La Cinématographie Française (1938)

165 BEST FRENCH FILMS OF THE YEAR Since the beginning of the year, we hâve given regularly in our quaterly éditions a review in English, of the best French films suitable for Foreign Markets. To-day we shall publish a survey of the whole year’s production, on which full details may be found in our previous issues. Le Quai des B-umes (The Foggy Quay) (melodrama) , directed by Marcel Carné and based on Pierre Mac Orlan’s novel, with Jean Gabin and Michèle Morgan co-starring (G. Rabinovitsch Prod.) (This film has just been awarded the “Prix Louis Delluc’”.) Les Disparus de Si-Agil (Disappeared from St.-Agil) , directed by Christian Jaque, with Eric Von ‘Stroheim, Michel Simon, Aimé Clariand, and an outstanding company of young boys (François Caron Prod.) . Ramuntcho (romance) , screen adaptation of Pierre Loti’s famous novel, directed by René Barberis, and played by Françoise Rosay, Louis Jouvet, Madeleine Ozeray, and Paul Cambo (F.I.C. prod.) . Le Patriote (The Patriot) (historical drama), a re-make of the famous silent film, directed by Maurice Tourneur, starring Ffarry Baur and featuring Pierre Renoir and Suzy Prim (F.C.L. product) . Le Petit Chose (period drama) , an adaptation of Alphonse Daudet’s famous classic directed by Maurice Cloche with Robert Lynen (Poil de Carotte) , Jean Mercanton, Charpin, Arletty, Robert le Vigan and an outstanding new talent : Janine Darcey. (C.I.C.C. prod.) Alerte en Méditerranée (Alarm in Mediterranean) (thriller) , written and directed by Léo Joannon with an international cast including Pierre Fresnay (French), Kim Peacock (British) , Rolf Wanka (German) . This film has just been awarded the Grand Prix of the French Cinéma for 1938 (Vega Prod.). Katia (historical melodrama), an adaptation of Princess Bibesco’s book directed by Maurice Tourneur and co-starring Danielle Darrieux and John Loder (E. Algazy, Prod.). Retour à l'Aube (Return at Daw) (drama), adapted from Vicky Baum’s novel, and directed by Henri Decoin with Danielle Darrieux starring (Bercholz, Prod.) . Three IValtzes (musical comedy) , adapted from the famous stage success, and produced and directed by Ludwig Berger, co-starring Yvonne Printemps and Pierre Fresnay and with music by Johann Strauss, Sr. and Jr., and Oscar Strauss (Sofror, Prod.) . La Bête Humaine (The Human Beast) (melodrama) , an adaptation of Emile Zola’s novel, directed by Jean Renoir, co-starring Jean Gabin and Simone Simon. (Hakim Bros., Prod.) Remontons les Champs-Elysées (ChampsElysees’ past days) (Historical photoplay) , a new Sacha Guitry’s production, written, directed and played by Sacha Guitry with an all-star cast including Lisette Lanvin, Mila Parely, Lucien Baroux, Jeanne Boitel, Jacqueline Delubac, etc. (Prod. Sandberg Luccachevitch) . Hôtel du Nord (North Hôtel) (melodrama) , adapted from Eugene Dabit’s novel, and direc Louîs Jouvet, un des plus grands acteurs du cintma français dans une scène du film de Marcel Carné Hôtel du Nord ted by Marcel Carné, starring Annabella, and featuring Louis Jouvet, Arletty, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Bernard Blier, Paulette Dubost. (Sedif, Prod.) . Prison sans Barreaux (Prison without bars) (girls’ reformatory melodrama) , directed by Léonide Moguy, starring Corinne Luchaire, and featuring Annie Ducaux, Roger Duchesne, Ginette Leclerc, Gisèle Préville. (Pressburger, Prod.) Conflit (Conflict) (melodrama) , directed by Une scène émouvante du film de G. W. Pabst Le Drame de Schangaï Léonide Moguy, starring Corinne Luchaire and featuring Annie Ducaux, Claude Dauphin, Raymond Roulleau, Roger Duchesne (Arnold Pressburger, Prod.) J'étais une Aventurière (I was an adventuress) (comedy thriller) , directed by Raymond Bernard, co-starring Edwide Feuillère and Jean Murat. (Gregor Rabinovistch, Prod.) Entrée des Artistes (Stage Door) (melodrama with comedy touches) , a film on life in the Paris famous Musical and Dramatic School “Conservatoire”, directed by Marc Allégret with Janine Darcey, Odette Joyeux, Claude Dauphin, Louis Jouvet, Bernard Blier, Daho, Jacqueline Valois. (Regina, Prod.) La Maison du Maltais (The House of the Maltese) (melodrama) , adapted from Jean Vignaud’s novel, and directed by Pierre Chenal, starring Viviane Romance, with Jany Holt; Dalio, Pierre Renoir, Louis Jouvet. Prison de Femmes (Women’s Penitentiary) adapted from Francis Carco’s book, and directed by Roger Richebé, co-starring Viviane Romance and Renée Saint-Cyr. (Richebé, Prod.) La Femme du Boulanger (The Baker’s wife) (comedy-drama) , directed by Marcel Pagnol, starring Raimu and featuring Ginette Leclerc, Charpin, and Delmont. (Pagnol, Prod.) Carrefour (Cross Roads) (melodrama) , directed by Kurt Bernhardt, starring Charles Vanel, and featuring Suzy Prim, Jules Berry, and Tania Fedor. (French B. U. P., Productions.) Café de Paris (Détective Thrillet) , written by Yves Mirande and co-directed by Yves Mirande and Georges Lacombe with an all-star cast including Vera Korène, Jules Berry, Pierre Brasseur, Marcel Vallée, Henry Roussell, etc. (Regina, Prod.) Paix sur le Rhin (Peace on the Rhme) (drama) , directed by Jean Choux, co-starring Dita Parlo and John Loder ans featuring Françoise Rosay, Georges Péclet. (P. S. R., Prod.) Belle Etoile (Sleeping Out) (comedy) , directed by Jacques de Baroncelli, with Michel Simon, Meg Lemonnier, and Jean-Pierre Aumont. Cosse de Riche (comedy), directed by Maurice de Canonge with Madeleine Robinson, Pierre Brasseur and Aimos. (C.F.C., Prod.) Le Joueur d’Echecs (The Chess Player) (historical melodrama) , directed by Jean Dréville, starring Conrad Veidt, and featuring Françoise Rosay, Paul Cambo, and Micheline Francey. (C.F.C., Prod.) Le Drame de Shanghai (Shanghaï melodrama) , directed by G.W. Pabst, with Christine Mardayne, Louis Jouvet, Raymond Roulleau, Dorville, Elina Labourdette. (Lucia Films, Prod.) Werther (romantic drama), ai screen adaptation of Goethe’s famous classic, directed by Max Ophuls and co-starring Pierre RichardWilm and Annie Vernay. (S. Niebenzahl, Prod.) Gibraltar (spy drama), directed by Fedor Ozep, with Viviane Romance, Eric Von Stroheim, Yvette Lebon and Roger Duchesne. (Cine Alliance, Prod.) Ultimatum (melodrama) , directed by Robert