René Clair books in order
French filmmaker and writer
- Lived
- 1898–1981
- Country
- France
- Books
- 4
René Clair published 1 non-fiction book, 1 play and 2 other books, beginning with Reflections on the Cinema (1953). The best-known is Cinema Yesterday and Today (1972).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with René Clair
Start here
Cinema Yesterday and Today
René Clair's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Reflections on the Cinema (1953)
Plays in order
A Nous La Liberté; And, Entr'acte (1970)
Other books in order
Cinéma D'hier, Cinéma D'aujourd'hui (1970)
Cinema Yesterday and Today (1972)
About René Clair
René Clair, born René-Lucien Chomette, was a French filmmaker and writer. He first established his reputation in the 1920s as a director of silent films which often featured fantasy comedy themes. He went on to make some of the most innovative early sound films in France, before going abroad to work in the United Kingdom and the United States for more than a decade. Returning to France in the aftermath of World War II, he continued to make films that were characterised by their elegance and wit, often presenting a nostalgic view of French life in earlier years. He was elected to the Académie Française in 1960. Clair's best known films include Un chapeau de paille d'Italie, Sous les toits de Paris, Le Million (1931), À nous la liberté (1931), I Married a Witch (1942), and And Then There Were None (1945).
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
René Clair FAQ
- How many books has René Clair written?
- René Clair published 1 non-fiction book, 1 play and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read René Clair's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Cinema Yesterday and Today.
- What is René Clair's last book?
- Reflections on the Cinema (1953).
- What is René Clair's most famous book?
- Cinema Yesterday and Today (1972) is René Clair's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.