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Screenwriter Charles Spaak was born to an important family in Brussels. His father was a famed poet and playwright; his mother was a member of the Belgian Senate, and his brother was Paul-Henfi Spaak, a world renowned statesman. Spaak began his career in the French film industry in 1928 when he became a secretary for director Jacques Feyder. In no time, Spaak began writing scripts for Feyder and other directors and became instrumental in helping to revitalize the flagging French cinema of the 1930s. His writing also had great effect on directors such as Feyder, Renoir, and Duvivier. Spaak later greatly influenced director Andre Cayatte. He himself only directed one film, Le Mystere Barton (1949). Spaak's daughters, Agnes and Catherine, are both screen actresses.