French film photo galley for 1950

French films of the 1950s

Porte des Lilas (1957)

After the sophistication and scale of René Clair’s grand melodramas of the late 1940s and early 1950s (such as Le Silence est d’or and Les Grandes manoeuvres ), the director returned to his roots in his 1957 film Porte des Lilas, a film which is immediately evocative of Clair’s early successes, most notably Sous les toits de Paris... [More...]

Pot-Bouille (1957)

Julien Duvivier’s last great film is a curious synthesis of the harsh world of famous French author Emile Zola and his own peculiar brand of historical romanticism. It is a combination which works, but you get the impression that a more faithful rendition of the Zola novel would have been somewhat more effective. The film stars the then very popular heart-throb... [More...]

Quand la femme s'en mêle (1957)

This fairly standard crime thriller Yves Allégret has an exceptional cast, including Edwige Feuillère and Jean Servais. A young Alain Delon distinguishes himself in his first film role, playing the kind of character he would become most associated with in the following few decades.... [More...]

Retour de manivelle (1957)

Denys de La Patellière directed this respectable example of the suspense thriller, an adaptation of a James Hadley Chase novel which skilfully blends the style of American film noir with that of the conventional, character-driven French thriller. The film stars Michèle Morgan and Daniel Gélin, each of whom turns in a compelling... [More...]

Sénéchal le magnifique (1957)

Clearly intended to showcase the talent of its star – the much-loved horse-faced comic actor Fernandel – for playing colourful characters in O.T.T. situations, Sénéchal le magnifique also offers a sobering reflection on the precarious life of the struggling artist. Whilst the plot’s lack of structure makes the film feel aimless and a tad over-long... [More...]

Typhon sur Nagasaki (1957)

Although competently directed, with a keen appreciation of Japanese culture and society, Typhon sur Nagasaki is a somewhat passionless affair, barely sustained by the personalities of its two lead actors. Jean Marais and Danielle Darrieux would appear to be the ideal choice to star in a romantic drama but there is very little chemistry between them and consequently the film feels largely... [More...]

Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)

For his remarkable cinematic debut, director Louis Malle brought a fresh and original approach to the film policier, the most popular genre in French cinema of the 1950s. Although it adheres rigorously to the conventions of the crime thriller of that decade, Ascenseur pour l’échafaud offers a stylish variation on a familiar theme... [More...]

Christine (1958)

This sumptuous historical romantic melodrama afforded Alain Delon his first major acting role in what was to become an extraordinarily successful film career. Here, the iconic actor is paired with Romy Schneider, a young Austrian actress who was already a star in Germany (thanks to the Sissi series of films) and who hoped to make a name for herself in France... [More...]

La Loi c'est la loi (1958)

The eternally popular comic actor Fernandel joins forces with his equally famous Italian counterpart, Toto, in this highly enjoyable comedy, one of Fernandel’s better films from the 1950. Part boisterous farce, part satire on the absurdities of Italian and French Law, the film has a wide appeal. Unlike many popular comedies from this era... [More...]

La Tour, prends garde! (1958)

Jean Marais stars in this big budget historical fantasy directed by Georges Lampin. The film’s extravagant production values are not matched by the quality of its script nor its direction, however. So, whilst the film is visually stunning – particularly the lavish location filming (in Yugoslavia) – it feels a somewhat dry and shallow substitute for a more serious historical... [More...]

La Vie à deux (1958)

This multi-part film with an impressive star-studied cast lacks the feel of a satisfying whole, but it is so full of magical little moments that that hardly seems to matter. Written by Sacha Guitry, a luminary of French cinema and a distinguished writer in his own right, the film has some sparkling dialogue which is brought to life by some amazing acting talent... [More...]

Le Miroir à deux faces (1958)

Whilst he is perhaps best known for his social dramas revolving around the deficiencies of the French legal system, director André Cayatte also made a number of more conventional melodramas, of which Le Miroir à deux faces is one of his best. Cayatte’s restrained yet effective direction makes this a compelling and poignant piece of psychological drama... [More...]

Le Beau Serge (1958)

One of the earliest of the French New Wave of films in the late 1950s/early 60s, Le Beau Serge has a rough and ready feel to it that gives it an edge of authenticity and emphasises the sadness without dipping into sentimentalism. We see the town through François’s eyes and, as a result, we can identify with his point of view... [More...]

Les Misérables (1958)

Victor Hugo’s powerful classic novel of revenge and redemption is brought to life in this magnificent film adaptation, scripted by one of French cinema’s best writers, Michel Audiard. The film stars some of France’s greatest actors, including the superlative Jean Gabin who seems an obvious choice for the lead role of Valjean... [More...]

Les Copains du dimanche (1958)

This is an enchanting – albeit somewhat romantic – film about how fulfilment and camaraderie may be found when labouring on a shared project. The film was commissioned by the CGT, a confederation of trade unions in France. Consequently, the film was intended for private screenings at CGT meetings and was never shown (at the time) in public cinemas... [More...]

Maigret tend un piège (1958)

Jean Gabin stars in one of his most famous roles, that of Inspector Maigret, in this atmospheric 1950s policier directed by one of France’s most talented directors, Jean Delannoy. Of all the screen actors to have played Maigret, Gabin is by far the best, and in this film (the first of his three film appearances in the role) he brilliantly portrays the ruthless cunning and world weariness... [More...]

Mon oncle (1958)

Five years after Les Vacances de Monsier Hulot proved a major critical success, Jacques Tati and Monsieur Hulot returned to cinema screens across the world in Mon Oncle, a film which proved to be one of the cinematic highlights of 1958. As with Tati’s previous film, Mon Oncle delighted the critics and was a commercial success... [More...]

Montparnasse 19 (1958)

Cinematic biographies of famous artists are not a rare phenomenon, but few such films manage to evoke the acute sense of despair and injustice that Montparnasse 19 does. In his last film but one, Jacques Becker paints a poignant and engaging tale of an artist struggling to achieve both perfection in his work and public recognition... [More...]

Ni vu, ni connu (1958)

Director Yves Robert’s second film is this charming adaptation of a popular late 19th Century novella "L’Affaire Blaireau" by Alphonse Allais. The film offers the same engaging portrait of provincial life that we see in the films of Marcel Pagnol and Robert’s later film La Gloire de mon père (1990)... [More...]

Sois belle et tais-toi (1958)

Despite the shameful political-incorrectness of its title and some pretty blatant sentimentality, this is an entertaining comedy thriller which achieves a satisfying blend of B-movie gangster fare and slapstick. Probably the most distinguishing feature of this film is that it marks the virtual cinema debut of two acting legends of French cinema: Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo... [More...]

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