French cinema: 1950s
125 rue Montmartre (1959)
Gilles Grangier
Pascal makes a modest living selling newspapers on the streets of Paris. He may have a surly temperament but he is a good natured soul at heart, always ready to help a fellow creature if he can...
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Gilles Grangier
Agnès de rien (1950)
Pierre Billon
At the insistence of her husband Francis, Agnès de Chaligny is forced to take up residence in his ancestral family home in the country whilst he, a struggling artist in Paris, sorts out his finances...
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Pierre Billon
L'Air de Paris (1954)
Marcel Carné
Victor Le Garrec was once a professional boxer but his dreams of sporting glory have come to nothing. Now in his mid-fifties, he contents himself with a lesser ambition - coaching young amateurs in the hope of one day finding a true boxing champion...
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Marcel Carné
L'Amant de lady Chatterley (1955)
Marc Allégret
Lady Constance Chatterley is under pressure from both her sister Hilda and her husband, Sir Clifford, to find herself a lover so that she can get herself pregnant and provide an heir to the Chatterley estate...
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Marc Allégret
Les Amants (1958)
Louis Malle
Jeanne relieves the boredom of her stale marriage to newspaper magnate Henri Tournier by frequent visits to Paris, where she divides her time between her best friend Maggie and her covert lover Raoul...
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Louis Malle
Les Amours finissent à l'aube (1953)
Henri Calef
Didier Guéret is in charge of marketing for a large automobile company based in Paris. He takes advantage of his frequent business trips to other cities across Europe to pursue short-lived amorous liaisons with various women he comes into contact with... [More...]
Henri Calef
Didier Guéret is in charge of marketing for a large automobile company based in Paris. He takes advantage of his frequent business trips to other cities across Europe to pursue short-lived amorous liaisons with various women he comes into contact with... [More...]
Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)
Louis Malle
Julien Tavernier and Florence Carala are passionately in love with one another, but there is an obstacle to their future happiness: Florence's husband Simon, a wealthy industrialist... [More...]
Louis Malle
Julien Tavernier and Florence Carala are passionately in love with one another, but there is an obstacle to their future happiness: Florence's husband Simon, a wealthy industrialist... [More...]
Les Assassins du dimanche (1956)
Alex Joffé
Robert Simonet is a provincial garage owner whose ambition is to be as successful as his former boss. He is also a formidable amateur cyclist and is the favourite to win the cycling race to take place in his town... [More...]
Alex Joffé
Robert Simonet is a provincial garage owner whose ambition is to be as successful as his former boss. He is also a formidable amateur cyclist and is the favourite to win the cycling race to take place in his town... [More...]
L'Auberge rouge (1951)
Claude Autant-Lara
In the Ardèche region of France in 1883, Marie Martin and her husband manage a remote rural inn. The hostelry is unfortunately situated and the Martins have difficulty attracting customers, so they decide to make their living by less honest means, by murdering their guests and robbing them of their valuables... [More...]
Claude Autant-Lara
In the Ardèche region of France in 1883, Marie Martin and her husband manage a remote rural inn. The hostelry is unfortunately situated and the Martins have difficulty attracting customers, so they decide to make their living by less honest means, by murdering their guests and robbing them of their valuables... [More...]
Le Ballon rouge (1956)
Albert Lamorisse
One day, a solitary little boy named Pascal comes across a spherical red balloon tied to a lamppost. Without hesitating, the boy releases the balloon and it begins following him as he continues wandering around the streets of Paris... [More...]
Albert Lamorisse
One day, a solitary little boy named Pascal comes across a spherical red balloon tied to a lamppost. Without hesitating, the boy releases the balloon and it begins following him as he continues wandering around the streets of Paris... [More...]
Le Beau Serge (1958)
Claude Chabrol
Stricken with tuberculosis, a young student named François returns to his home town of Sardent in the Creuse region of central France for a period of quiet convalescence... [More...]
Claude Chabrol
Stricken with tuberculosis, a young student named François returns to his home town of Sardent in the Creuse region of central France for a period of quiet convalescence... [More...]
