Best French Film 1940-1949
by guillaume836076 | created - 16 Aug 2011 | updated - 16 Aug 2011 | PublicSeven best French films by year (1940-1949)
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1. Battement de coeur (1940)
97 min | Comedy, Drama
Danielle Darrieux plays an impoverished reform-school escapee who finds a new lease on life when she enrolls in a school for pickpockets run by Fagin-like Saturnin-Fabre.
Director: Henri Decoin | Stars: Danielle Darrieux, Claude Dauphin, André Luguet, Junie Astor
Votes: 327
2. The Phantom Wagon (1939)
93 min | Drama, Fantasy
A nun suffering from TB is desperately trying to save an alcoholic tramp and to bring him back to his wife and kids.He has a friend who died last year and became the coachman of the "Ghost Wagon" .
Director: Julien Duvivier | Stars: Pierre Fresnay, Marie Bell, Micheline Francey, Louis Jouvet
Votes: 278
Release in France: 1940
3. L'entraîneuse (1939)
95 min | Drama
The young Suzy is a nightclub hostess in a cabaret in which Frehel is the star. Because one night she gets propositions from a rich widower who would like to have her as his girlfriend, ... See full summary »
Director: Albert Valentin | Stars: Michèle Morgan, Gilbert Gil, Andrex, Gisèle Préville
Votes: 73
Release in France: 1940
4. The Well-Digger's Daughter (1940)
Approved | 142 min | Comedy, Drama
A rural maiden's two suitors go off to war, leaving her pregnant.
Director: Marcel Pagnol | Stars: Raimu, Fernandel, Josette Day, Line Noro
Votes: 683
Best French Film of the year 1940
5. Menaces... (1940)
95 min | Drama
The months before World War II. The fear of the impending war never leaves the guests of an hotel in Paris.
Director: Edmond T. Gréville | Stars: Mireille Balin, John Loder, Ginette Leclerc, Erich von Stroheim
Votes: 136
6. Four Flights to Love (1939)
Passed | 82 min | Drama, Romance, War
Before World War I in Paris, a budding artist, Pierre Leblanc, falls in love and marries Janine, a dressmaker's assistant. Pierre has a flair for designing clothes, and he and his bride ... See full summary »
Director: Abel Gance | Stars: Fernand Gravey, Elvire Popesco, André Alerme, Monique Rolland
Votes: 228
7. There's No Tomorrow (1939)
82 min | Drama
After an unhappy marriage, a woman of the world is forced to become a dancer in a cabaret in order to raise her young son.
Director: Max Ophüls | Stars: Edwige Feuillère, George Rigaud, Daniel Lecourtois, Mady Berry
Votes: 468
8. L'enfer des anges (1941)
96 min | Drama
Abandoned children, left to their own devices and a life of danger, are adopted by a kind man.
Director: Christian-Jaque | Stars: Louise Carletti, Jean Claudio, Serge Grave, Marcel Mouloudji
Votes: 107
9. Nous les gosses (1941)
90 min | Comedy, Drama
A student from an elementary school accidentally breaks the glass roof of his school. His comrades decide to support it by working during the summer holidays in order to pay for reconstruction.
Director: Louis Daquin | Stars: Louise Carletti, Gilbert Gil, André Brunot, Marcel Pérès
Votes: 85
10. Her First Affair (1941)
Approved | 91 min | Comedy
Micheline Chevassu is a naive young woman living in an orphanage. Through classified ads, she makes a date with an unknown man. She escapes from the orphanage to meet him, dreaming of her ... See full summary »
Director: Henri Decoin | Stars: Danielle Darrieux, Rosine Luguet, Gabrielle Dorziat, Suzanne Dehelly
Votes: 156
11. Remorques (1941)
91 min | Action, Drama, Romance
The captain of the tugboat Cyclone, André Laurent, rushes off to save the Mirva. He abandons his sick wife Yvonne and the couple celebrating their marriage. In the early morning, the Cyclone tugs the Mirva ashore with Catherine aboard.
