Les Merveilles du Cinéma
This is a List of the films referenced in the book Les Merveilles du Cinéma (The Wonders of Cinema) by French journalist Georges Sadoul, published in 1957. I have added a brief comment according to the book, which I hope, will be helpful for those interested in filmmaking.
Sadoul was a member of the surrealist group and later became a communist. He died in 1967. The Prix Georges Sadoul is named after him.
Please, feel free to comment and discuss.
Missing from IMDB:
Dong Cunrui (China, 1955)
Si Pincang (Indonesia, 1952)
Sadoul was a member of the surrealist group and later became a communist. He died in 1967. The Prix Georges Sadoul is named after him.
Please, feel free to comment and discuss.
Missing from IMDB:
Dong Cunrui (China, 1955)
Si Pincang (Indonesia, 1952)
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- DirectorLuis BuñuelStarsGérard PhilipeMaría FélixJean ServaisAroused citizens assassinate an unpopular Caribbean despot, then two men vie for his gorgeous widow Ines. Ojeda is a steamy, isolated island, the penal colony for an oppressive dictatorship. A reactionary seizes the murdered governor's post, and rushes to eliminate his romantic rival, an idealistic underling. The bureaucrat Vazquez hopes to marshal the angry residents of the capitol, El Pao, plus the many political prisoners, to oust Governor Gual.Last film made by actor Gérard Philipe, to whom the book is dedicated. Directed by his friend and fellow surrealist Luis Buñuel.
- DirectorGérard PhilipeJoris IvensStarsGérard PhilipeJean VilarFernand LedouxTyll Ulenspiegel's adventures fighting the Spanish lead by the duke of Alba.The book is largely based around the making of this film. Thus is used to explain basic notions of lightening, set design, shooting, cutting, edition, costume design, make up, etc.
- DirectorRex IngramStarsRudolph ValentinoAlice TerryPomeroy CannonAn extended family split up in France and Germany find themselves on opposing sides of the battlefield during World War I.As a reference to director Rex Ingram, founder of Victorine Studios.
- DirectorJean RenoirStarsMarcel DalioNora GregorPaulette DubostA bourgeois life in France at the onset of World War II, as the rich and their poor servants meet up at a French chateau.One of the films whose production he witnessed.
- DirectorRené ClairStarsMaurice ChevalierFrançois PérierMarcelle Derrien1910. A friend leaves his daughter, Madeleine, with Emile a French film producer. Emile falls in love with her. Problems starts when his young friend Jacques returns from military service complaining his misfortune with women. Once he follows Emile's advice to have an affair, he meets Lucette and falls in love with her instead.One of the films whose production he witnessed.
- DirectorVsevolod PudovkinDmitriy VasilevStarsYuri YurovskyIlya SudakovVladimir BelokurovBiopic on Nikolay Zhukovsky, a scientist, mathematician and engineer who is considered the father of Russian aviation.One of the films whose production he witnessed.
- DirectorRobert BressonStarsFrançois LeterrierCharles Le ClaincheMaurice BeerblockA captured French Resistance fighter during World War II engineers a daunting escape from a German prison in France.One of the films whose production he witnessed.
- DirectorGeorges MélièsStarsGeorges MélièsDramatized re-enactments of the events of the Dreyfus-affair from 1894 to 1899.Example of early films, whose production values were more similar to those of theatre.
- DirectorJean VigoStarsDita ParloJean DastéGilles MargaritisNewly married couple Juliette and a ship captain Jean struggle through marriage as they travel on the L'atalante along with the captain's first mate Le père Jules and a cabin boy.It points a continuity error due to Jean Vigo's lack of economic resources. He (apparently) could not afford a script supervisor (or "script girl") and he wasn't able to re-shoot the scene.
- DirectorLouis LumièreStarsFrançois ClercBenoît DuvalAn impudent child plays a prank on a gardener innocently watering his plants.Noted as one of the first narrative films, it points the importance of props (the hose) and sets (the garden).
- DirectorGiovanni PastroneStarsItalia Almirante-ManziniLidia QuarantaBartolomeo PaganoCabiria is a Roman child when her home is destroyed by a volcano. Sold in Carthage to be sacrificed in a temple, she is saved by Fulvio, a Roman spy. But danger lurks, and hatred between Rome and Carthage can only lead to war.Early use of tridimensional (not painting) sets. To enhance the feeling of depth, Pastrone introduced the travelling shot.
- DirectorFederico FelliniStarsAnthony QuinnGiulietta MasinaRichard BasehartA care-free girl is sold to a traveling entertainer, consequently enduring physical and emotional pain along the way.In the spirit of realism; actress Giuletta Massina and her husband, director Federico Fellini acquired used clothes at the flea market in Porta Portese.
