ALTERNATIVES IN THE SOUND ERA

FRANCE 1930-1945: POETIC REALISM, THE

POPULAR FRONT, & THE OCCUPATION

2 important influences on French films of 1930-40s• FRENCH IMPRESSIONISM (1918-28)

– Natural locations, working class, humanistic– CINEMATOGRAPHY (POV shots, superimpositions,

soft focus, irises & masks) & EDITING (rhythmic, rapid montage)

• FRENCH SURREALISM (1924-29)– Designed to offend middle, upper class audiences– Constructed their films as dreams

• END OF MOVEMENTS– Sound brought conservatism, safe, middle-of-the-

road narrative films

THE EARLY SOUND YEARS (1928-34) • No patents for sound; paid royalties to

Western Electric & Tobis-Klangfilm• Consolidated into 2 “super-studios,”

Gaumont & Pathé– Eliminated many independent studios– Big studios controlled by bankers & industrialists

• Foreign film powers exploited French market– Paramount formed French Paramount– Germany's Tobis studio made films in France– Both had bigger markets, were better financed

Jean Vigo

• Roots in the avant-garde• Made films with Dziga Vertov's

brother, Boris Kaufman• A Propos de Nice (1930): silent,

avant-garde documentary

Jean Vigo

• Zéro de conduite (Zero for Conduct, 1933): short (45 min.) about a boarding school for boys

Jean Vigo

• Zéro de conduite (Zero for Conduct, 1933)

Jean Vigo• L'Atalante (1934)

– Moody, atmospheric film about love on a dirty barge; realistic, romantic, bleak

– The 1st of the films of Poetic Realism

Jean Vigo

• L'Atalante (1934)

René Clair• Humor, social commentary &

unusual use of sound• A Nous la Liberté (Liberty is Ours,

1931): about industrialization

POETIC REALISM (1934-40)

• The influence of earlier movements– Celebrated common man & working class,

used same types of locations (cafes, taverns, etc.)

– Self-consciously ART; used symbolism, esp. erotic

• The influence of early French sound film– More emphasis on narrative

• Influenced by CHC’s narrative conventions & genres

POETIC REALISM (1934-40)

• Unlike Impressionist & early sound films, socially & politically oriented

• Sometimes made by Socialist collectives; always liberal, humanistic directors

• In large part a reaction to rise of Fascism in Europe

POETIC REALISM (1934-40)

• POPULAR FRONT PERIOD (1935-37)– 1935, liberals, radicals, Communists,

& Socialists (Popular Front) gained control of government for 2 years

– Optimistic period of filmmaking– Filmmakers participated in the

Popular Front– Films optimistic, display confidence in

the future

POETIC REALISM (1934-40)

• NATIONAL FRONT PERIOD (1937-40)– 1937, French right wing took power,

formed coalition with middle class, moderates, & Fascists

– Films more pessimistic & fatalistic; feeling that Nazism (not war) was inevitable

Jean Renoir (1894-1979)

Jean Renoir

• Son of Impressionist painter Auguste Renoir• Most important director of Poetic Realism

– Contributions to film technique & film style– Humanism

• RENOIR'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO TECHNIQUE & STYLE– THE SEQUENCE SHOT– COMPOSITION IN DEPTH– DEEP FOCUS PHOTOGRAPHY– RACK FOCUS– MOVING CAMERA

Jean Renoir

• La Chienne (1932)

Jean Renoir

• The Crime of Monsieur Lange (1935)

Jean Renoir

• La Grande Illusion (1937)

Jean Renoir

• La Grande Illusion (1937)

Jean Renoir

• The Rules of the Game (1939)

Marcel Carné & Jacques Prevert

Marcel Carné & Jacques Prevert• Carné began assistant director for René

Clair• Most important work result of

collaboration with leftist poet & screenwriter, Jacques Prevert

• 2 referred to as collective auteur of their films

• Neither achieved much critical success without the other

Marcel Carné & Jacques Prevert• Like Hollywood films, with French

influence– Studio films, not shot primarily on

locations– Collaborative efforts, with Carné

serving more as a producer than as a director

Marcel Carné & Jacques Prevert

• Le Jour se Lève (Daybreak; 1939)

Marcel Carné & Jacques Prevert

• Les Visiteurs du Soir (The Devil's Envoys; 1942)

Marcel Carné & Jacques Prevert

• Les Enfants du Paradis (Children of Paradise; 1945)

Marcel Carné & Jacques Prevert

• Les Enfants du Paradis (Children of Paradise; 1945)