Henri d'Ursel was known for his surrealist style, directing the film La Perle early in his career.
He married princess Antoinette, the daughter of Louis Charles Marie de La Trémoille, the 10th Duke of Thouars.
In 1929 he wrote La Perle, under the pseudonym "Henri d'Arches" (the duke of Ursel is Prince of Arches and Charleville), based on a story by Georges Hugnet.
"[3] Returning to Belgium, in 1937 d'Ursel and Louis Camu founded Le Prix de l’Image, a precursor to film festivals of experimental cinema.
At the outbreak of World War II, he and Luc Haesaerts founded Le Séminaire des Arts, a prestigious Belgian film club, and precursor of the Musée du cinéma de Bruxelles.