Claude Carliez (10 January 1925 – 17 May 2015) was a French master at arms in classical fencing who became a period and fencing advisor for French films. He then became a stunt performer, stunt coordinator, special effects person, and film director. He worked with other prominent figures of the French cinema such as Jean Marais, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Louis de Funès, Gérard Oury and André Hunebelle. He was one of the Presidents of the Academie d'Armes de France and the first President of the French Stuntman's Union.[1]
The son of a dancing expert, he was born in Nancy in 1925.
He started Fencing Joinville-le-Pont at the age of 18, becoming a Master at Fencing at 21.[2] Due to the proximity of the school to film studios, Claude became a technical advisor on historic weapons and costumes for several films.
In 1959, Claude appeared in the swashbuckler film Le Bossu, starring Jean Marais and directed by André Hunebelle, who both propelled his film career forwards. Hunebelle placed him in charge of all the stunts for his next film Le Capitan,[2] and he advanced to doing stunts for The Battle of Austerlitz.
Carliez worked not only on historical films, but also on contemporary films such as Hunebelle's Fantômas series. He became the stunt arranger to André Hunebelle's OSS 117 film series in a manner similar to Bob Simmons of the James Bond films. When the James Bond film Moonraker was produced in France and Brazil, Claude staged many of the stunts for the film.
In 1969, Jean Marais suggested that with all his experience Claude direct him in Le Paria (1969).
He died on 17 May 2015, at the age of 90.[3]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Cadet Rousselle | Policeman fighting in a duel | Uncredited | |
| 1955 | Caroline and the Rebels | |||
| L'Affaire des poisons | A buyer of a miracle product | Uncredited | ||
| 1956 | Una aventura de Gil Blas | |||
| 1957 | The Adventures of Arsène Lupin | Uncredited | ||
| 1959 | Le Bossu | |||
| 1960 | Austerlitz | Margaron | ||
| 1961 | Le Miracle des loups | Soldier | Uncredited | |
| 1962 | Le Crime ne paie pas | The duel judge | (segment "L'affaire Hugues"), Uncredited | |
| 1965 | OSS 117 Mission for a Killer | Thomas Ellis | Uncredited | |
| 1967 | Les grandes vacances | Sailor | Uncredited | |
| 1976 | Game of Seduction | |||
| 1979 | Moonraker | Franco, The Gondolier | ||
| Écoute voir | Uncredited | |||
| 1985 | Jules |