French cinema: 1950s
Coup dur chez les mous (1956)
Jean Loubignac
Totor and Jo are two petty criminals who can hardly believe their good fortune when they succeed in robbing a jewellers' shop in Paris...
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Jean Loubignac
Courte tête (1956)
Norbert Carbonnaux
Amédée Lucas is a naïve young man who scrapes a semi-honest living by selling betting tips to horse racing addicts at the entrance to the Longchamp racecourse in Paris...
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Norbert Carbonnaux
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...
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Claude Chabrol
Le Couturier de ces dames (1956)
Jean Boyer
Modest Parisian tailor Fernand Vignard dreams of managing his own fashion house - for women. His dreams comes true when a former mistress dies and leaves him her maison de haute couture in her will...
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Jean Boyer
Le Crâneur (1955)
Dimitri Kirsanoff
One-time stuntman Philippe finds his goose well and truly cooked when his girlfriend Betty Ball is found dead in a telephone kiosk at the chic Pigalle nightclub where she works as a dancer, Le Toboggan...
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Dimitri Kirsanoff
Crime au concert Mayol (1954)
Pierre Méré
In the course of a performance at the Concert Mayol, a Parisian music hall, a dancer named Mado is poisoned. Fortunately, the young woman is taken to hospital in time to save her life but she goes missing a short time afterwards... [More...]
Pierre Méré
In the course of a performance at the Concert Mayol, a Parisian music hall, a dancer named Mado is poisoned. Fortunately, the young woman is taken to hospital in time to save her life but she goes missing a short time afterwards... [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 Curé de Saint-Amour (1952)
Émile Couzinet
On the day she is supposed to marry the respectable baron she is affianced to, Nicole elopes with the man she really loves, Jacques... [More...]
Émile Couzinet
On the day she is supposed to marry the respectable baron she is affianced to, Nicole elopes with the man she really loves, Jacques... [More...]
Le Défroqué (1954)
Léo Joannon
It is in 1945, whilst being detained in a German prisoner-of-war camp, that Gérard Lacassagne discovers his vocation to become a priest... [More...]
Léo Joannon
It is in 1945, whilst being detained in a German prisoner-of-war camp, that Gérard Lacassagne discovers his vocation to become a priest... [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...]
Les Derniers jours de Pompei (1950)
Marcel L'Herbier
The location is Pompeii, 79 AD, just a few weeks before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius will devastate the entire town, killing most of its population... [More...]
Marcel L'Herbier
The location is Pompeii, 79 AD, just a few weeks before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius will devastate the entire town, killing most of its population... [More...]
Des gens sans importance (1955)
Henri Verneuil
Jean Viard is a long-distance lorry driver who makes a habit of stopping off at a roadside inn run by his friend Barchandeau during his frequent excursions between Paris and Bordeaux... [More...]
Henri Verneuil
Jean Viard is a long-distance lorry driver who makes a habit of stopping off at a roadside inn run by his friend Barchandeau during his frequent excursions between Paris and Bordeaux... [More...]
Le Désordre et la nuit (1958)
Gilles Grangier
Inspecteur Georges Vallois is called in to investigate the murder of Albert Simoni, the owner of a night club in Paris. The prime suspect is Lucky Fridel, a young German woman who came to Paris to start a career as a singer... [More...]
Gilles Grangier
Inspecteur Georges Vallois is called in to investigate the murder of Albert Simoni, the owner of a night club in Paris. The prime suspect is Lucky Fridel, a young German woman who came to Paris to start a career as a singer... [More...]
Destinées (1954)
Christian-Jaque
Throughout history, women have had to play their part in war, and in doing so have had to forge their own destinies. After WWII, an American war widow, Elisabeth Whitefield, undertakes a painful journey to a servicemen's cemetery in Italy to reclaim her husband Tony's body and arrange its repatriation... [More...]
Christian-Jaque
Throughout history, women have had to play their part in war, and in doing so have had to forge their own destinies. After WWII, an American war widow, Elisabeth Whitefield, undertakes a painful journey to a servicemen's cemetery in Italy to reclaim her husband Tony's body and arrange its repatriation... [More...]
Deux hommes dans Manhattan (1959)
Jean-Pierre Melville
When Fèvre-Berthier, an important French diplomat, goes missing in New York, a French journalist, Moreau, is sent to investigate what became of him... [More...]
Jean-Pierre Melville
When Fèvre-Berthier, an important French diplomat, goes missing in New York, a French journalist, Moreau, is sent to investigate what became of him... [More...]
Les Deux verités (1951)
Antonio Leonviola
In Milan, a young Italian man, Loris, is on trial for the murder of his girlfriend, Marie-Louise. The prosecution portrays him as an outright scoundrel who forced the young woman, a homeless orphan, to live with him in a boarding house against her will and then drove her to her death when she tried to escape from him... [More...]
Antonio Leonviola
In Milan, a young Italian man, Loris, is on trial for the murder of his girlfriend, Marie-Louise. The prosecution portrays him as an outright scoundrel who forced the young woman, a homeless orphan, to live with him in a boarding house against her will and then drove her to her death when she tried to escape from him... [More...]
