Marcel Ichac
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Marcel Ichac (1906-1994) was a French alpinist, explorer, photographer and film director.
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[edit] An explorer in the middle of the 20th century
Explorer and sportsman as well as an artist, Marcel Ichac was the main movie director of French explorations during the years 1930-1950 :
- Himalaya : "Karakoram" in 1936 (first French expedition in Himalaya, Karakoram) and "Victoire sur l'Annapurna" in 1950 (Annapurna is the first "8000" sumit reached in 1950 by Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal).
- Jacques-Yves Cousteau expeditions in the Mediterranean sea (1948), Red Sea (1955 : preparation of the realisation of the "World of Silence"), Titicaca Lake (1968).
- French Polar Expedition in Greenland with Paul-Emile Victor (1949).
- First documentary film about the Mecca pilgrimage (1940).
[edit] A great mountain films director
Marcel Ichac was considered at its time as the best mountain film director with notably two masterpieces :
- "A l'Assaut des Aiguilles du Diable" (1942).
- "Les Etoiles de Midi" (1959).
His movies during the years 1930-1940 made a lot in the promotion of skiing in France.
He made of film about the life of his friend, the great mountain climber Lionel Terray : "Le Conquérent de l'inutile" (1967).
He took the images of the highest fights of WWII and the conquest of Torino ("Tempête sur les Alpes", 1944-1945)
[edit] Innovations and awards in film industry
Curious of new techniques, he introduced electronic music in cinema with the Ondes Martenot (composer : Pierre Vellone) for Karakoram (1936).
He realised the first French movie in Cinemascope ("Nouveaux Horizons", 1953), a French invention.
Marcel Ichac won the highest awards of world cinema:
- Silver Lion in the Venice film festival (1937 for "Karakoram").
- Academy Award ("Oscar") for the best live action short film (1963 : "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge").
- Grand Prix du cinéma français (1959 for "Les Etoiles de Midi").
- and many award in specialised movies festivals.
Sportsman, he ran the New York City Marathon until he was 80.
[edit] Books by Marcel Ichac
- "A l'assaut des Aiguilles du Diable", 1945, Ed. Jean Susse.
- "Regards vers l'Annapurna", 1951, Ed. Arthaud.
- "Quand brillent les Etoiles de Midi", 1960, Ed. Arthaud.
