docteur Bellamy

  • Le Misanthrope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Philinte

  • Countdown to Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Le docteur Michel Saint-Rose

  • The Comeuppance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as le commissaire

  • You Will Reap the Tempest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Le deuxième coup de feu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Olivier Lenoir

  • La Chapelle de Ronchamp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Narrator

  • Le franciscain de Bourges(1968)

    as Monsieur Toledano

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • La Vie parisienne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Gardefeu

  • The Investigations of Commissioner Maigret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 88 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

  • The 25th Hour(1967)

    as Le ministre (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • La Cerisaie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Lopakhine

  • The Dance of the Heron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Edouard

  • The Two Orphans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Count of Linières

  • Le Bonheur conjugal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 13 episodes · as Le professeur Jean Davennes

  • The Soft Skin(1964)

    as Pierre Lachenay

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Les Fausses Confidences (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Dorante

  • Graduation Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Mr. Terrenoire

  • La Double Inconstance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Le Chevalier de Maison Rouge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 4 episodes · as Morand, le chevalier de Maison-Rouge

  • Le Doulos(1962)

    as Superintendant Clain

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • La Nuit de nos adieux (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Louis XVI

  • Lust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Monsieur Duparc - le Père de Bernard

  • The Seven Deadly Sins(1962)

    as Monsieur Duparc - le Père de Bernard (segment "La luxure")

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Monsieur IL (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Jacques Balmeyer

  • Famous Love Affairs(1961)

    as le baron Adrien de Jonchère

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Un soir sur la plage(1961)

    as Dr Francis

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Laws of War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Uhrmacher Rede

  • The Passion of Slow Fire(1961)

    as Stéphane Blanchon

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Love and the Frenchwoman(1960)

    as Le narrateur (voice) (segment "L'Adolescence")

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Dance of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Fred Pellmann

  • The Baron of the Locks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Mr. Maurice Montbernon

  • Premeditated (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Judge Lenoir

  • Amphitryon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • The Great Deception (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as le Roi Louis XV

  • 125 rue Montmartre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Commissaire Dodelot

  • The Possessors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as François Schoudler, le fils

  • La Répétition ou l'Amour puni (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Hero

  • Inspector Maigret(1958)

    as Marcel Maurin

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Masters of the Congo Jungle(1958)

    as Récitant

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Grand Manoeuvre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Victor Duverger

  • Royal Affairs in Versailles(1954)

    as Marivaux

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • With André Gide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Jocelyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Jocelyn

  • Chicago Digest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • Bullfight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Tomorrow We Get Divorced (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Max Blachet

  • Véronique (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Florestan

  • Chéri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Fred Peloux, dit 'Chéri'

  • Keep an Eye on Amelia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Marcel Courbois

  • La Veuve et l'innocent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Claude Girelle

  • The Mark of the Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Larzac

  • L'échafaud peut attendre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Michel Vincent

  • Just a Big Simple Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Michel

  • Square of Knaves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Jacques de la Bastide

  • Loves, Delights and Organs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Jean Pelletier

  • The Revenge of Roger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Raymond de Noirville

  • Homeland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Karloo

  • Pastoral Symphony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Jacques Martens - his son

  • Sylvia and the Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Frederick

  • The Last Judgment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Kyril

  • Father Goriot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Bianchon

  • Le Voyageur de la Toussaint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Gilles Mauvoisin

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 86 titles from 1943 to 2021; peak year 1963.

Biggest box office

Le Doulos (1962)

$91K worldwide

Highest rated

Le Doulos (1962)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Inspector Maigret (1958)

Film career

19432021

Peak 1963 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1953Screen debut· Royal Affairs in Versailles
  • 1964Career best· The Soft Skin

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting86 of 86: 86 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score62nd

By decade

1940s14 · acting1950s14 · acting1960s30 · acting1970s15 · acting1980s9 · acting1990s3 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
536378

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Jean Desailly's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 20; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 20 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 20 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Masters of the Congo Jungle (1958)

72nd percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Le Doulos (1962)

Midcredits 96th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 78/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 49. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Jean Desailly work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jean Desailly's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michel Audiard shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles