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6 October 1949. Silent. Epee duel to first blood. Willy Rozier (27 June 1901 – 29 May 1983) was a French actor, film director, film producer and screenwriter who also used the pseudonym Xavier Vallier. François Chalais (December 15, 1919 – May 1, 1996) was a prominent French reporter, journalist, writer and film historian. The François Chalais Prize at the annual Cannes Film Festival is named after him. In 1949 he fought and lost a duel with swords with director Willy Rozier, provoked by comments Chalais had made about actress Marie Dea. çois_Chalais FILM PRODUCER BATTLES CRITIC Lady's Honor Issue in Furious Duel PARIS, 6 October 1949 (UP) - An irate film producer drew blood today from a drama critic in a furious three-minute duel with swords over a lady's honor. The producer, Willy Rozier, nicked Critic Francois Chalais in the arm as the two quick-stepped back and forth over a forest floor of autumn leaves. Rozier challenged Chalais to the duel after brooding for months over the critic's assertion that a certain actress' “career was behind her.“ The producer said Chalais' reference was anatomical than literary. They muttered over the phrase to their friends for months and glowered at each other whenever they met in bar, restaurant or theater. The strain finally became too great and Rozier challenged Chalais to fight it out. As befitted a producer and a critic they invited a large audience of 30 reporters and 15 photographers. The assemblage crowded into a small courtyard of the stables in the Bois de Boulogne during the night. But the stable owner said the sword-clanging might upset his horses and ask the men to take their affaire d'honneur elsewhere. After brief consultation they decided to postpone the affair until the afternoon and fight it out in the woods. They went their separate ways, ate lunch and then met again at the selected clearing with the classic entourage of seconds and doctors. Chalais, obviously the less skillful swordsman of the two, was at a disadvantage from the first. The short encounter was interrupted by the umpire twice after Chalais faulted by touching his sword to the ground. After each fault the sword was sterilized. Then Rozier cut Chalais across the arm. Chalais, looking more wounded than he really was, dropped his sword when he felt the blade cutting across his flesh. He was not hurt seriously. “It wasn't too dangerous,“ one witness said. “That cut of Chalais, why a man runs a bigger risk every morning when he shaves himself.“