Director: Jean Grémillon | Stars: Jean Gabin, Madeleine Renaud, Michèle Morgan, Charles Blavette
Votes: 1,561
12. The Story of the Fox (1937)
63 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
When Renard the Fox's mischievous pranks go too far, King Lion is forced to attempt to bring the trickster to justice.
Directors: Irene Starewicz, Wladyslaw Starewicz | Stars: Claude Dauphin, Romain Bouquet, Sylvain Itkine, Léon Larive
Votes: 1,536
Release in France: 1941 Best French Film of the year 1941
13. Venus of Paris (1941)
140 min | Drama, Romance
The imaginary voyage of a woman gone blind on her former lover's boat.
Director: Abel Gance | Stars: Viviane Romance, Georges Flamant, Lucienne Le Marchand, Jean Aquistapace
Votes: 148
14. Volpone (1941)
94 min | Comedy
Volpone, an elderly Venetian, connives with his money-crazed servant to convince his greedy friends that he is dying, knowing that each will try to curry favor with him in order to be named... See full summary »
Directors: Maurice Tourneur, Jacques de Baroncelli | Stars: Harry Baur, Louis Jouvet, Charles Dullin, Jean Témerson
Votes: 401
15. The Murderer Lives at Number 21 (1942)
Not Rated | 84 min | Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Inspector Wens moves into a Paris boarding house to catch a serial killer.
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot | Stars: Pierre Fresnay, Suzy Delair, Jean Tissier, Pierre Larquey
Votes: 3,623
16. Wicked Duchess (1942)
99 min | Drama, Romance
The Duchess of Langeais, as beautiful as she is brilliant, is a woman who likes to seduce but who does not give in. Until the day when she falls in love with General de Montriveau, a cabal goes up against her.
Director: Jacques de Baroncelli | Stars: Edwige Feuillère, Pierre Richard-Willm, Aimé Clariond, Lise Delamare
Votes: 123
17. Strangers in the House (1942)
95 min | Crime, Drama
Loursat, a lawyer, lives with his daughter Nicole. Abandoned by his wife about 20 years ago, he has sunk into alcoholism. One day, the corpse of a stranger is discovered in the attic of his residence.
Director: Henri Decoin | Stars: Raimu, Juliette Faber, Gabrielle Fontan, Héléna Manson
Votes: 459
18. La nuit fantastique (1942)
103 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Denis is distracted: he's studying all day for philosophy exams and working all night at the flower market; plus, whenever he closes his eyes, he dreams of a mysterious woman in white. His ... See full summary »
Director: Marcel L'Herbier | Stars: Fernand Gravey, Micheline Presle, Saturnin Fabre, Charles Granval
Votes: 384
19. Pontcarral, colonel d'empire (1942)
125 min | Drama
For 15 years after Waterloo, a baron refuses to accept the defeat. He reluctantly marries one of 2 Bourbon sisters but lands up dueling with the wife's former lover. Finally he gets a chance to prove himself again in battle.
Director: Jean Delannoy | Stars: Pierre Blanchar, Annie Ducaux, Suzy Carrier, Charles Granval
Votes: 45
20. La symphonie fantastique (1942)
90 min | Biography, Drama
Biographical romance about the great composer Hector Berlioz, someone whom the French, during their WWII occupation by the Nazis, could look back proudly on.
Director: Christian-Jaque | Stars: Renée Saint-Cyr, Lise Delamare, Jean-Louis Barrault, Jules Berry
Votes: 152
21. Les Visiteurs du Soir (1942)
Not Rated | 115 min | Drama, Fantasy, Romance
In medieval France, the Devil intervenes when one of his two envoys, sent to seduce and deceive mortals, falls instead for a victim.
Director: Marcel Carné | Stars: Arletty, Marie Déa, Fernand Ledoux, Alain Cuny
Votes: 2,453
Best French Film of the year 1942
22. Angels of Sin (1943)
80 min | Drama
Anne-Marie joins a Dominican convent as a novice where she knows Therese. After shooting a man for which she was imprisoned, Therese protests her innocence, reluctant to tell her secret.
