During the course of his long directorial career, Granier-Deferre found particular success with the works of Georges Simenon. These films include Le Chat (1971), La Veuve Couderc (1971), Le Train (1973) and L’Etoile du Nord (1982). He later adapted – and directed – several of Simenon’s Inspector Maigret stories for television (1997-2003).