Les Diaboliques (1955)
Henri-Georges Clouzot
Michel Delasalle and his wife Christina run a private boarding school in Saint-Cloud, on the outskirts of Paris. Delasalle is a tyrant not only to the youngsters under his care but also to his wife and his mistress Nicole, who works at the school as a teacher... [More...]
Henri-Georges Clouzot
Michel Delasalle and his wife Christina run a private boarding school in Saint-Cloud, on the outskirts of Paris. Delasalle is a tyrant not only to the youngsters under his care but also to his wife and his mistress Nicole, who works at the school as a teacher... [More...]
Dieu a besoin des hommes (1950)
Jean Delannoy
In the 1850s, life is so hard on the remote Breton island of Sein that its inhabitants have to resort to wrecking passing boats and stealing their cargo to survive... [More...]
Jean Delannoy
In the 1850s, life is so hard on the remote Breton island of Sein that its inhabitants have to resort to wrecking passing boats and stealing their cargo to survive... [More...]
Le Dindon (1951)
Claude Barma
Paris, in the 1890s. Monsieur Pontagnac, an inveterate womaniser, is making overtures to Lucienne when her husband Vatelin appears unexpectedly... [More...]
Claude Barma
Paris, in the 1890s. Monsieur Pontagnac, an inveterate womaniser, is making overtures to Lucienne when her husband Vatelin appears unexpectedly... [More...]
Don Juan (1956)
John Berry
Don Juan Tenorio has grown weary of his reputation as an inveterate womaniser. He has had enough of facile female conquests... [More...]
John Berry
Don Juan Tenorio has grown weary of his reputation as an inveterate womaniser. He has had enough of facile female conquests... [More...]
Dortoir des grandes (1953)
Henri Decoin
Inspecteur Marco is called in to investigate the murder of a young student in a respectable private girls' school. The victim was found tied up and strangled in her bed, but the other girls in the same dormitory claim to have seen nor heard anything during the night of the murder... [More...]
Henri Decoin
Inspecteur Marco is called in to investigate the murder of a young student in a respectable private girls' school. The victim was found tied up and strangled in her bed, but the other girls in the same dormitory claim to have seen nor heard anything during the night of the murder... [More...]
Le Dos au mur (1958)
Edouard Molinaro
Jacques Decrey has an unpleasant errand to perform one dark evening. Under cover of darkness, he carries the body of a dead man out of his house and dumps it in his car... [More...]
Edouard Molinaro
Jacques Decrey has an unpleasant errand to perform one dark evening. Under cover of darkness, he carries the body of a dead man out of his house and dumps it in his car... [More...]
Les Dragueurs (1959)
Jean-Pierre Mocky
One Saturday night, two young men named Freddy and Joseph meet by chance on the banks of the River Seine. Both have the same objective in mind: chasing women... [More...]
Jean-Pierre Mocky
One Saturday night, two young men named Freddy and Joseph meet by chance on the banks of the River Seine. Both have the same objective in mind: chasing women... [More...]
Drôle de noce (1952)
Léo Joannon
Monsieur Barbezat, a well-liked Parisian concierge, gladly gives his consent when the good natured butcher Joseph Bonhomme asks for his daughter's hand in marriage... [More...]
Léo Joannon
Monsieur Barbezat, a well-liked Parisian concierge, gladly gives his consent when the good natured butcher Joseph Bonhomme asks for his daughter's hand in marriage... [More...]
Du rififi chez les hommes (1955)
Jules Dassin
Not long after his release from prison, ageing crook Tony Le Stéphanois meets up with his former criminal associates, Jo and Mario... [More...]
Jules Dassin
Not long after his release from prison, ageing crook Tony Le Stéphanois meets up with his former criminal associates, Jo and Mario... [More...]
Les Duraton (1956)
André Berthomieu
La Famille Duraton is one of the most popular radio programmes in France, but this isn't something that anyone with the name Duraton is ever likely to be grateful for... [More...]
André Berthomieu
La Famille Duraton is one of the most popular radio programmes in France, but this isn't something that anyone with the name Duraton is ever likely to be grateful for... [More...]
Échec au porteur (1958)
Gilles Grangier
Bastien Sassey has grown weary of his criminal life and intends making a fresh start with his girlfriend Jacqueline. For the past few years, he has found himself a steady income by working as a courier for a gang of drugs traffickers, but now all he wants is to lead an honest life with the girl he loves... [More...]
Gilles Grangier
Bastien Sassey has grown weary of his criminal life and intends making a fresh start with his girlfriend Jacqueline. For the past few years, he has found himself a steady income by working as a courier for a gang of drugs traffickers, but now all he wants is to lead an honest life with the girl he loves... [More...]
Édouard et Caroline (1951)
Jacques Becker
Édouard and Caroline are a young couple who believe they have found lasting happiness, even though they come from very different milieus... [More...]
Jacques Becker
Édouard and Caroline are a young couple who believe they have found lasting happiness, even though they come from very different milieus... [More...]