Director: Robert Bresson | Stars: Renée Faure, Jany Holt, Sylvie, Mila Parély
Votes: 1,759
23. The Count of Monte Cristo (1943)
90 min | Adventure, Drama
Edmond Dantes is falsely accused by those jealous of his good fortune, and is sentenced to spend the rest of his life in the notorious island prison, Chateau d'If. While imprisoned, he ... See full summary »
Director: Robert Vernay | Stars: Pierre Richard-Willm, Michèle Alfa, Aimé Clariond, Marcel Herrand
Votes: 194
24. The Raven (1943)
Not Rated | 92 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A French village doctor becomes the target of poison-pen letters sent to village leaders, accusing him of affairs and practicing abortion.
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot | Stars: Pierre Fresnay, Ginette Leclerc, Micheline Francey, Héléna Manson
Votes: 10,839 | Gross: $0.03M
Best French Film of the year 1943
25. Douce (1943)
Not Rated | 90 min | Drama
In Paris in 1887, Irène works as a governess to Douce, the grand-daughter of the dowager Countess de Bonafé. Douce believes she is in love with Fabien, the handsome manager of the estate. ... See full summary »
Director: Claude Autant-Lara | Stars: Odette Joyeux, Madeleine Robinson, Marguerite Moreno, Jean Debucourt
Votes: 411
26. It Happened at the Inn (1943)
R | 96 min | Comedy, Drama, Mystery
In a lost French village, an old woman is killed and her savings stolen. Several members of her family, all called "Goupi", are suspected.
Director: Jacques Becker | Stars: Fernand Ledoux, Georges Rollin, Blanchette Brunoy, Arthur Devère
Votes: 1,068
27. Lumière d'été (1943)
112 min | Drama
A shimmering glass hotel at the top of a remote Provençal mountain provides the setting for a tragicomic tapestry about an obsessive love pentangle.
Director: Jean Grémillon | Stars: Madeleine Renaud, Pierre Brasseur, Madeleine Robinson, Paul Bernard
Votes: 640
28. Carnival of Sinners (1943)
Approved | 80 min | Fantasy, Horror
Roland Brissot bought for a nickel a talisman that gives him love, fame, and wealth. The talisman is a cut left hand, and it works perfectly. Of course, there is nothing free in this world,... See full summary »
Director: Maurice Tourneur | Stars: Pierre Fresnay, Josseline Gaël, Noël Roquevert, Guillaume de Sax
Votes: 1,779
29. The Woman Who Dared (1944)
105 min | Drama
The wife of a mechanic and former fighter pilot falls in love with the idea of flying herself. This soon becomes an obsession and she undertakes a lofty feat: the longest solo flight ever made by a woman.
Director: Jean Grémillon | Stars: Madeleine Renaud, Charles Vanel, Jean Debucourt, Raymonde Vernay
Votes: 638
Best French Film of the year 1944
30. Florence est folle (1944)
101 min | Comedy
Monsieur Benoit's existence is transformed when his dour wife suddenly thinks in a bout of folly that she will become a chanteuse and her husband the impresario.
Director: Georges Lacombe | Stars: Annie Ducaux, André Luguet, Palau, Marcelle Praince
Votes: 75
31. La Malibran (1944)
95 min | Biography, Drama, Musical
The rise and fall of a diva circa 1820.
Director: Sacha Guitry | Stars: Geori-Boué, Suzy Prim, Mona Goya, Jacques Jansen
Votes: 70
32. Les petites du quai aux fleurs (1944)
92 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A young girl learns how it is painful growing up.
Director: Marc Allégret | Stars: André Lefaur, Odette Joyeux, Bernard Blier, Louis Jourdan
Votes: 89
33. Premier de cordée (1944)
106 min | Adventure, Drama
Zian Servettaz is a dedicated mountain man. His Italian-born wife Bianca does not adjust well to his mountain village in France, and to the ever life-threatening dangers presented by his mountain guiding and climbing.
