In 1927, Bernard Natan, a Frenchman of Romanian origin (born Natan Tannenzapf) inaugurated the Montmartre film studios. A few years later, he took over the management of the Pathé company, which became Pathé Natan. Bernard Natan profoundly reorganized the company and ensured its success. But the Great Depression of the 1930s plunged the economy into turmoil and Bernard Natan fell prey to the extreme right-wing press. He was arrested in 1938, stripped of his French nationality and finally handed over to the Germans in 1942. Deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, he died there shortly afterwards.