Born in Feodosiya, Crimea, Russia (now Ukraine). After studies at the Paris School of Decorative Arts, he entered French films in 1931 as an assistant decorator, working with André Andrejew, among others. In 1938 he worked on his first film as an art director, collaborating on Jean Renoir's LA MARSEILLAISE (1938). He went on to an illustrious career as one of France's most skillful art directors, a creative master of atmosphere. He co-designed the sets for Carné's CHILDREN OF PARADISE (1945) / LES ENFANTS DU PARADIS and worked on many of René Clair's films. His book Le Décor de Film was published posthumously in Paris in 1970.  Nominated for Art Direction/Set Decoration (Black & White) 1962: THE LONGEST DAY - Art Direction (w. Edward S. "Ted" Haworth & Vincent Korda) 1 nomination