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Jacques Dutronc

Jacques Dutronc

Actor · Born April 28, 1943 (83) · Paris, France

Jacques Dutronc (born 28 April 1943) is a French singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, and actor. Some of Dutronc's best-known hits include "Il est cinq heures, Paris s'éveille" (which AllMusic has called "his finest hour"), "Le Responsable", and "Les Cactus". Dutronc played guitar in the rock group El Toro et les Cyclones. He wrote successful songs for singer Françoise Hardy in the 1960s before moving on to pursue a successful solo career. His music incorporated traditional French pop and French rock as well as styles such as psychedelic and garage rock. He was also very important in the yéyé music movement and has been a longtime songwriting collaborator with Jacques Lanzmann. According to AllMusic, Dutronc is "one of the most popular performers in the French-speaking world", although he "remains little known in English speaking territories" aside from a cult following in the UK. Dutronc later branched out into film acting, starting in 1973. He earned a César Award for Best Actor for the leading role in Van Gogh (1991), which was directed by Maurice Pialat. He married Hardy in 1981 and together they have a son, guitarist Thomas Dutronc (born 1973); the couple separated in 1988, but never divorced. Jacques Dutronc was born on 28 April 1943 at 67 Rue de Provence in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, the home of his parents, Pierre and Madeleine. His father was a manager for the state-run Office of Coal Distribution. Jacques was educated at Rocroy-Saint-Léon elementary school (now a lycée), the École de la Rue Blanche (now a drama school), and then at the École Professionnelle de Dessin Industriel, where he studied graphic design from 1959. In 1960, Dutronc formed a band with himself as guitarist, schoolfriend Hadi Kalafate as bassist, Charlot Bénaroch as drummer (later replaced with André Crudot), and Daniel Dray as singer. They auditioned in 1961 for Jacques Wolfsohn, an artistic director at Disques Vogue, who signed them and gave them the name El Toro et les Cyclones. The group released two singles, "L'Oncle John" and "Le Vagabond", but disbanded when Dutronc was obliged to undertake military service. After being discharged from the army in 1963, Dutronc briefly played guitar in Eddy Mitchell's backing band and was also given a job at Vogue as Jacques Wolfsohn's assistant. In this capacity, he co-wrote songs for artists such as ZouZou, Cléo, and Françoise Hardy. Wolfsohn asked Dutronc to work with Jacques Lanzmann, a novelist and editor of Lui magazine, to create songs for a beatnik singer called Benjamin. Benjamin released an EP in 1966, featuring songs written with Dutronc and a Lanzmann–Dutronc composition, "Cheveux longs" ("Long Hair"). However, Wolfsohn was disappointed by Benjamin's recording of a song titled "Et moi, et moi, et moi". A second version was recorded, with Dutronc's former bandmate Hadi Kalafate on vocals. Wolfsohn then asked Dutronc if he would be interested in recording his own version. The single reached number 2 in the French charts in September 1966. ... Source: Article "Jacques Dutronc" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 28, 1943 (83)
From
Paris, France
Works as
Actor
Titles
9 on MovieCove · 47 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 1% in 30 days

What are Jacques Dutronc's films like?

Across their 9 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Comedy 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
Bonds
27%
Self
20%
Morality
20%
Survival
15%
Ideas
8%
Power
6%
Society
4%
Romantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 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 2 · Serious 1 · Dark 6

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 6 · Intense 1

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 4 · 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 2 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 2

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 4 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 4 of 8 analyzed roles.

Shadow
4 of 8
Hero
3 of 8
Mentor
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Melancholic
5
Warm
2
Bittersweet
2
Cold
1
Other
6

How their films linger

Haunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic2
  • 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 Jacques Dutronc's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 3 of their 9 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jacques Dutronc'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

47 credits, 9 with a MovieCove page; 46 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Paris Calligrammes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Actor

  • Kiss & Tell(2018)

    as Bertrand

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Discreet Françoise Hardy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Songs · as Self

  • Les Enfoirés - Les Enfoirés en chœur de 1985 à aujourd'hui (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Les Francis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Orso

  • Joseph et la fille (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Joseph

  • The Second Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Orloff

  • UV (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Dad

  • My Place in the Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Gérard

  • Pédale dure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Charles

  • Summer Things(2002)

    as Bertrand Lannier

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • C'est la vie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Dimitri

  • Nightcap(2000)

    as André Polonski

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Place Vendôme(1998)

    as Battistelli

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Les Victimes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Bernard Jaillac

  • Le Maître des éléphants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Garoubier

  • Les Enfoirés 1993 - Les Enfoirés chantent Starmania (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • Sweetheart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Antoine Gardella

  • Van Gogh(1991)

    Composer · as Van Gogh

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Separate Bedrooms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Francis

  • My Nights Are More Beautiful Than Your Days(1989)

    as Lucas

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Cheaters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Elric

  • Une jeunesse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Brossier

  • Sarah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Arnold Samson

  • Paradise for All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Pierre Valois

  • Is There a Frenchman in the House? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Eric Plante

  • The Red Shade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Léo

  • Malevil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Colin

  • Every Man for Himself(1980)

    as Paul Godard

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • L'entourloupe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Olivier

  • Strangulation Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Composer

  • The Black Sheep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Vincent Messonier

  • The Bit Between the Teeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Loïc Le Guenn

  • Us Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Simon Lacassaigne

  • Return to the Beloved(1979)

    as Julien

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Pierrot mon ami (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Pierrot

  • The Savage State (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Avit

  • Sale rêveur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Jérôme

  • Focal Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Julien

  • Violette & Francois (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as François Levene

  • Mado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Pierre

  • The Good and the Bad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Jacques

  • That Most Important Thing: Love(1975)

    as Jacques Chevalier

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • OK Patron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Léon Bonnet

  • Antoine and Sebastian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Composer · as Sébastien

  • Pierre and Paul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Composer

  • Le trésor de l’orpheline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 47 titles from 1966 to 2020; peak year 1990.

Biggest box office

Summer Things (2002)

$8.7M worldwide

Highest rated

That Most Important Thing: Love (1975)

Midcredits 82nd

Most popular right now

Every Man for Himself (1980)

Film career

19662020

Peak 1990 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting44 of 47: 42 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thMusic4 of 47: 2 only music, 2 with another roleOther crew1 of 47: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1960s2 · 1 acting · 1 crew1970s14 · 14 acting · 1 crew1980s12 · 11 acting · 1 crew1990s6 · 6 acting · 1 crew2000s7 · acting2010s5 · 4 acting · 1 crew2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 19% of 16 roles
7585

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 Jacques Dutronc's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 9; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 9 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th2

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 9 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · actor

My Nights Are More Beautiful Than Your Days (1989)

52nd percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

That Most Important Thing: Love (1975)

Midcredits 82nd · 71% liked

Reviewers score the acting 77/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 53. 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.

Is Jacques Dutronc's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 71 · intenseMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Jacques Dutronc work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jacques Dutronc's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Isabelle Huppert shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers