Bernard Natan, a Romanian-born Jew, was a French cinema pioneer. He started out as a projectionist, and worked his way up to cinematographer, director, and then studio head. It's unlikely that French cinema would be where it is today without him.

Natan revolutionized the industry, introducing the supply chain model that is still used today. He pushed for technological advances, including sound film. Heck, he even introduced television to France.

He was also one of the world's first movie pornographers.

That's right. Back in 1911, Natan was jailed for trafficking erotic films. Some say that he continued making pornography into the 1920s... although that's not likely to be true.

It didn't end well for Natan. After suffering his entire life from antisemitism, he lost his studio. Natan was sued for fraud, imprisoned, and handed over by the French to the Nazis.

Should have stuck with porn...