La Cinématographie Française (1938)

CUVE RAPHIE SE ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ 203 Victor Francen et Line Noro dans J’Accuse. very beautil'ul outdoor shots taken in lhe Sahara and in the South of France. La Marseillaise. — This is lhe much expected film produced by the French Trade Unions(C.G.T.), directed by Jean Renoir (of Lu Grande Illusion). Action is in the Revolutionary days of 1789/92. Storv explains how the famous revolutionary song « La Marseillaise » was brought to Paris from Marseille by Marseille citizens who came to join the army in Paris. There is a great deal of cinématographie quality in this big picture, which shown a big effort of the French production, but which was much criticized owing to its too marked polilical tendency. The cast is good, especially four Marseilles men, the heroes of the film. Pierre Renoir is Louis the XVIth, Lise Delamare Marie-Antoinette and Louis Jouvet lhe Représentative of the Peo])le of Paris. The biggest and most impressive scene is the fight for the Tuileries, the King’s Paris castle. Mollenard. — Deep drama in the China Seas. Harry Raur is a French captain of the Mercantile Marine and at the same time a modem pirate. Based on a novel by O.P. Gilbert, directed by Robert Siodmak and Gabrielle Dorziat, Albert Préjean, Pierre Renoir, Elisabeth PitoëfF and Martha Labarr are in the cast. J’Accuse (/ Accuse). — French director Abel Gance lias directed and produced a new version adapted to présent times of his famous silent J’Accuse. A propaganda film against war. Victor Francen, Line Noro, Jean Max and Renée Devillers are the chief players of this film which contains many exaggerations. Nuits de Princes (How Princes pass the nighi). Talking version of a silent film based on a novel by Joseph Kessel dealing witli the life of Russian aristoerats who are refugees in Paris after the Great War. The Russian director Wladimir Strijewski directed it. Cast : Jean Murat, Kate de Nagv, Marina Shubert, Fernand Fabre and René Lefèvre. L’Occident (The Occident). — Screen adaptation of Henri Kistemaeckers’play, dealing with a native Arabian girl brought to Paris. Directed by Henri Fcscourt. Cast : Charles Vanel, Jules Berry and Rama Tahé. Orage (The Storm). — Adaptation by Marcel Achard of Henri Bernstein’s play Le Venin. Starring Charles Royer and Michèle Morgan. Director : Marc Allégret. This is an outstanding Frnech film with an excellent international appeal. Le Puritain (The Puritan). Adaptation for the screen of The Puritan, a novel by the Irish writer Liam O’Flaherty, author of The Informer. Directed by Jeff Musso. This interesting and excellently produced French film was awarded the Grand Prix of the Film Critic for 1937, because of ils originality and novelty. Prison sans Barreaux (Prison without Bars). — One of the best French films of the quarter. A very gripping and moving drama dealing with the life of girls between 16 and 21 in a reformitary seulement. Direction, production and dialogues are excel lent. Léonide Moguy is the director. The cast includes Annie Devaux, Ginette Leclerc, Maximilienne, Roger Duehesne and Garinne Luchaire, a 17 years-old actress who is a révélation. Les Pirates du Rail (Pirates of the Railroad). Drama with action in IndoChina and China along the railroad of the French Line of Yunam. Picturesque scenery and sonie striking scenes. Directed by Christian Jaque. Cast : Charles Vanel, Eric von Stroheim, Suzy Prini and Simone Reliant. Quadrille. — Screen adaptation of Sacha Guitry’s new play. Directed and interpreted by the autor. The cast further includes Gaby Morlay, Jacqueline Delubac and Pauline Carton. Ramuntcho. — Moving film from Pierre Loti’s famous book. Action in the Basque country, a typical province of the Southwest of France. Directed by René Barberis. Cast : Louis Jouvet, Françoise Rosay, Madeleine Ozeray, and a newcomer Paul Gambo, who shows real talent. Tarakanowa. — Produced in Italian Studios in Rome. Historieal 18th century background. Director : Fedor Ozep (Russian). Cast : Annie Vernay, Pierre Richard-Wilm and Suzy Prini. Les Gens du Voyage (Travelling Peuple). — Ambitions film directed by Jacques Feyder (of La Kermesse Héroïque). Produced in French and German versions in Munich Studios (Germany). Production and direction are superb. Cast includes Françoise Rosay, André Brulé, Marie Glory, Sylvia Bataille and 3 of Mr. Fevder’s « discoveries » : Guillaume de Sax, Louise Car letti, and Fabien Lorys. Tragédie Impériale (Rasputin). — Impressive drama featuring the famous Russian Monk Rasputin. Directed by Marcel L’Herbier and based on book by Alfred Neumann. Cast : Harry Baur (as Rasputin), Pierre Richard-Wilm, Marcelle Chantal, Jany Holt, Jean Worms. 35 FILMS IN THE MAK.ING The most important are : Les Filles du Rhône (Daughters of the Rhône). — Directed by Jean Paul Paulin. Cast : Annie Ducaux, Denise Bosc, Alexandre Rignault. Le Quai des Brumes (Waterfront shadows). — Based on Pierre Mac Orlan’s novel and directed by Marcel Carné (of Jenny). Cast : Jean Gabin, Michèle Morgan, Michel Simon. Action situated in French harbour : Le Havre. Le Patriote (The Patriot). — A new version of the famous silent film in which starred Emil Jannings. Based on a novel by Algred Neumann. Directed by Maurice Tourneur. Cast : Harry Baur, Pierre Renoir, Suzy Prim. Nous, les Jeunes (Our Youth). — Screen adaptation of a play by Jean Luchaire « Altitude 3.200 ». Direction : Jean Benoit-Lévy and Marie Epstein. Outdoor scènes shot in French Alps. Cast includes a team of young players : Jean-Louis Barrault, Blanchette Brunoy, Odette Joyeux, etc. Le Petit Chose. — Screen adaptation of Alphonse Daudet’s famous classic. Directed by Maurice Cloche. Cast : Robert Lynen, Aimé Clariond, Charpin, Arletty, Gabrielle Fontan, Marianne Oswald. Grisou (Pire damp). Directed by Maurice de Ganonge. Cast : Pierre Rrasseur and Odette Joyeux as stars.