La Beauté du diable (1950)
René Clair
An elderly alchemist, Henri Faust, retires from his post as a university professor, disappointed that even after fifty years of study he has still not unravelled the secrets of nature... [More...]
René Clair
An elderly alchemist, Henri Faust, retires from his post as a university professor, disappointed that even after fifty years of study he has still not unravelled the secrets of nature... [More...]
La Bête à l'affût (1959)
Pierre Chenal
At the home of Elisabeth Vermont, a wealthy young widow, an auction is held to benefit the orphans of the local police department... [More...]
Pierre Chenal
At the home of Elisabeth Vermont, a wealthy young widow, an auction is held to benefit the orphans of the local police department... [More...]
Le Blé en herbe (1954)
Claude Autant-Lara
Some time in the 1920s, the Ferrets and their two daughters, Vinca and Lisette, spend their summer holiday on the coast of Brittany... [More...]
Claude Autant-Lara
Some time in the 1920s, the Ferrets and their two daughters, Vinca and Lisette, spend their summer holiday on the coast of Brittany... [More...]
Bob le flambeur (1956)
Jean-Pierre Melville
Once a renowned criminal, Bob Montagne now appears to be a reformed character, content to fritter away his time and his money in the casinos and gambling rooms of the shadier districts of Paris... [More...]
Jean-Pierre Melville
Once a renowned criminal, Bob Montagne now appears to be a reformed character, content to fritter away his time and his money in the casinos and gambling rooms of the shadier districts of Paris... [More...]
Le Boulanger de Valorgue (1953)
Henri Verneuil
Valorgue, a quaint little town in the south of France, used to be such an idyllic spot. Now it is caught up in the most frenzied of civil wars, with half of the town siding with the good-natured baker, Félicien Hébrard, and the other half with the grocer, the cantankerous old widow Zanetti... [More...]
Henri Verneuil
Valorgue, a quaint little town in the south of France, used to be such an idyllic spot. Now it is caught up in the most frenzied of civil wars, with half of the town siding with the good-natured baker, Félicien Hébrard, and the other half with the grocer, the cantankerous old widow Zanetti... [More...]
Le Carrosse d'or (1953)
Jean Renoir
In the 18th Century, a travelling band of actors arrive in a Spanish colony in South America. When they are invited to perform before the royal court, the Viceroy, Ferdinand, instantly falls in love with the leading performer, Camilla... [More...]
Jean Renoir
In the 18th Century, a travelling band of actors arrive in a Spanish colony in South America. When they are invited to perform before the royal court, the Viceroy, Ferdinand, instantly falls in love with the leading performer, Camilla... [More...]
Casque d'or (1952)
Jacques Becker
The setting is the Belleville district of Paris circa 1900. At a riverside guinguette, carpenter Georges Manda meets an attractive young woman named Marie and immediately falls under her spell... [More...]
Jacques Becker
The setting is the Belleville district of Paris circa 1900. At a riverside guinguette, carpenter Georges Manda meets an attractive young woman named Marie and immediately falls under her spell... [More...]
Cela s'appelle l'aurore (1956)
Luis Buñuel
Despite his bourgeois origins, Dr Valerio devotes himself to treating the poor on an island in the Mediterranean. His wife Angela leaves him to spend time with her family in Nice, having failed to persuade him to pursue a more lucrative career serving the idle rich in the south of France... [More...]
Luis Buñuel
Despite his bourgeois origins, Dr Valerio devotes himself to treating the poor on an island in the Mediterranean. His wife Angela leaves him to spend time with her family in Nice, having failed to persuade him to pursue a more lucrative career serving the idle rich in the south of France... [More...]
Celui qui doit mourir (1957)
Jules Dassin
In the 1920s, with Greece is under Turkish occupation, the inhabitants of a small town are making preparations for the annual Passion play... [More...]
Jules Dassin
In the 1920s, with Greece is under Turkish occupation, the inhabitants of a small town are making preparations for the annual Passion play... [More...]
Cette nuit là... (1958)
Maurice Cazeneuve
Jean Maillet and his dazzlingly photogenic wife Sylvie both work for a publishing house owned by Monsieur Reverdy, a ruthless businessman who is used to getting what he wants... [More...]
