French cinema: 1930s
Le Ruisseau (1938)
Maurice Lehmann
Eager to embark on adult life, 17-year-old Denise absconds from the orphanage where she has spent most of her life and stows away on board a ship docked in the port of Le Havre...
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Maurice Lehmann
Samson (1936)
Maurice Tourneur
Wealth is not enough for financier Jacques Brachart. With his immense fortune, he intends to buy his way into high society to show the world what a great man he is...
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Maurice Tourneur
Le Sang d'un poète (1930)
Jean Cocteau
A factory chimney is just about to fall down... In May 1745, a bare-chested artist is painting a portrait of a woman. When the portrait's mouth suddenly comes to life, the artist attempts to erase it...
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Jean Cocteau
Sans famille (1934)
Marc Allégret
London. After the funeral of Lord Mulligan, his brother James intends that he will inherit his fortune. To do so, he hires a crook named Driscoll to abduct and kill Mulligan's rightful heir, three-year-old Robert...
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Marc Allégret
Sans lendemain (1939)
Max Ophüls
A series of personal misfortunes has brought Evelyne Morin to her present degrading circumstances. She married too young, to a man who was not worthy of her - an unscrupulous adventurer who left her virtually destitute when he died...
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Max Ophüls
Le Schpountz (1938)
Marcel Pagnol
Casimir and Irénée work in their uncle's grocer's shop in a Provençal village. Whilst Casimir sticks to his job, Irénée only dreams of becoming a film star... [More...]
Marcel Pagnol
Casimir and Irénée work in their uncle's grocer's shop in a Provençal village. Whilst Casimir sticks to his job, Irénée only dreams of becoming a film star... [More...]
Le Secret de Polichinelle (1936)
André Berthomieu
Monsieur and Madame Jouvenel are a respectable bourgeois couple who intend that their son Henri will marry the daughter of respectable bourgeois parents and follow their example... [More...]
André Berthomieu
Monsieur and Madame Jouvenel are a respectable bourgeois couple who intend that their son Henri will marry the daughter of respectable bourgeois parents and follow their example... [More...]
Sept hommes, une femme (1936)
Yves Mirande
Widowhood definitely does not suit the Countess Lucie de Kéradec. Ever since the premature death of her husband, she has pined away in solitude in her luxurious apartments on the avenue Henri-Martin, with only her aged mother to keep her company... [More...]
Yves Mirande
Widowhood definitely does not suit the Countess Lucie de Kéradec. Ever since the premature death of her husband, she has pined away in solitude in her luxurious apartments on the avenue Henri-Martin, with only her aged mother to keep her company... [More...]
Le Sexe faible (1933)
Robert Siodmak
Madame Leroy-Gomez is one of the wealthy patrons of an exclusive Parisian hotel. A firm believer in the idea that one can never have too much of a good thing as far as lucre is concerned, she encourages her sons Jimmy and Philippe to marry for money, not knowing that they are too fond of their carefree bachelor existence to fall in with these well-meaning plans... [More...]
Robert Siodmak
Madame Leroy-Gomez is one of the wealthy patrons of an exclusive Parisian hotel. A firm believer in the idea that one can never have too much of a good thing as far as lucre is concerned, she encourages her sons Jimmy and Philippe to marry for money, not knowing that they are too fond of their carefree bachelor existence to fall in with these well-meaning plans... [More...]
Si j'étais le patron (1934)
Richard Pottier
Henri Janvier may be a mere production line worker in an automobile factory but he has big ambitions. He has invented a silencer for motor vehicles that, he is sure, will one day make him a wealthy man... [More...]
Richard Pottier
Henri Janvier may be a mere production line worker in an automobile factory but he has big ambitions. He has invented a silencer for motor vehicles that, he is sure, will one day make him a wealthy man... [More...]
Sous les toits de Paris (1930)
René Clair
In a working class district of Paris in 1930, a young man named Albert makes a modest living as a street singer. One day, he meets an attractive young Rumanian woman, Pola, and instantly falls in love with her... [More...]
René Clair
In a working class district of Paris in 1930, a young man named Albert makes a modest living as a street singer. One day, he meets an attractive young Rumanian woman, Pola, and instantly falls in love with her... [More...]
