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French cinematographer Raoul Coutard (1924-2016) was originally a war photographer. He made his debut as a director of photography in the film 'La Passe du Diable' and became a leading figure in French New Wave cinema. [Listener: Bernard Cohn; date recorded: 2004]

TRANSCRIPT: [BC] While filming 'The 317th Platoon' or 'A Captain's Honour' or 'Drummer-Crab', or even in fact 'Dien Bien Phu', do you think Schoendoerffer... So I know you didn't do 'Dien Bien Phu'. Didn't Schoendoerffer have references to a certain type of American war or adventure cinema in mind? Very few of those types of films are made in France.

Yes, yes. I don't think so, I mean it corresponds to what... it corresponds to what he was saying about creating a piece. I think it's a statement to the glory of the fighters. I think he was, with very good reason, very impressed with the fighters he met in Indochina, who were quite extraordinary people, I mean on the whole.

[BC] I'm talking about a certain type of American cinema, on the Second World War?

Yes, I understand what you're saying. I don't know, he never talked to me about it. He never told you that. He never talked about that. I mean, I think... No, I think he really wanted to do a... I remember, I think he was quite fascinated with Asia, that's why practically in all his films there's a reference to Indochina. But at the same time I don't think so, you'll have to ask him, but I don't think so.