Jacques B. Brunius (born Jacques Henri Cottance, 16 September 1906 – 24 April 1967) was a French actor, director and writer, who was born in Paris and died in Exeter, UK.[1] He was cremated in Sidmouth, with a tribute by Mesens.[2]
Assistant director to Luis Buñuel on L'Âge d'or, he appeared in more than 30 movies, using several alternate names: Jacques Borel, J.B. Brunius, Jacques-Bernard Brunius, Jacques Brunius, Brunius, J.B.Brunius.[3] He acted in many of the early, more political, movies of his friend Jean Renoir. During World War II he broadcast from England to France over Radio Londres.[4] He married French-English actress Cecile Chevreau in 1951.[5] Their son Richard was born in 1956.[citation needed]
Member of the surrealist group in France and then in England, with his friend E.L.T. Mesens, Conroy Maddox, Ithell Colquhoun, Simon Watson Taylor and Roland Penrose.[citation needed] Brunius attacked Toni del Renzio, who was married to Colquhoun and who was attempting to reanimate an inactive English group in 1942–3.[citation needed] Brunius' countersigned the tract Idolatry and Confusion, which condemned and mocked del Renzio unjustifiably. In reality, Mesens feared a takeover of the group leadership by del Renzio.[citation needed]
He never missed an opportunity to defend surrealism, and participated in many a radio show.[6][7] In 1959, he undertook a vigorous defense of the poetic valor of nursery rhymes.[citation needed]
The text was published by John Lyle in Transforma(c)tion n°7 under the title Language and lore of children.[dead link]
