VIVE LA FRANCE!

 

Yesterday I stumbled onto a wonderful 40’s film I’d never seen before, director Henri-Georges Clouzot’s 1947 noir “Quai des Orfevres”. Came across it on the online Kanopy site.

I think I’d encountered it as a title before but had blended it in my head with “ Le Quai des Brumes”, a famous Jean Gabin film that had disappointed me. But no, “Quai des Orfevres” is a completely different animal. I’ve seen some other Clouzot movies  and consider one of them, “Manon” (from 1949) to be a flat-out masterpiece. After yesterday’s viewing I have zero hesitation applying that term to “Quai d’Orfevres” as well.

Clouzot does a mind-blowing job of world building with the picture. Creating a milieu and atmosphere so rich, so absorbing that you feel utterly immersed in everything that’s going on. And there’s a lot. First of all, it’s got a massive cast of characters, yet Clouzot – having chosen just the right actors across the board – gives each of them a chance to shine as beautifully realized individuals. Dialogue is smart – but always sounds authentic. And the crime plot is ingeniously crafted and sustained. 

Getting such massive enjoyment from this film reminded me of how many other French language films I’ve enjoyed over the years. And in a spirit of gratitude and with an urge to share, here’s a chronological list of French language sound films that I’ve thoroughly  enjoyed. There are 97 of them and they date from 1931 to 2025. Looking forward to getting to that 100 mark ... and beyond.

Here’s the list:

A NOUS LA LIBERTE(1931-Rene Clair) Raymond Cordy, Henri Marchand

DAVID GOLDER(1931-Julien Duvivier) Harry Baur, Paule Andral

MAUVAISE GRAINE(1934-Billy Wilder, Alexander Esway) Danielle Darrieux

TONI(1935-Jean Renoir) Charles Blavette, Celia Montalvan, Andrex

LA GRANDE ILLUSION(1937-Jean Renoir) Jean Gabin, Erich von Stroheim

LA MARSEILLAISE(1938-Jean Renoir) Pierre Renoir, Andrex

REMORQUES(1941-Jean Gremillon) Jean Gabin, Michele Morgan

LE MARIAGE DE CHIFFON(1942-Claude Autant-Lara) Odette Joyeux, Andre Luguet

LETTRES D’AMOUR(1942-Claude Autant-Lara) Odette Joyeux, Francois Perier

DOUCE(1943-Claude Autant-Lara) Odette Joyeux, Madeleine Robinson

LE BARON FANTOME(1943-Serge de Poligny) Alain Cuny, Odette Joyeux

LE CAPITAINE FRACASSE(1943-Abel Gance) Fernand Gravey

L’ETERNEL RETOUR(1943-Jean Delannoy) Jean Marais, Madeleine Sologne

LUMIERE D’ÉTÉ(1943-Jean Gremillon) Madeline Robinson, Georges Marchal

LA CAGE AUX ROSSIGNOLS(1945-Jean Dreville) Noel-Noel

LES ENFANTS DU PARADIS(1945-Marcel Carne) Jean-Louis Barrault, Arletty

SORTILEGES(1945-Christian-Jaque) Madeleine Robinson, Fernand Ledoux

LA BELLE ET LA BETE(1946-Jean Cocteau) Jean Marais, Josette Day

ETOILE SANS LUMIERE(1946-Marcel Blistene) Edith Piaf, Serge Reggiani

MARTIN ROUMAGNAC(1946-Georges Lacombe) Jean Gabin, Marlene Dietrich

PANIQUE(1946-Julien Duvivier) Michel Simon, Viviane Romance

LES MAUDITS(1947-Rene Clement) Henri Vidal, Michel Auclair

QUAI DES ORFEVRES(1947-Henri-Georges Clouzot) Suzy Delair, Louis Jouvet

LES PARENTS TERRIBLES(1948-Jean Cocteau) Jean Marais, Josette Day

HANS LE MARIN(1949-Francois Villiers) Maria Montez, Jean-Pierre Aumont

LE SILENCE DE LA MER(1949-Jean-Pierre Melville) Howard Vernon, Nicole Stephane

MANON(1949-Henri-Georges Clouzot) Cecile Aubry, Michel Auclair

PORTRAIT D’UN ASSASSIN(1949-Bernard-Roland) Maria Montez, Erich von Stroheim

RETOUR A LA VIE(1949-A, Cayatte, G. Lampin, Henri-Georges Clouzot, J. Dreville) Noel-Noel, Louis Jouvet  Serge Reggiani