Maurice Cazeneuve
Jean Maillet and his dazzlingly photogenic wife Sylvie both work for a publishing house owned by Monsieur Reverdy, a ruthless businessman who is used to getting what he wants... [More...]
Le Château de verre (1950)
René Clément
Evelyne Bertal could not be happier, living the kind of life most people would envy in Berne with her devoted husband Laurent, a lawyer... [More...]
René Clément
Evelyne Bertal could not be happier, living the kind of life most people would envy in Berne with her devoted husband Laurent, a lawyer... [More...]
La Chatte (1958)
Henri Decoin
Paris during the Nazi Occupation. A patrol of German soldiers raid a house from which illicit radio transmissions are being sent... [More...]
Henri Decoin
Paris during the Nazi Occupation. A patrol of German soldiers raid a house from which illicit radio transmissions are being sent... [More...]
Chéri (1950)
Pierre Billon
Paris, at the time of the Belle Époque... Known to his female admirers as Chéri, Fred Peloux is the son of the high-class courtesan Charlotte Peloux and spends most of his time in the company of his mother's friends, all fading prostitutes... [More...]
Pierre Billon
Paris, at the time of the Belle Époque... Known to his female admirers as Chéri, Fred Peloux is the son of the high-class courtesan Charlotte Peloux and spends most of his time in the company of his mother's friends, all fading prostitutes... [More...]
Comme un cheveu sur la soupe (1957)
Maurice Régamey
Rejected by his beloved Wanda, depressed at his failure to find success as a songwriter, Pierre Cousin decides to commit suicide... [More...]
Maurice Régamey
Rejected by his beloved Wanda, depressed at his failure to find success as a songwriter, Pierre Cousin decides to commit suicide... [More...]
Les Cousins (1959)
Claude Chabrol
Against the wishes of his adoring mother, Charles leaves his home in the provinces so that he can study law in Paris. Accommodation is provided by his cousin Paul Thomas, who presently occupies a spacious luxury apartment in Neuilly-sur-Seine belonging to a wealthy relative... [More...]
Claude Chabrol
Against the wishes of his adoring mother, Charles leaves his home in the provinces so that he can study law in Paris. Accommodation is provided by his cousin Paul Thomas, who presently occupies a spacious luxury apartment in Neuilly-sur-Seine belonging to a wealthy relative... [More...]
Crime et châtiment (1956)
Georges Lampin
Paris in the 1950s. Since he had to abandon his studies because of lack of funds René Brunel has become bitter and cynical over how society appears to be organised for the benefit of a wealthy minority... [More...]
Georges Lampin
Paris in the 1950s. Since he had to abandon his studies because of lack of funds René Brunel has become bitter and cynical over how society appears to be organised for the benefit of a wealthy minority... [More...]
Crin blanc: Le cheval sauvage (1953)
Albert Lamorisse
Across the vast expanse of wetland in the Camargue region of south-eastern France, a herd of wild horses roam, led by their indomitable leader White Mane... [More...]
Albert Lamorisse
Across the vast expanse of wetland in the Camargue region of south-eastern France, a herd of wild horses roam, led by their indomitable leader White Mane... [More...]
Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe (1959)
Jean Renoir
Étienne Alexis, the man most likely to be elected President of the United States of Europe, is a famous biologist who believes that society will be vastly improved if the human species is propagated by artificial insemination... [More...]
Jean Renoir
Étienne Alexis, the man most likely to be elected President of the United States of Europe, is a famous biologist who believes that society will be vastly improved if the human species is propagated by artificial insemination... [More...]
Les Dents longues (1952)
Daniel Gélin
As he embarks on his journalistic career with a provincial newspaper, Louis Commandeur has high hopes of success, but his illusions are soon dispelled when his editor takes all of the credit for a scoop of his... [More...]
Daniel Gélin
As he embarks on his journalistic career with a provincial newspaper, Louis Commandeur has high hopes of success, but his illusions are soon dispelled when his editor takes all of the credit for a scoop of his... [More...]