Director: Louis Daquin | Stars: Irène Corday, André Le Gall, Marcel Delaître, Jean Davy
Votes: 97
34. La Rabouilleuse (1944)
100 min | Drama
Director: Fernand Rivers | Stars: Fernand Gravey, Suzy Prim, André Brunot, Jacques Erwin
35. La vie de plaisir (1944)
85 min | Comedy, Drama
Albert Maulette, the owner of 'La Vie de Plaisir', a very busy nightclub owner, has fallen in love with Hélène de Lormel, the beautiful daughter of a couple of aristocrats on the brink of ... See full summary »
Director: Albert Valentin | Stars: Albert Préjean, Claude Génia, Yolande Laffon, Hélène Constant
Votes: 83
36. Angel and Sinner (1945)
Approved | 85 min | Drama
Ten people fleeing Rouen invaded by the Prussians, Rousset nicknamed ball of tallow among them, give to a Prussian to save other passengers who still despise. However, on later nobody could underestimate her being how brave .
Director: Christian-Jaque | Stars: Micheline Presle, Berthe Bovy, Louise Conte, Mona Dol
Votes: 217
37. A Cage of Nightingales (1945)
89 min | Drama, Music
In France, in 1930, the supervisor of a reformatory for young offenders seeks to awaken in them the love of music by forming a choir, despite the skepticism of the institution's director.
Director: Jean Dréville | Stars: Noël-Noël, Micheline Francey, René Génin, René Blancard
Votes: 251
38. The Ladies of the Bois de Boulogne (1945)
Not Rated | 86 min | Drama, Romance
A society lady engineers a marriage between her lover and a cabaret dancer who is essentially a prostitute.
Director: Robert Bresson | Stars: Paul Bernard, María Casares, Elina Labourdette, Lucienne Bogaert
Votes: 4,802
39. Children of Paradise (1945)
Not Rated | 189 min | Drama, Romance
The theatrical life of a beautiful courtesan in 1830s Paris and the four men who love her.
Director: Marcel Carné | Stars: Arletty, Jean-Louis Barrault, Pierre Brasseur, Pierre Renoir
Votes: 21,062
Best French Film of the year 1945
40. Paris Frills (1945)
Approved | 111 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Philippe Clarence, a famous Parisian dressmaker, seduces his friend's fiancee. But, for the first time in his life, this is for real. The film is also a sharp picture of the fashion world.
Director: Jacques Becker | Stars: Raymond Rouleau, Micheline Presle, Jean Chevrier, Gabrielle Dorziat
Votes: 714
41. Twilight (1944)
99 min | Drama, Romance
Cavalier ,a second -rate actor , discovers a gorgeous talented girl who performs on stage and wants to be her Pygmalion .
Director: Marc Allégret | Stars: Claude Dauphin, Micheline Presle, Louis Jourdan, Jacques Louvigny
Votes: 104
42. The Bellman (1945)
85 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
The story begins with the murder of a horse trader, which sets free a black stallion that roams through the snow and the village terrifying the people as it gallops.
Director: Christian-Jaque | Stars: Fernand Ledoux, Renée Faure, Madeleine Robinson, Roger Pigaut
Votes: 179
43. The Battle of the Rails (1946)
85 min | Drama, War
Recounts the courageous efforts by French railroad workers who were part of an organized resistance during German World War II occupation.
Director: René Clément | Stars: Marcel Barnault, Jean Clarieux, Jean Daurand, Lucien Desagneaux
Votes: 1,250
44. Beauty and the Beast (1946)
Not Rated | 93 min | Drama, Fantasy, Romance
A beautiful young woman takes her father's place as the prisoner of a mysterious beast, who wishes to marry her.
Directors: Jean Cocteau, René Clément | Stars: Jean Marais, Josette Day, Mila Parély, Nane Germon
Votes: 27,981 | Gross: $0.30M
Best French Film of the year 1946
45. Devil's Daughter (1946)
98 min | Drama
A gangster who's got a lot of dough takes refuge in his hometown.
Director: Henri Decoin | Stars: Pierre Fresnay, Fernand Ledoux, Thérèse Dorny, Pierre Juvenet
Votes: 156
46. Macadam (1946)
100 min | Crime, Drama
Madame Rose runs a seedy hotel in a suburb of Paris. Strong-minded but without the least moral scruple, she once killed her husband, whose honesty was a hindrance to her business. Under a ... See full summary »
Directors: Jacques Feyder, Marcel Blistène | Stars: Françoise Rosay, Paul Meurisse, Andrée Clément, Simone Signoret
Votes: 211
47. Gates of the Night (1946)
100 min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
It's Paris in the winter after its liberation. A tramp who may also be Destiny predicts that Jean Diego will fall in love with a beautiful girl. That same evening, Jean meets Malou.
