Henri Langlois founded the Cinémathèque Française in 1936 and became the ultimate gatherer of film, amassing an astonishing collection, saving many masterpieces from destruction through indifference. Eccentric and haphazard, in 1968 he was fired by André Malraux, Minister of Culture, an action that was a spark for the May student riots. Concerted action by the film intelligentsia, “the children of the Cinématheque” brought his reinstatement. This photograph was taken by Jack Robinson on January 22, 1969 for a “People Are Talking About …” feature of Vogue. Langlois is described as a man who “loves to talk but hates to tell anything. To divert attention away from his non-answers, he uses a comedian turnout, stained sweater, flappy coat, grimaces, and calls himself ‘just a St. Bernard dog rescuing films’”. “From eyes like one-way windows, Langlois sees absurdity: ‘Most people advance through life walking backward. Those artists who face front are likely to be put in jail – or the madhouse’”.