LA RONDE(1950-Max Ophuls) Simone Signoret, Simone Simon

LES DERNIERS JOURS DE POMPEII(1950-Marcel L’Herbier, Paolo Moffa) Georges Marchal

ORPHEE(1950-Jean Cocteau) Jean Marais, Maria Casares

JEUX INTERDITS(1952-Rene Clement) Georges Poujoujy, Brigitte Fossey

LE PLAISIR(1952-Max Ophuls) Jean Gabin, Danielle Darrieux

MADAME DE … (1953-Max Ophuls) Charles Boyer, Danielle Darrieux

QUAND TU LIRAS CETTE LETTRE(1953-Jean-Pierre Melville) Juliette Greco

TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI(1954-Jacques Becker) Jean Gabin, Jeanne Moreau

LES GRANDES MANŒUVRES(1955-Rene Clair) Michele Morgan, Gerard Philipe

ET DIEU CREA LA FEMME(1956-Roger Vadim) Brigitte Bardot, Curt Jurgens

GERVAISE(1956-Rene Clement) Maria Schell, Francois Perier

LE ROUGE EST MIS(1957-Gilles Grangier) Jean Gabin

LES SORCIERES DE SALEM(1957-Raymond Rouleau) Yves Montand, Simone Signoret

UNE MANCHE ET LA BELLE(1957-Henri Verneuil) Henri Vidal, Mylene Demongeot

ASCENSEUR POUR L’ECHAFAUD(1958-Louis Malle) Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet

LES AMANTS(1958-Louis Malle) Jeanne Moreau, Jean-Marc Bory

LE DOS AU MUR(1958-Edouard Moilnaro) Jeanne Moreau, Gerard Oury

DEUX HOMMES DANS MANHATTAN(1959-Jean-Pierre Melville) Pierre Grasset

LA LOI(1959-Jules Dassin) Gina Lollobrigida, Marcello Mastroianni

LES 400 COUPS(1959-Francois Truffaut) Jean-Pierre Leaud

UN TEMOIN DAS LA VILLE(1959-Edouard Molinaro) Lino Ventura, Franco Fabrizi

A BOUT DE SOUFFLE(1960-Francois Truffaut) Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg

LES YEUX SANS VISAGE(1960-Georges Franju) Pierre Brasseur, Edith Scob

PLEIN SOLEIL(1960-Rene Clement) Alain Delon, Marie Laforet

LEON MORIN, PRETRE(1961-Jean-Pierre Melville) Jean-Paul Belmondo, Emmanuelle Riva

LA BAIE DES ANGES(1963-Jacques Demy) Jeanne Moreau, Claude Mann

LE MEPRIS(1963-Jean-Luc Godard) Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli

LES PARAPLUIES DE CHERBOURG(1964-Jacques Demy) Catherine Deneuve

L’INSOUMIS(1964-Alain Cavalier) Alain Delon

YOYO(1965-Pierre Etaix) Pierre Etaix, Claudine Auger

MADEMOISELLE(1966-Tony Richardson) Jeanne Moreau, Ettore Manni

UN HOMME ET UNE FEMME(1966-Claude Lelouch) Anouk Aimee, Jean-Louis Trintignant

LES DEMOISELLES DE ROCHEFORT(1967-Jacques Demy) Catherine Deneuve

PLAYTIME(1967-Jacques Tati) Jacques Tati

LE CERCLE ROUGE(1970-Jean-Pierre Melville) Alain Delon, Yves Montand

LA NUIT AMERICAINE(1974-Francois Truffaut) Jacqueline Bisset, Jean-Pierre Aumont

L’HISTOIRE D’ADELE H(1975-Francois Truffaut) Isabelle Adjani, Bruce Robinson

LA VIE DEVANT SOI(1977-Moshe Mizrahi) Simone Signoret

L’ADOLESCENTE(1979-Jeanne Moreau) Laetitia Chauveau, Simone Signoret

LE DERNIER COMBAT(1983-Luc Besson) Pierre Jolivet

UN DIMANCHE A LA CAMPAGNE(1984-Bernard Tavernier) Louis Ducreux

RIDICULE(1996-Patrice Leconte) Charles Berling, Fanny Ardant

LA FILLE SUR LE PONT(1999-Patrice Leconte) Daniel Auteil, Vanessa Paradis

LE FABULEUX DESTIN D’AMELIE POULIN(2001-Jean-Pierre Jeunet) Audrey Tautou

LE PACTE DES LOUPS(2001-Christophe Gans) Samuel Le Bihan, Mark Dacascos

UN LONG DIMANCHE DE FIANCEILLES(2004-Jean-Pierre Jeunet) Audrey Tautou

LA MOME(2007-Olivier Dahan) Marion Cotillard

IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T’AIME (2008-Philippe Claudel) Kristin Scott Thomas

JCVD(2008-Mabrouk El Mechri) Jean-Claude Van Damme

COPIE CONFORME(2010-Abbas Kiorostami) Juliette Binoche, William Shimell

LES AMOURS IMAGINAIRES(2010-Xavier Dolan) Xavier Dolan, Monia Chokri

DE ROUILLE ET D'OS(2012-Jacques Audiard) Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts

HOLY MOTORS(2012-Leos Carax) Denis Lavant, Edith Scob

LAURENCE ANYWAYS(2012-Xavier Dolan) Suzanne Clement

TOM A LA FERME(2013-Xavier Dolan) Xavier Dolan, Pierre-Yves Cardinal

L’INCONNU DU LAC(2013-Alain Guiraudie) Pierre Deladonchamps, Patrick d’Assumcao

DEUX JOURS, UNE NUIT(2014-Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne) Marion Cotillard

MOMMY(2014-Xavier Dolan) Anne Dorval, Antoine Olivier Pilon

MARGUERITE(2015-Xavier Giannoli) Catherine Frot, Sylvain Dieuaide

ELLE(2016-Paul Verhoeven) Isabelle Huppert, Lauren Lafitte

SAUVAGE(2018-Camille Vidal-Naquet) Felix Maritaud

PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU(2019-Camille Sciamma)

JEANNE DU BARRY(2023-Maiwenn) Maiwenn, Johnny Depp

LA PASSION DE DODIN BOUFFANT(2023-Tran Anh Hung) Juliette Binoche

LES TROIS MOUSQUETAIRES: D’ARTAGNAN(2023-Martin Bourboulon) Eva Green

LE COMTE DE MONTE CRISTO(2024-A.de la Patelliere, M.Delaporte) Pierre Niney

SOUS LA SEINE(2024-Xavier Gens) Berenice Bejo

VIE PRIVEE(2025-Rebecca Zlotowski) Jodie Foster, Daniel Auteil

40's WESTERNS HONOR ROLL

MY FAVORITE WESTERN FILMS

THE 40’s

 1940

BLAZING SIX SHOOTERS(1940-Joseph H. Lewis) Charles Starrett, Iris Meredith

BOSS OF BULLION CITY(1940-Ray Taylor) Johnny Mack Brown, Nell O’Day

BRIGHAM YOUNG(1940-Henry Hathaway) Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell

THE CARSON CITY KID(1940-Joseph Kane) Roy Rogers, Bob Steele

KIT CARSON(1940-George B. Seitz) Jon Hall, Lynn Bari, Dana Andrews

LAW AND ORDER(1940-Ray Taylor) Johnny Mack Brown, Nell O’Day

LUCKY CISCO KID(1940-Bruce Humberstone) Cesar Romero, Mary Beth Hughes

THE RETURN OF FRANK JAMES(1940-Fritz Lang) Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney

SANTA FE TRAIL(1940-Michael Curtiz) Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland

TEXAS STAGECOACH(1940-Joseph H. Lewis) Charles Starrett, Iris Meredith

VIVA CISCO KID(1940-Norman Foster) Cesar Romero, Jean Rogers

WHEN THE DALTONS RODE(1940-George Marshall) Randolph Scott, Kay Francis

 

1941

BELLE STARR(1941-Irving Cummings) Gene Tierney, Randolph Scott, Dana Andrews

BILLY THE KID(1941-David Miller) Robert Taylor, Ian Hunter, Mary Howard

RIDE ON VAQUERO(1941-Herbert I. Leeds) Cesar Romero, Mary Beth Hughes

SILVER STALLION(1941-Edward Finney) David Sharpe, LeRoy Mason

WESTERN UNION(1941-Fritz Lang) Randolph Scott, Robert Young 

1942

APACHE TRAIL(1942-Richard Thorpe) Lloyd Nolan, William Lundigan

DAWN ON THE GREAT DIVIDE(1942-Howard Bretherton) Buck Jones

IN OLD CALIFORNIA(1942-William C. McGann) John Wayne, Binnie Barnes

KING OF THE STALLIONS(1942-Edward Finney) Chief Thundercloud

THE SPOILERS(1942-Ray Enright) Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott, John Wayne

STAGECOACH BUCKAROO(1942-Ray Taylor) Johnny Mack Brown, Nell O’Day 

1943

IN OLD OKLAHOMA(1943-Albert S. Rogell) John Wayne, Martha Scott

THE OX-BOW INCIDENT(1943--William Wellman) Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews.

SONG OF TEXAS(1943-Joseph Kane) Roy Rogers, Sheila Ryan 

1944

CAN’T HELP SINGING(1944-Frank Ryan) Deanna Durbin, Robert Paige,

HANDS ACROSS THE BORDER(1944-Joseph Kane) Roy Rogers, Ruth Terry

LIGHTS OF OLD SANTA FE(1944-Frank McDonald) Roy Rogers, Dale Evans,

SONG OF NEVADA(1944-Joseph Kane) Roy Rogers, Dale Evans 

1945

BELLS OF ROSARITA(1945-Frank McDonald) Roy Rogers, Dale Evans

NORTHWEST TRAIL(1945-Derwin Abrahams) Bob Steele, Joan Woodbury,

SAN ANTONIO(1945-David Butler) Errol Flynn, Alexis Smith. S.Z. Sakall 

1946

BADMAN’S TERRITORY(1946-Tim Whelan) Randolph Scott, George “Gabby” Hayes

CANYON PASSAGE(1946-Jacques Tourneur) Dana Andrews, Susan Hayward,

DUEL IN THE SUN(1946-King Vidor) Jennifer Jones, Gregory Peck. Joseph Cotten

THE HARVEY GIRLS(1946-George Sidney) Judy Garland, John Hodiak,

HELDORADO(1946-William Witney) Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, George “Gabby” Hayes

HOME IN OKLAHOMA(1946-William Witney) Roy Rogers, Dale Evans,

MY DARLING CLEMENTINE(1946-John Ford) Henry Fonda, Victor Mature

RAINBOW OVER TEXAS(1946-Frank McDonald) Roy Rogers, Dale Evans,

SONG OF ARIZONA(1946-Frank McDonald) Roy Rogers, Dale Evans,

UNDER NEVADA SKIES(1946-Frank McDonald) Roy Rogers, Dale Evans

1947

APACHE ROSE(1947-William Witney) Roy Rogers, Dale Evans

BOWERY BUCKAROOS(1947-William Beaudine) Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall

CALIFORNIA(1947-John Farrow) Ray Milland, Barbara Stanwyck

CHEYENNE(1947-Raoul Walsh) Dennis Morgan, Jane Wyman, Janis Paige

GUNFIGHTERS(1947-George Waggner) Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton

LAST OF THE REDSKINS(1947-George Sherman) Jon Hall, Michael O’Shea

NORTHWEST OUTPOST(1947-Allan Dwan) Nelson Eddy, Ilona Massey

RAMROD(1947-Andre de Toth) Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake, Don DeFore

TRAIL STREET(1947-Ray Enright)  Randolph Scott, Robert Ryan, Anne Jeffreys 

1948

ALBUQUERQUE(1948-Ray Enright) Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton

BLACK BART(1948-George Sherman) Yvonne De Carlo, Dan Duryea, Jeffrey Lynn

CARSON CITY RAIDERS(1948-Yakima Canutt) Allan “Rocky” Lane, Eddy Waller

DESPERADOES OF DODGE CITY(1948-Philip Ford) Allan “Rocky” Lane, Eddy Waller

EYES OF TEXAS(1948-William Witney) Roy Rogers, Lynne Roberts, Nana Bryant

FURY AT FURNACE CREEK(1948-Bruce Humberstone) Victor Mature, Coleen Gray

GUN SMUGGLERS(1948-Frank McDonald) Tim Holt, Gary Gray, Martha Hyer

OKLAHOMA BLUES(1948-Lambert Hillyer)  Jimmy Wakely, Dub Taylor

PANHANDLE(1948-Lesley Selander) Rod Cameron, Cathy Downs, Blake Edwards

PARTNERS OF THE SUNSET(1948-Lambert Hillyer) Jimmy Wakely, Dub Taylor

THE PLUNDERERS(1948-Joseph Kane) Rod Cameron, Ilona Massey,

POWDER RIVER RUSTLERS(1948-Philip Ford) Allan “Rocky”  Lane, Eddy Waller

RED RIVER(1948-Howard Hawks) John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Joanne Dru

RELENTLESS(1948-George Sherman) Robert Young, Marguerite Chapman

RETURN OF THE BAD MEN(1948-Ray Enright) Randolph Scott, Robert Ryan.

SILVER RIVER(1948-Raoul Walsh) Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan, Thomas Mitchell

THE STRAWBERRY ROAN(1948-John English) Gene Autry, Gloria Henry,

UNDER CALIFORNIA STARS(1948-William Witney) Roy Rogers, Jane Frazee

WHISPERING SMITH(1948-Leslie Fenton) Alan Ladd, Robert Preston

1949

THE BIG SOMBRERO(1949-Frank McDonald) Gene Autry, Elena Verdugo

CALAMITY JANE AND SAM BASS(1949-George Sherman) Yvonne De Carlo

CANADIAN PACIFIC(1949-Edwin L. Marin) Randolph Scott, Nancy Olson

COLORADO TERRITORY(1949-Raoul Walsh) Joel McCrea, Virginia Mayo

THE DOOLINS OF OKLAHOMA(1949-Gordon Douglas) Randolph Scott

FIGHTING MAN OF THE PLAINS(1949-Edwin L. Marin) Randolph Scott,

FRONTIER INVESTIGATOR(1949-Fred C. Brannon) Allan “Rocky” Lane, Eddy Waller

GRAND CANYON(1949-Paul Landres) Richard Arlen, Mary Beth Hughes

I SHOT JESSE JAMES(1949-Samuel Fuller) John Ireland, Barbara Britton

MASSACRE RIVER(1949-John Rawlins) Guy Madison, Rory Calhoun

RED CANYON(1949-George Sherman) Ann Blyth, Howard Duff

THE WOLF HUNTERS(1949-Budd Boetticher) Kirby Grant, Jan Clayton 

 

FAVORITE PERFORMANCES FROM 40’s WESTERNS

                      Actor in a Leading role (arranged chronologically) 

                         

            

 ERROL FLYNN “They Died with their Boots On”(1941)

RANDOLPH SCOTT “Western Union”(1941)

WILLIAM LUNDIGAN “Apache Trail”(1942)

ROBERT PAIGE “Can’t Help Singing”(1944)

ERROL FLYNN “San Antonio”(1945)

BOB STEELE “Northwest Trail”(1945)

GREGORY PECK “Duel in the Sun”(1946)

HENRY FONDA “My Darling Clementine”(1946)

DENNIS MORGAN “Cheyenne”(1947)

JEFFREY LYNN “Black Bart”(1948)

VICTOR MATURE “Fury at Furnace Creek”(1948)

JOHN WAYNE “Red River”(1948)

RORY CALHOUN “Massacre River”(1949)

JOHN IRELAND “I Shot Jesse James”(1949)