Sous les yeux d'occident (1936)
Marc Allégret
In Russia during the early 1900s, Razumov is a brilliant student with a dazzling career ahead of him. He has no interest in politics and is unmoved when he learns that the Prime Minister has just been shot dead... [More...]
Marc Allégret
In Russia during the early 1900s, Razumov is a brilliant student with a dazzling career ahead of him. He has no interest in politics and is unmoved when he learns that the Prime Minister has just been shot dead... [More...]
Tarakanova (1930)
Raymond Bernard
In 1764, the Russian Empress Catherine II is conflicted when she hears the news that her rival Ivan VI is dead and buried... [More...]
Raymond Bernard
In 1764, the Russian Empress Catherine II is conflicted when she hears the news that her rival Ivan VI is dead and buried... [More...]
Taris, roi de l'eau (1931)
Jean Vigo
French swimming champion Jean Taris is the subject of this short documentary, an early commission for the film director Jean Vigo after he completed his innovative first documentary À propos de Nice in 1930... [More...]
Jean Vigo
French swimming champion Jean Taris is the subject of this short documentary, an early commission for the film director Jean Vigo after he completed his innovative first documentary À propos de Nice in 1930... [More...]
La Tête d'un homme (1933)
Julien Duvivier
In a crowded Parisian café, Willy Ferrière, a penniless playboy, declares that he is willing to pay a hundred thousand francs to anyone who will kill his aunt, thereby allowing him to inherit a vast fortune... [More...]
Julien Duvivier
In a crowded Parisian café, Willy Ferrière, a penniless playboy, declares that he is willing to pay a hundred thousand francs to anyone who will kill his aunt, thereby allowing him to inherit a vast fortune... [More...]
Théodore et Cie (1933)
Pierre Colombier
Théodore, is the nephew of a rich cheese merchant, but rather than follow an honest career in his uncle Chénerol's business, he prefers to earn his living by enacting various scams with his colleague Clodomir... [More...]
Pierre Colombier
Théodore, is the nephew of a rich cheese merchant, but rather than follow an honest career in his uncle Chénerol's business, he prefers to earn his living by enacting various scams with his colleague Clodomir... [More...]
Titin des Martigues (1938)
René Pujol
Titin des Martigues is a cheerful young man who runs a lottery stall at a busy funfair in Paris. He is desperately in love with the adorable Yvette, but he has a fierce rival in Dix-de-Der, who is equally determined that she should be his bride... [More...]
René Pujol
Titin des Martigues is a cheerful young man who runs a lottery stall at a busy funfair in Paris. He is desperately in love with the adorable Yvette, but he has a fierce rival in Dix-de-Der, who is equally determined that she should be his bride... [More...]
Toni (1935)
Jean Renoir
In the early 1930s, Toni, a young Italian labourer, arrives in France and finds work at a quarry. His landlady Marie takes a liking to him, but he is only interested in another woman, Josepha... [More...]
Jean Renoir
In the early 1930s, Toni, a young Italian labourer, arrives in France and finds work at a quarry. His landlady Marie takes a liking to him, but he is only interested in another woman, Josepha... [More...]
Topaze (1933)
Louis J. Gasnier
Albert Topaze is an idealistic schoolteacher who believes that it is better to be honest than rich. His high ideals bring him into conflict with his headmaster, who dismisses him on the spot when he learns that he has shown an interest in his daughter... [More...]
Louis J. Gasnier
Albert Topaze is an idealistic schoolteacher who believes that it is better to be honest than rich. His high ideals bring him into conflict with his headmaster, who dismisses him on the spot when he learns that he has shown an interest in his daughter... [More...]
Topaze (1936)
Marcel Pagnol
A modest teacher in a boys' school, Topaze does his utmost to instil in his pupils his creed that money can never buy happiness... [More...]
Marcel Pagnol
A modest teacher in a boys' school, Topaze does his utmost to instil in his pupils his creed that money can never buy happiness... [More...]
Tourbillon de Paris (1939)
Henri Diamant-Berger
A group of students who are in Paris to sit their exams find themselves desperately in need of ready cash. They like to perform music for their own amusement, so it suddenly occurs to them that they could take advantage of this shared passion to earn themselves a little money... [More...]
