Henri Gigoux (1862 - 1929) was a French director and actor, best known for his pioneering works in early French cinema.
He was born in Paris in 1862 to a family of actors. His father was a well-known actor who had performed in many of the popular theatres in Paris. Growing up, Henri was exposed to the theatre and its performers, and he developed an interest in the art form.
At the age of 17, he joined the renowned Comédie-Française, one of the oldest theatre companies in Europe. He performed in many plays and, by the time he was 22, he was already a respected actor.
In 1895, Henri made his directorial debut with La Lutte des Femmes (The Struggle of Women), a play he wrote and directed. His work was met with great acclaim and soon after he was offered a contract with Pathé Frères, one of the leading film production companies at the time.
Henri then went on to direct a series of short films, many of which he wrote and acted in. These films were often humorous and satirical in nature, and they often dealt with social issues. His most notable works include La Revue des Enfants (The Children's Review), La Place de la Concorde (The Place of Concord), and Le Maître des Souvenirs (The Master of Memories).
Henri's film career culminated in 1908 with the release of the ambitious and highly acclaimed feature-length film Le Voyage de Monsieur Perrichon (The Trip of Monsieur Perrichon). This film was a major success and is considered to be one of the most important works of early French cinema.
Henri Gigoux continued to direct films until his death in 1929. He was a pioneer of the French film industry and he has left a lasting legacy on French cinema. His work was widely praised for its innovative techniques and its social commentary. He remains an important figure in the history of the cinema.
