La Cinématographie Française (1939)

120 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ cilNEimm&RAPHlE TRmi&ISE ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ FRENCH PRODUCTION 1939 30 French Pictures Produced and Completed During the First Quarter of the Year by Pierre AUTRE The excellent results obtained by the French Production during the course of the three past years wil] be carried on At présent, more than 25 feature films are in production in (lie French studios of Paris and of the Riviera. During the first three months of this year, 30 films hâve been produced and completed. And the n cw plans for the 1939-1940 season show that many new films, some of them very important, with original and different stories, will corne very soon before the cameras. The présent success of Grand Illusion, Ballerina (La Mort du Cygne), Ilearl of Palis (Gribouille), in America, shows that outstanding French pictures will continue to hâve an international career as successf ii 1 as any Hollywood production. Two of the most interesting and most appreciated fealures of the French films are sfill the varietv of the subjects and also the excellent acting of the French players such as Raimu. Jean Gabin, Françoise Rosav, Michèle Morgan, Viviane Romance, Piere Blanchar, Fernande!, Arletty, Danielle Darrieux, Michel Simon, etc... One will finds below the list of the most important French films shown and produced during the first months of 1939 as well as the new plans of coming production. Best Pictures Shown During the First Quarter of 1939 Trois de Saint-Cyr (Three From SaintCyr). Produced by Films Calamy and released through Sedif. Directed by J. -P. Paulin. Original storv and screen play: Paul Fékété. Cast: Roland Toutain, Jean Chevrier. Jean Mercanton. Hélène Perdrière, Jean Worms, Léon Bélières. An interesting film depicting life in the fanions French military school of SaintCyr Métropolitain ( Metropolitan Railway ), Produced by Simon Barstotf and directed by Maurice Cam. Original story by Mauice Cam. Cast: Ginette Leclerc, Albert Préiean, André Bridé. Not an ambitions picture but an interesting melodrama with original ideas. Action takes place partially in the Paris « métropolitain railway ». Mon Oncle et mon Curé (Mi/ Oncle and my Vicar). Produced by J.-C. Tenneson and distributed bv Lux. Directed by Pierre Caron. From the novel of sanie name by Jean de la Brète. Cast: René Génin, Annie France, André Lefaur, Germaine Aussey, Alice Tissot. A charming comedy excellent for family patronage with action in a French Proin ce. Esclave blanche (The White Slave). , :oed by Lucia Film. Directed by Marc Sorkin. Supervisor: G.-W. Pabst. Original story by Léo Lania. Screen play : Slève Passeur. Cast : Viviane Romance, John Lodge, Dalio, Mila Parély, SaturninFabre, Louisa Carletti. A heavy melodrama taking' in Turkey, around 1910, when the oriental costums were still in force. A Turkish diplomat marries a French woman and takes hcr to his harem. Accord final (The Last Chord). Produced by France-Suisse Films and distributed through Filmsonor. Directed by I. B. Ray. Original story by I. B. Ray. Screen play: Jacques Natanson. Cast: Kate de Nagy, Georges Rigaud, Alerme, Jules Berry, Josette Day, Aimos. A romantic comedv with action set at a Musical School in Geneva. Charming in spots. Les Cinq Sous de Lavarède. Produced by Films Lavarède and distributed by Gray Film. Directed by Maurice Cammage. From the famous novel by Paul d’ïvoi and Chabrillat. Cast: Fernandel, Jean Dax, Josette Day, Marcel Vallée. The fanions and popular Franch eomedian Fernandel at his best in this very good adaptation of a well knowm novel. Le Récif de Corail ( The Coral Rocks). Produced by Ufa-A. C. F. (Berlin) and releascd through A. C. E. Director: Maurice