This is the first book in English on Claude Autant-Lara (1901-2000), one of the most important and controversial filmmakers of classical French cinema and a key figure in the Tradition of Quality, with dark, provocative classics such as Douce (1943), Le Diable au corps (1947) and La Traversée de Paris (1956). While it was popular and admired in its time, his work suffered critical disparagement prompted by attacks from New Wave critics, notably François Truffaut. A man of notorious belligerence, he experienced disgrace in later life when his political shift to the far right, especially his open antisemitism, tarnished his reputation further. Drawing on his extensive archives, this book offers a comprehensive account of Autant-Lara's prolific and varied filmography, from his avant-garde work in the 1920s to his last opus in 1977. His films are explored in relation to their literary sources as well as their social and political contexts, encompassing World War II and the German occupation of France. Throughout, the spotlight is on the films' representation of gender, their deployment of popular stars and their critical and popular reception. Debates around film authorship are discussed, in which his teamwork and controlled studio style are contrasted with the New Wave's politique des auteurs . Mindful of the need to relate the director's contentious political opinions to his work, this book primarily appraises the cinematic output and his essential contribution to classical French cinema, reclaiming his deserved place within French film history.