The Biography

Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast (May 6, 1897 – March 17, 1968) was an Argentine-French screenwriter and director. Born in Buenos Aires to a family of French aristocratic origins, he moved to the United States in 1922 and settled in Hollywood. D'Abbadie d'Arrast began his film career as a technical advisor to Charlie Chaplin and made his directorial debut in 1927. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Story for the film Laughter (1930), sharing the nomination with Donald Ogden Stewart and Douglas Z. Doty. His directorial works include A Gentleman of Paris (1927), Serenade (1927), and Topaze (1933). D'Abbadie d'Arrast's films are noted for their sophisticated humor and exploration of social themes, contributing to the development of early sound cinema.