Gleize. From the novel by Jean Martet. Screen play: Charles Spaak. Cast: Jean Gabin, Michèle Morgan, Julien Carette, Piere Renoir, Guillaume de Sax. An adventure draina taking place in Australia, Mexico and South Sca Islands. Oulslanding performance by the French starteam of The Foggy Quai/: Michèle Morgan and Jean Gabin. L’Or dans la Montagne (Gotd in the Mountains). Produced bv Clarté-Film in Switzerland and directed by Max Haufler. From the novel bv the Swiss writer: C. F. Ramuz. Cast: Jean-Louis Barrault, Suzy Prim, Alerme, Janine Crispin, Alexandre Rignalt. A drama taking in Switzerland based on a very new and original indea. Beautiful ourdoor scenes. An interesting film in s ] j i t e of its slow tempo. Darrière la Façade (Behind the Façade). Produced by Regina Films and distributed bv Filmsonor. Original story and screen play: Yves Mirande. Directed bv Yves Mirande and Georges Lacombe. All-star cast with Lucien Baroux, Gaby Morlay. Jules Berry, Eric von Stroheim, Betty Stockfeld, SimoneeBrriau, Gaby Sylvia. Elvire Popesco, Michel Simon, André Lefaur. A détective film based on a new idea: a mysterious murder has taken place in a seven-floor building. During the course of the police investigation the film shows in a sériés of sketclies the life of the different people of this building. Le Déserteur (The Deserter). Pro duced and distributed by Eclair-Journal Pictures. Original story by Companeez and Deligne. Dialogues bv Marcel Acbard. Directed by Léonide Moguv. Cast: JeanPierre Aumont, Corinne Luchaire, Berthe Bovy, Aimos. War drama with an interesting idea, and 1 a very convincing atmosphère. Les Otages ( The Hostages). Produced by S. Niebenzahl (Néro Film) and distributed by Gray Film. Directed by Raymond Bernard. Original story by Victor Trivas and Léo Mitler. Dialogues by Jean Anouilh. Cast: Annie Vernay, Jean Paqui, Pierre Larquey, Charpin, Saturnin Fabre, Labry. Another war drama with action in a little village of the Marne’s valley, in september 1914, during the march of German ai mies towards Paris. La Fin du Jour (End of the Day). Produced by Regina Film and distributed by Filmsonor. Directed bv Julien Duvivier. Original story by Julien Duvivier and Charles Saak. Cast : Louis Jouvet, Michel Simon, Victor Francen, Madeleine Ozerav, Gabrielle Dorziat. A very moving drama on life old stageplayers in a retirement charityohuse. Film beautifully produced, directed and acted. Pictures in the Cuttlng Booms or awaiting Previews Nord-Atlantique (North Atlantic). Produced and distributed bv Eclair-Journal. Directed bv Maurice Cloche. Cast: Albert Préjean, Pierre Renoir, René Dary, Marie Déa. Sea drama La Brigade sauvage (The Wild Brigade). Produced by Franco London Film and directed by Marcel L’Herbier. Cast : Charles Vanel, Véra Korène, Prince Ypuka Troubetzkoy, Lisette Lanvin. A drama which starts in Russia before 1914 and which in Paris at présent. Sans Lendemain (No Day Afler). Produced by Gregor Rabinovitsch (Ciné-Alliance) and distributed bv Films Osso. Original story by Hans Wilhem and Jacot. Directed bv Max Ophüls. Cast: Edwige Feuillère, Georges Rigaud, Jean Worms. Drain atic story of an outcast woman who meets the man she loves. Entente cordiale. Produced by Max Glass. Directed bv Marcel L’Herbier. Inspired from André Maurois’ book : Edward VII and his Time. Screen play by Steve Passeur. Dialogues bv Abel Hermant. Cast: Gaby Morlay as Oueen Victoria, Victor Francen as Edward VII, Arlette Marchai Marchai as Oueen Alexandra. Jean Galland as Lord Kitchener, Jean d’Yd as Joe Chamberlain. Jean Toulout as Lord Salisburv, Jean Périer as President of the French Republic Jean Loubet, Jean Worms as French Minister of Foreign Atfairs Théophile Delcassé, Jacques Baumer as Georges Clemenceau, Pizani as French Ambassador