The History of French Motion Pictures

	Marcel Pagnol, 1933 Photographer: Roger Corbeau

The French film developed independently of the theater, although both media employed many of the same actors. Only a few men enjoyed great eminence on both stage and screen — Jean Cocteau, who directed several highly imaginative films; Louis Jouvet, who was a leading actor; Marcel Pagnol, who directed for the screen some of his own plays of humble life in Marseille; and Sacha Guitry, an actor-director-writer of boulevard plays and films.

French cinema begins with the fantasies of Georges Méliès at the turn of the century, but the true fathers of French film making are Abel Gance, best remembered for his epic Napoléon (1925); Jean Vigo, who died young after making the brilliant experiments Zéro de conduite (1932) and L'Atalante (1934); René Clair, the director of some unforgettable comedies early in his career; and Jean Renoir, a master of sympathetic, understanding realism in such films as La Règle du jeu (1939) and La Grande illusion (1937). Attention must be paid to Jacques Tati, a great clown; Henri-Georges Clouzot, an exponent of pitiless naturalism in La Salaire de la peur (1953); and Robert Bresson, whose Le Journal d'un curé de campagne (1951) is considered a film classic.

Jean-Luc Godard

The "new wave" in French cinema began in 1958, when a young film critic, Claude Chabrol, directed Le Beau Serge, a study of two young men in a provincial town. Two friends of Chabrol's, also film critics, followed him into film-making the following year — Jean-Luc Godard, with À Bout de souffle, reminiscent of American gangster films in its treatment of a French criminal; and François Truffaut, with Les Quatre cent coups, about a schoolboy in trouble. While Godard was the most prolific, it is probably Truffaut who accomplished most, with his lively films Tirez sur le pianiste (1960) and Jules et Jim (1961). Other new wave directors include Alain Resnais (Hiroshima, mon amour, 1959), Agnès Varda (Cléo de 5 à 7, 1962), and Louis Malle (Vie privée, 1961).

By the early 1970s the new wave had lost its experimental edge, although many of the directors continued to produce fine films, such as Truffaut's Le Dernier métro (1980). New directors emerged, however, who began to attract world attention, including Jean-Jacques Beineix (Diva, 1981; Betty Blue, 1986), Luc Besson (Subway, 1985; The Big Blue, 1988; La Femme Nikita, 1990), Claude Berri (Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources, both 1986), and Régis Wargnier (La Femme de ma vie, 1986; Indochine, 1992). French cinema has been encouraged by generous state subsidies, and the vigorous industry was producing some 140 films each year by the early 1990s, even in the face of overwhelming box office competition from the United States.

The Cannes Film Festival, begun in 1946, is the most respected such event worldwide, and the Palme d'Or award at Cannes is one of the most sought-after achievements in cinema. In 1976 the French film industry first awarded the Césars, the country's equivalent of Hollywood's Academy Awards™.

Today's Movie Scene

Although cinema audiences may be declining slowly, the French still appreciate movies and retain their taste for both French and foreign films. Many prefer to see movies in their original version (with French subtitles, if imported), and these films bear the inscription VO (version originale).

	Lautrec, a film by Roger Planchon © France inter

Unless you particularly want to see the version that was dubbed in French, avoid movies that carry the inscription VF (version française). However, outside of Paris it is not uncommon to find only the dubbed versions being shown, especially in the smaller towns.

In Paris, cinema-goers enjoy a wealth of choices, with over 300 films showing every week. Some arts cinemas and cinémathèques show retrospective series of films devoted to particular directors, actors, countries or periods in the history of the cinema.

Smoking is now universally forbidden in French movie theaters. Don't forget to tip the usherette (10%); it's the only pay she receives.

Choose your region from the AlloCiné search engine below, for a listing of most cinemas throughout France, including each venue's address, current movie engagement(s), showtimes, feature length, actors, technical details and plot synopsis (all in French).

