the thirties: the golden age of french cinema patricia l. pecoy, ph.d. mll 235

The Thirties:The Thirties:The Golden Age The Golden Age

of French Cinemaof French Cinema

Patricia L. Pecoy, Ph.D.Patricia L. Pecoy, Ph.D.

MLL 235MLL 235

Between Two CrisesBetween Two Crises

Economic and political crisesEconomic and political crises Crash on Wall Street(1929)Crash on Wall Street(1929)

Industrial production declines and unemploymentIndustrial production declines and unemployment The government is unable to manage the deficitThe government is unable to manage the deficit 1934 – Demonstrations by the extreme right – 15 1934 – Demonstrations by the extreme right – 15

deathsdeaths Fearing the fascism of the extreme right, the Fearing the fascism of the extreme right, the

leftleft 1936 – The Popular Front (an alliance of the 1936 – The Popular Front (an alliance of the

center and the left wing political parties) center and the left wing political parties) comes to powercomes to power

The Popular FrontThe Popular Front

Goal: To say “NO” Goal: To say “NO” to fascismto fascism

Supports the Supports the system of unions system of unions

Reduces the work Reduces the work week to 40 hoursweek to 40 hours

Awards two weeks Awards two weeks of paid vacation to of paid vacation to all employeesall employees

Léon BlumPremier Ministre

The Popular FrontThe Popular Front

The Popular Front is in power for The Popular Front is in power for only two years (1936 – 1938)only two years (1936 – 1938)

This government has always been This government has always been associated with its emphasis on associated with its emphasis on social and political rights for the social and political rights for the least powerful members of societyleast powerful members of society

Leisure Time = VacationLeisure Time = Vacation

A new industry – tourism - developsA new industry – tourism - develops On the big screen, the favorite On the big screen, the favorite

destinations for vacations are often destinations for vacations are often presentedpresented The characters (working class) speak The characters (working class) speak

incessantly about vacationing at the incessantly about vacationing at the seashoreseashore

Une Partie de campagneUne Partie de campagne (Jean Renoir, (Jean Renoir, 1936)1936) A picnic in the countryA picnic in the country

Waiting for WarWaiting for War

France is surrounded by Fascist France is surrounded by Fascist governmentsgovernments Moussolini in ItalyMoussolini in Italy Hitler in GermanyHitler in Germany Franco in SpainFranco in Spain

The Munich Agreements (1938)The Munich Agreements (1938) Recognize the annexation of a part of Recognize the annexation of a part of

Czechoslovakia by HitlerCzechoslovakia by Hitler Provokes a general strike which marks the end Provokes a general strike which marks the end

of the Popular Frontof the Popular Front

19391939 Hitler invades Poland (an ally of France)Hitler invades Poland (an ally of France) War is declared against Germany and War is declared against Germany and

France mobilizes its armyFrance mobilizes its army For 10 months almost nothing happens For 10 months almost nothing happens

as France awaits the arrival of the as France awaits the arrival of the German armyGerman army

In 1940, Germany invades France which In 1940, Germany invades France which falls immediately under the control of falls immediately under the control of the Nazisthe Nazis

The Occupation beginsThe Occupation begins

The Cinema of the Thirties:The Cinema of the Thirties:The Golden Age of French The Golden Age of French

CinemaCinema

The economic crisis of 1929 results The economic crisis of 1929 results in the failure of the great French in the failure of the great French studiosstudios

However, independent producersHowever, independent producers A small group of directors will A small group of directors will

dominate French cinema for nearly dominate French cinema for nearly 20 years20 years

The DirectorsThe Directorsof the Golden Ageof the Golden Age

La vie est à nousLa vie est à nous (1936(1936

Goupi mains Goupi mains rougesrouges (1943) (1943)

Casque d’orCasque d’or (1952) (1952) Touchez pas au Touchez pas au

grisbigrisbi (1954) (1954) Le trouLe trou (1960) (1960)

Jacques Becker


Sous les toits de Sous les toits de ParisParis (1930) (1930)

Le MillionLe Million (1931) (1931) A nous la libertéA nous la liberté

(1931)(1931) Quatorze juilletQuatorze juillet

(1933)(1933)

René Clair


Le Quai des brumesLe Quai des brumes (1938) (1938)

Hôtel du NordHôtel du Nord (1938) (1938) Le Jour se lèveLe Jour se lève (1939) (1939) Les Visiteurs du soirLes Visiteurs du soir

(1942) (1942) Les Enfants du Les Enfants du

paradisparadis (1945) (1945) Thérèse RaquinThérèse Raquin

(1953) (1953) Marcel Carné


La trilogieLa trilogie MariusMarius (1931) (1931) FannyFanny (1932) (1932) CésarCésar (1936) (1936)

Manon des sources Manon des sources (1953)(1953)

Jean de Florette Jean de Florette (1986)(1986)

Marcel Pagnol

DirectorsDirectorsof the Golden Ageof the Golden Age

Madame BovaryMadame Bovary (1933) (1933) Partie de campagnePartie de campagne

(1936)(1936) Le crime de Monsieur Le crime de Monsieur

LangLang (1936) (1936) La vie est à nousLa vie est à nous (1936) (1936) La Grande illusionLa Grande illusion (1937 (1937 La MarseillaiseLa Marseillaise (1938) (1938) La Bête humaineLa Bête humaine (1938) (1938) La règle du jeuLa règle du jeu (1939) (1939)

Jean Renoir

the thirties: the golden age of french cinema patricia l. pecoy, ph.d. mll 235

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