A history of French cinema (1940-1949)
of Philippe Pallin & Denis Zorgniotti Preface by Thierry Frémaux
Publisher : Editions Lett Motif (April 2021)
Language : French
Number of pages : 400 pages
A history of French cinema is a collection of books that provides an overview of French film production over its different decades. Classified by year, these complete works highlight important films, major filmmakers, popular actors of their time, as well as thematic files. Through its analyses, and the perspective of works and artists in a historical, societal and technical context, this book aims to be the relevant – and sometimes impertinent – story! – of our beautiful history of cinema.
Volume 2: 1940-1949
With the 1940s, French cinema was put to the test by the great events of history. And yet, relentlessly, the seventh art will fight, reinvent itself and exist more beautifully, sometimes in an astonishing way: from fantastic masterpieces under the Occupation ( Les Visiteurs du soir, La Main du diable ) to the fabrication of a common legend at the Liberation ( La Bataille du rail, Le Père calme ) until the post-war period between pessimism ( Panic by Julien Duvivier) and rediscovered joy ( Rendez-vous de Juillet by Jacques Becker), France will produce a rich, contrasting, original work. The 1940s saw new masters of cinema sign great films, Le Clouzot du Raven , the Cocteau of Beauty and the Beast , Jean-Pierre Melville, already, with The Silence of the Sea . The 1940s saw the birth of new stars who would soon become icons: Simone Signoret, Gérard Philipe, Jean Marais. The 1940s are also Les Enfants du paradis , perhaps the greatest film in French cinema.
A period between shadow and light, to use the famous image of the Corbeau , one of the most exciting decades in our history of cinema.
Inspector of National Education, Philippe Pallin has directed his activities as a teacher and trainer towards the history and techniques of cinema.
Radio producer and author for television, Denis Zorgniotti is also a journalist and critic, music and cinema.