French Movie Links

Actrices Françaises & Francophones This graphics-intensive (i.e. high-bandwidth) site features filmographies and photo galleries on about three dozen of France's younger film and television actresses. Cannes Film Festival Started in 1946, the Festival became the most media-intense annual celebration of the international film industry. Read about the exhibitions, celebrities, and parties at this year's gala, or consult the extensive archives of past events. Cinémathèque Française Online presence of the Musée du Cinéma, founded in 1936 by Henri Langlois, which sponsors changing exhibits devoted to the history of film. Address: 51, rue de Bercy, 75012 Paris. Comoedia Directory (with photos) of over 1700 lesser-known or aspiring French actors and actresses, intended mostly for use by casting directors. Some performers also offer voice-overs and video clips for previewing, plus agency contacts. Ecran Noir Vincy Thomas has assembled a cinézine (in French) with film reviews, celebrity spotlight, news on Cannes, and much more. European Independent Film Festival There are eleven categories of films in this highly esteemed festival, which takes place at La Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris. Attendees can also participate in editing workshops, screenwriting labs, and discussion panels. French Film Festival - Sydney This well-designed site presents reviews of the newest French movies, offering online streaming videos (movie trailers) and MPEGs to download. French Film Festival - U.K. For 10 years, this annual showcase of French film has been held in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, and London. Institut Lumière Having already amassed a family fortune in Lyon by developing the instant dry photographic plate, the pioneering Lumière brothers proceeded to invent the revolutionary Cinémathographe Lumière in 1895. Incorporating mechanics which had eluded Thomas Edison, this versatile tool could film, copy, and project motion pictures — all in one gadget. Pariscope Indispensable for visitors & residents alike, this weekly calendar magazine features listings of arts & cultural venues, film, and nightlife in Paris. Le Petit Monde des Films Français James Travers has assembled an indispensable and rich site offering biographies, filmographies, and movie posters for many dozens of French actors and directors. We hope James will see fit to dispose of the busy page backgrounds which render the site uncomfortable for reading! Poitiers Int'l. Film Schools Festival Founded by Henri Langlois in 1977 and based in Poitiers since 1990, this program highlights the works of up-and-coming film luminaries in three official competitions. Premiere Online version of the glossy French film magazine, offering news, reviews, public forum, photos, posters, box office numbers, and a cinéquiz. Unifrance Promoting French cinema worldwide, with a prodigious collection of articles on international film festivals, studio newsbytes, and other cinematic events. Videos from Amazon.com Enjoy the convenience of secure online ordering and home delivery of your favorite French movies on video tape and DVD. Browse thousands of titles, organized by film genre, director, and featured performers.

AlloCiné Search

Search by Locale Enter a locale or French postal code to find the closest theatre(s) and current showings in your neighborhood (example: "75003" for the 3rd arrondissement in Paris, "84100" or "Orange" for the Vaucluse department, etc.):

Search by Person's Name For synopses, critical reviews, and audience feedback on past and present films (and to search for show locations by region, if a currently running feature), enter the name of an individual such as actor/actress, film director, etc. (examples: "depardieu", "truffaut", etc.):

Search by Film Title Enter a partial or complete movie title to find out where the film is being shown, as well as the movie's synopsis, feature length, and release date (examples: "cyrano", "reine margot", etc.):

Search by Movie Theatre Enter the name of a particular cinema or the town in which it is located, to view a current schedule of film offerings (examples: "centre culturel", "pathe", "rennes", etc.):

Search for News Clippings (in French) Enter one or more keyword(s) to find recent news articles, film festivals, celebrity interviews, etc. (examples: "film noir", "bardot", "polanski", etc.):

Search for Celebrity Biographies (in French) Enter the name of an actor, actress, or other celebrity to read their biography, date of birth, and a list of the films in which they have appeared:

Nominate A Site!

French Movies Do you know about a great French cinema site we should list here (including sites about actors, directors, etc.)? If so, please submit it!