- DirectorGiuseppe De SantisStarsVittorio GassmanDoris DowlingSilvana ManganoTwo criminals on the run end up working in a rice field and decide to recruit other workers for their next robbery.Reference to symbolism in the dress worn by Silvana Mangano.
- DirectorJean RenoirStarsJean GabinDita ParloPierre FresnayDuring WWI, two French soldiers are captured and imprisoned in a German P.O.W. camp. Several escape attempts follow until they are eventually sent to a seemingly inescapable fortress.Film shoted by cinematographer Christian Matras. He also shot "Les aventures de Till".
- DirectorChristian-JaqueStarsGérard PhilipeGina LollobrigidaMarcel HerrandSwashbuckling adventures of young army recruit Fanfan la Tulipe during the reign of King Louis XV in 18th Century France.Same as above.
- DirectorJean DelannoyStarsGina LollobrigidaAnthony QuinnJean DanetThe timeless tale of the seductive gypsy Esmeralda and the tortured hunchback Quasimodo.Jean Delannoy recreated the famous cathedral's porch in the studio to avoid lightening difficulties (this is obvious nowadays).
Book Ilustration: A production shot showing the visual effect of a 6m cathedral behind some 4m houses giving the impression of a real 70m cathedral. - DirectorAlfred HitchcockStarsCary GrantIngrid BergmanClaude RainsThe daughter of a convicted German spy is asked by American agents to gather information on a ring of German scientists in South America. How far will she have to go to ingratiate herself with them?Description of a complex crane shot. Panning the camera in a long shot, then descending to an extreme close up.
- DirectorRené ClairStarsAlbert PréjeanPola IlléryEdmond T. GrévilleAlbert is smitten for Pola but ends up wrongly committed in jail, in the meantime her affections are sought after by his friend, and on his release both love and friendship must be tested.Example of sound production. In the film's first scene, the camera slowly approaches a group of street singers. As we get near them, the sound gradually increases.
- DirectorChristian-JaqueStarsRenée FaureLucien CoëdelLouis SalouFabrice del Dongo, a young archbishop, gives his all to romance rather than to the Church, creating complications for everyone around. The Countess of San Severina, is but one of the women who love him a la folie, spurring jealous retribution in high places from those who in turn want her. From his prison window, Fabrice falls in love with the jailer's daughter who takes a vow to the Virgin Mary to never see him again if his escape succeeds.An instance of star value. According to Sadoul, people often referred to this film as a "Gérard Philipe movie" rather than a "Christian-Jaque movie" or a "Stendhal film"
- DirectorNorman Z. McLeodStarsDanny KayeVirginia MayoBoris KarloffA clumsy daydreamer gets caught up in a sinister conspiracy.A comparisson betwen the audience and Danny Kaye's character, who likes to imagine he is a Hollywood hero.
- DirectorFrank CapraStarsClark GableClaudette ColbertWalter ConnollyA rogue reporter trailing a runaway heiress for a big story joins her on a bus heading from Florida to New York and they end up stuck with each other when the bus leaves them behind at one of the stops along the way.Another instance of star value. This time is the famous urban legend about the sales of undershirts declining, because of Clark Gable not wearing any.
- DirectorAndré CalmettesLouis MercantonHenri PouctalStarsSarah BernhardtLou TellegenPaul CapellaniMarguerite is a courtesan in Paris. She falls deeply in love with a young man of promise, Armand Duval. When Armand's father begs her not to ruin his hope of a career and position by marrying Armand, she acquiesces and leaves her lover. However, when poverty and terminal illness overwhelm her, Marguerite discovers that Armand has not lost his love for her.Actress Sarah Bernhardt, was a stage performer. When she repeated the same gestures and acting style in film, she looked (in Sadoul words) ridiculous.
- DirectorHenri-Georges ClouzotStarsYves MontandCharles VanelPeter van EyckIn a decrepit South American village, four men are hired to transport an urgent nitroglycerine shipment without the equipment that would make it safe.Actor Yves Montand, before being a screen actor was a jazz singer. He was successful in getting rid of the singer persona and acquiring on-screen presence.
- DirectorYves AllégretStarsDanièle DelormeHenri VidalJean Debucourt1922:Irish Revolution.Catherine, a servant in a convent ,goes to Dublin to meet up with her young brother in danger.Book illustration. A comparison between a sketch and the finished set.
- DirectorWilliam DieterleStarsPaul MuniGale SondergaardJoseph SchildkrautThe biopic of the famous French muckraking writer and his involvement in fighting the injustice of the Dreyfus Affair.Outstanding use of makeup (grimage) on actor Paul Muni.