Director: Marcel Carné | Stars: Pierre Brasseur, Serge Reggiani, Yves Montand, Nathalie Nattier
Votes: 1,291
48. Pastoral Symphony (1946)
Approved | 110 min | Drama
A minister falls in love with a blind young woman he sheltered, but so does his son.
Director: Jean Delannoy | Stars: Pierre Blanchar, Michèle Morgan, Line Noro, Jean Desailly
Votes: 603
49. Un revenant (1946)
100 min | Drama
A ballet producer returns to his native town and schemes to avenge himself on the family who tried to murder him 20 years before.
Director: Christian-Jaque | Stars: Louis Jouvet, Gaby Morlay, François Périer, Jean Brochard
Votes: 289
50. Antoine & Antoinette (1947)
84 min | Comedy, Drama
Working class couple Antoine and Antoinette dream of a better life. In the midst of constantly fending off the unwanted attention of men, especially the grocer Monsieur Roland, Antoinette ... See full summary »
Director: Jacques Becker | Stars: Roger Pigaut, Claire Mafféi, Noël Roquevert, Gaston Modot
Votes: 1,098 | Gross: $0.01M
51. Devil in the Flesh (1947)
Not Rated | 122 min | Drama, Romance
During World War I, the star-crossed affair of an underage French student with a woman engaged to a soldier.
Director: Claude Autant-Lara | Stars: Micheline Presle, Gérard Philipe, Denise Grey, Jean Debucourt
Votes: 894
Best French Film of the year 1947
52. Farrebique (1946)
90 min | Drama
One year in the life of a French peasant family, whose existence is closely tied with the changing of the seasons.
Director: Georges Rouquier
Votes: 273
53. Monsieur Vincent (1947)
Not Rated | 111 min | Biography, Drama, History
St. Vincent de Paul struggles to bring about peace and harmony among peasants and nobles in the midst of the Black Death in Europe, carrying on his charitable work in the face of all obstacles.
Director: Maurice Cloche | Stars: Pierre Fresnay, Aimé Clariond, Jean Debucourt, Lise Delamare
Votes: 986
54. Panique (1946)
Not Rated | 99 min | Crime, Drama
After an elderly maid is murdered, opinions are manipulated, evidence is planted, violence erupts, and panic ensues.
Director: Julien Duvivier | Stars: Viviane Romance, Michel Simon, Max Dalban, Émile Drain
Votes: 2,535 | Gross: $0.04M
55. Jenny Lamour (1947)
Not Rated | 106 min | Crime, Drama
A flirtatious wife runs off to meet an older man and the husband closes in with intend to murder him, but finds the deed already done.
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot | Stars: Louis Jouvet, Simone Renant, Bernard Blier, Suzy Delair
Votes: 6,381 | Gross: $0.03M
56. Man About Town (1947)
100 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
1910. 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 ... See full summary »
Director: René Clair | Stars: Maurice Chevalier, François Périer, Marcelle Derrien, Dany Robin
Votes: 577
57. Kampen om tungtvannet (1948)
Not Rated | 107 min | Action, Drama, War
A factual reconstruction of the sabotage which took place to prevent Germany from getting the heavy water needed to make an atomic bomb during World War II.