Henri Diamant-Berger
A group of students who are in Paris to sit their exams find themselves desperately in need of ready cash. They like to perform music for their own amusement, so it suddenly occurs to them that they could take advantage of this shared passion to earn themselves a little money... [More...]
Tout ça ne vaut pas l'amour (1931)
Jacques Tourneur
Renaudin, a pharmacist, takes in Claire, a young woman who is traumatised by a stillbirth. Attached to her and anxious to make her happy, Renaudin wants to court her, but she is in love with another man, Jean, who has a shop next door... [More...]
Jacques Tourneur
Renaudin, a pharmacist, takes in Claire, a young woman who is traumatised by a stillbirth. Attached to her and anxious to make her happy, Renaudin wants to court her, but she is in love with another man, Jean, who has a shop next door... [More...]
Tout va très bien madame la marquise (1936)
Henry Wulschleger
Yonnik Le Ploumanech loses his job as a servant when his negligence causes a fire at the Brittany château of the Marquise de Ploevic... [More...]
Henry Wulschleger
Yonnik Le Ploumanech loses his job as a servant when his negligence causes a fire at the Brittany château of the Marquise de Ploevic... [More...]
Tovaritch (1935)
Jacques Deval
Russia, 1917. Not long after the state wedding of General Ouratieff to Tsar Nicolas II's niece Tatiana, the country is caught up in a bloody revolution... [More...]
Jacques Deval
Russia, 1917. Not long after the state wedding of General Ouratieff to Tsar Nicolas II's niece Tatiana, the country is caught up in a bloody revolution... [More...]
La Tradition de minuit (1939)
Roger Richebé
Clara Véry, a singer at the nightclub Le Soleil noir, receives an anonymous telephone call inviting her to attend a meeting the next day in a café... [More...]
Roger Richebé
Clara Véry, a singer at the nightclub Le Soleil noir, receives an anonymous telephone call inviting her to attend a meeting the next day in a café... [More...]
La Tragédie impériale (1938)
Marcel L'Herbier
In the years just before the Revolution, Grigori Rasputin is a name that is known throughout Russia. His seemingly miraculous ability to heal the sick has brought him renown across the land, and thousands flock to his door, to receive the touch of the man who has surely been blessed by God... [More...]
Marcel L'Herbier
In the years just before the Revolution, Grigori Rasputin is a name that is known throughout Russia. His seemingly miraculous ability to heal the sick has brought him renown across the land, and thousands flock to his door, to receive the touch of the man who has surely been blessed by God... [More...]
Le Train de huit heures quarante-sept (1934)
Henry Wulschleger
France in the mid-1880s. Life in the 202nd cavalry regiment is hardly a bed of roses, especially if your names happen to be La Guillaumette and Croquebol... [More...]
Henry Wulschleger
France in the mid-1880s. Life in the 202nd cavalry regiment is hardly a bed of roses, especially if your names happen to be La Guillaumette and Croquebol... [More...]
Le Triangle de feu (1932)
Edmond T. Gréville
A gang of crooks succeed in a series of robberies, their signature being triangle which they cut on every safe they break into... [More...]
Edmond T. Gréville
A gang of crooks succeed in a series of robberies, their signature being triangle which they cut on every safe they break into... [More...]
Trois de Saint-Cyr (1939)
Jean-Paul Paulin
Despite the objections of his father, a wealthy banker, Jean Le Moyne enters Saint-Cyr, France's most prestigious military academy, to become an officer in the French army... [More...]
Jean-Paul Paulin
Despite the objections of his father, a wealthy banker, Jean Le Moyne enters Saint-Cyr, France's most prestigious military academy, to become an officer in the French army... [More...]
Trois valses (1938)
Ludwig Berger
In 1867, at the time of the Second Empire, a young military man named Octave de Chalencey falls in love with a humble ballet dancer, Fanny Grandpré... [More...]
Ludwig Berger
In 1867, at the time of the Second Empire, a young military man named Octave de Chalencey falls in love with a humble ballet dancer, Fanny Grandpré... [More...]