ALLAN “ROCKY” LANE “Frontier Investigator”(1949)

RANDOLPH SCOTT “Canadian Pacific”(1949)

 

                  Actress in a Leading Role (arranged chronologically)

IRIS MEREDITH “The Man from Tumbleweed”(1940)

NELL O’DAY “Boss of Bullion City”(1940)

NELL O’DAY “Stagecoach Buckaroo”(1942)

DALE EVANS “Lights of Old Santa Fe”(1944)

JOAN WOODBURY “Northwest Trail”(1945)

JUDY GARLAND “The Harvey Girls”(1946)

BARBARA BRITTON “Albuquerque”(1948)

MARGUERITE CHAPMAN “Relentless”(1948)

COLEEN GRAY “Fury at Furnace Creek”(1948)

GLORIA HENRY “The Strawberry Roan”(1948)

BARBARA BRITTON “I Shot Jesse James”(1949)

CAROLE MATHEWS “Massacre River”(1949)

VIRGINIA MAYO “Colorado Territory”(1949)

NANCY OLSON “Canadian Pacific”(1949)

 

           Actor in a Supporting Role (arranged chronologically)

RAYMOND MASSEY “Santa Fe Trail”(1940)

SLIM SUMMERVILLE "Western Union"(1941)

DANA ANDREWS “The Ox-Bow Incident”(1943)

FRANCIS FORD “The Ox-Bow Incident”(1943)

ANTHONY QUINN “The Ox-Bow Incident”(1943)

LEONIDE KINSKEY “Can’t Help Singing”(1944)

AKIM TAMIROFF “Can’t Help Singing”(1944)

S.Z. SAKALL “San Antonio”1945)

CHARLES BICKFORD “Duel in the Sun”(1946)

WALTER HUSTON “Duel in the Sun”(1946)

DON DeFORE “Ramrod”(1947)

ALAN HALE “Cheyenne”(1947)

GEORGE “GABBY” HAYES “Trail Street”(1947)

BILLY HOUSE “Trail Street”(1947)
WALTER BRENNAN “Red River”(1948)

MICHAEL CHAPIN “Under California Stars”(1948)

GEORGE CLEVELAND “Albuquerque”(1948)

REGINALD GARDINER “Fury at Furnace Creek”(1948)

GARY GRAY “Gun Smugglers”(1948)

JOHN IRELAND “Red River”(1948)

PERCY KILBRIDE “Black Bart”(1948)

FRANK REICHER “Carson City Raiders”(1948)

DUB TAYLOR “Oklahoma Blues”(1948)

DUB TAYLOR “Partners of the Sunset”(1948)

FORREST TUCKER “The Plunderers”(1948)

EDDY WALLER “Marshal of Amarillo”(1948)

EDDY WALLER “Oklahoma Badlands”(1948)

OLIN HOWLIN “Grand Canyon”(1949)

JAMES MITCHELL “Colorado Territory”(1949)

ROBERT EMMETT KEANE “Frontier Investigator”(1949)

EDDY WALLER “Powder River Rustlers”(1949)

IAN WOLFE “Colorado Territory”(1949)

 

            Actress in a Supporting Role (arranged chronologically)

MARY GORDON “When the Daltons Rode”(1940)

HATTIE McDANIEL “They Died with their Boots On(1941)

MONA BARRIE “Dawn on the Great Divide”(1942)

JANE DARWELL “The Ox-Bow Incident”(1943)

FLORENCE BATES “San Antonio”(1945)

LILLIAN GISH “Duel in the Sun”(1946)

BUTTERFLY McQUEEN “Duel in the Sun”(1946)

CAROL HUGHES “Home in Oklahoma”(1946)

ANGELA LANSBURY “The Harvey Girls”(1946)

EVELYN ANKERS “Last of the Redskins”(1947)

ADRIAN BOOTH “The Plunderers”(1948)

NANA BRYANT “Eyes of Texas”(1948)

JANE DARWELL “3 Godfathers”(1948)

COLEEN GRAY “Red River”(1948) 

CHRISTINE LARSON "Partners of the Sunset"(1948)