Directors: Jean Dréville, Titus Vibe-Müller | Stars: Raoul Dautry, Frédéric Joliot-Curie, Lew Kowarski, H.H. Halban
Votes: 623
58. The Charterhouse of Parma (1948)
170 min | Drama, Romance
Fabrice 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 ... See full summary »
Director: Christian-Jaque | Stars: Renée Faure, Lucien Coëdel, Louis Salou, María Casares
Votes: 530
59. The Eleven O'Clock Woman (1948)
97 min | Mystery, Thriller
Stanislas Oscar Seminario, aka SOS, is a young explorer, just back from Africa, visiting old friends: the Pescara's. But the father keeps receiving anonymous letters. And soon a mysterious ... See full summary »
Director: Jean Devaivre | Stars: Paul Meurisse, Micheline Francey, Gilbert Gil, Pierre Renoir
Votes: 204
60. Dédée d'Anvers (1948)
95 min | Drama
Dedee is a prostitute who works in Monsieur Rene's nightclub on Antwerp's harbour. The porter is Marco, her pimp. Dedee is not happy until she meets Francesco, an Italian sailor. They fall ... See full summary »
Director: Yves Allégret | Stars: Bernard Blier, Simone Signoret, Marcello Pagliero, Marcel Dalio
Votes: 688
61. The Last Vacation (1948)
95 min | Drama, Romance
A schoolboy remembers his last holiday in the big house of his family in the country, before it was sold.
Director: Roger Leenhardt | Stars: Odile Versois, Michel François, Jean Lara, Renée Devillers
Votes: 179
62. Paris mil neuf cent (1947)
74 min | Documentary
Documentary limning the life of Paris and its citizens during "La Belle Epoque," the years between 1900 and 1914. Beginning with the Paris Exposition of 1900 and the completion of the ... See full summary »
Director: Nicole Védrès | Stars: Claude Dauphin, René Alexandre, Guillaume Apollinaire, Régina Badet
Votes: 178
Release in France: 1948 Best French Film of the year 1948
63. The Loves of Colette (1948)
96 min | Drama
A young provincial college boy likes the daughter of the headmaster. However, his colleague, who wanted to die, left a diary where he wrote about his good luck with the same girl.
Director: Jean Faurez | Stars: François Périer, Colette Richard, Louis Salou, Simone Valère
Votes: 61
64. The Lovers of Verona (1949)
90 min | Drama
Angelo, a glass-blower from Murano, and Georgia Maglia, the pretty daughter of a fallen fascist magistrate, are chosen to be the stand-ins for the stars of a film version of "Romeo and ... See full summary »
Director: André Cayatte | Stars: Serge Reggiani, Anouk Aimée, Pierre Brasseur, Louis Salou
Votes: 292
65. The Walls of Malapaga (1949)
89 min | Drama, Romance
A French fugitive arrives in Genoa, where he becomes entangled with an Italian woman and her daughter.
Director: René Clément | Stars: Jean Gabin, Isa Miranda, Vera Talchi, Andrea Checchi
Votes: 983
66. Manon (1949)
Not Rated | 100 min | Crime, Drama
A classic tale about bitter relationships between a frivolous girl and a soldier is adapted for the post-World War II time.
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot | Stars: Serge Reggiani, Michel Auclair, Cécile Aubry, Andrex
Votes: 1,164
67. Occupe-toi d'Amélie..! (1949)
92 min | Comedy
Once a lowly chambermaid, Amelie Pochet now revels as the pampered mistress of a military man named Etienne.
Director: Claude Autant-Lara | Stars: Danielle Darrieux, Jean Desailly, Victor Guyau, Grégoire Aslan
Votes: 237
68. Rendezvous in July (1949)
112 min | Comedy, Drama
Hopes and love and ambitions and friendship in a group of young jazz-loving Parisians.
Director: Jacques Becker | Stars: Daniel Gélin, Brigitte Auber, Nicole Courcel, Pierre Trabaud
Votes: 452 | Gross: $0.01M
69. The Silence of the Sea (1949)
Not Rated | 87 min | Drama, Romance, War
In occupied France, an elderly man and his niece are forced to give shelter to a German army lieutenant who seemingly loves their country and culture.
Director: Jean-Pierre Melville | Stars: Howard Vernon, Nicole Stéphane, Jean-Marie Robain, Ami Aaröe
Votes: 5,614
70. Such a Pretty Little Beach (1949)
91 min | Drama
During the cold and rainy off-season a man arrives in a seaside town and, giving his name only as Pierre, checks into the only hotel which remains open. His arrival arouses curiosity and a ... See full summary »
Director: Yves Allégret | Stars: Madeleine Robinson, Gérard Philipe, Jean Servais, André Valmy
Votes: 854
Best French Film of the year 1949
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