L'Age d'Or (1930)
"L'âge d'or" (original title)

Bunuel's first feature has more of a plot than Un Chien Andalou, but it's still a pure Surrealist film, so this is only a vague outline. A man and a woman are passionately in love with one ... See full summary »

Director:

Luis Buñuel

Writers:

Luis Buñuel (scenario), Salvador Dalí (scenario),

Stars:

Gaston Modot, Lya Lys, Caridad de Laberdesque

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gaston Modot	...	The Man
Lya Lys	...	Young Girl
Caridad de Laberdesque	...	Chambermaid / Little Girl
Max Ernst	...	Leader of men in cottage
Josep Llorens Artigas	...	Governor
Lionel Salem	...	Duke of Blangis
Germaine Noizet	...	Marquise
Duchange	...	Conductor
Bonaventura Ibáñez	...	Marquis (as Ibanez)

Storyline

Bunuel's first feature has more of a plot than Un Chien Andalou, but it's still a pure Surrealist film, so this is only a vague outline. A man and a woman are passionately in love with one another, but their attempts to consummate that passion are constantly thwarted, by their families, the Church and bourgeois society.

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Plot Keywords:

anti clericalism | cow | toilet | beach | imagery | 

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Taglines:

Banned for over 50 years [Australia Theatrical]

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

1 November 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Golden Age

Filming Locations:

Cabo de Creus, Girona, Cataluña, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$7,940 (USA) (30 January 2004)

Gross:

$32,712 (USA) (21 May 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vicomte de Noailles

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Tobis-Klangfilm)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

For various legal reasons, this film was withdrawn from circulation in 1934 by the Le Vicomte de Noailles (1891-1981) and Vicomtesse Marie-Laure de Noailles (1902-1970) who had financed the film. The US premiere was on 1 November 1979 at the Roxie Cinema in San Francisco.

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Connections

Referenced in Destino (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Ave Verum Corpus K.618"
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

User Reviews

Probably the most important film ever made.

After the 1929, surreal short film "Un Chien Andalou"; Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali collaborated once again. This time in 1930 for " L Age D Or" (the Age of Gold) A scathing satire attacking the bourgeois state, religion, and the wealthy elite. The film concerns a man's quest for a women's unattainable love; a common theme with Bunuel. The couple is caught making love and separated by authorities. Throughout, the film the man tries to pursue the woman with no luck. He's repeatedly interrupted by different institutions. Finally, the couple is reunited at a snotty high class party. Things go down hill from there as the film get's more and more crazy. " L Age D Or" contains many bizarre surreal images such as crippled soldiers who use guns for crutches, priest's that turn into skeletons, a cow in the leading lady's bedroom, toe fetishes and a giraffe and priest getting thrown out a window and harpooned. The dark humor was way ahead of it's time. Watch as a father shoots his own kid for not obeying him. In fact it's easy to see why, it's festival premiere caused a riot. It was also extremely controversial for it's blasphemous images. Of course, today it's less shocking and more hilarious. Bunuel and Dali were anarchic in their vision of society. Attacking every form of hypocrisy through surrealism, they inspired many directors. This film is a must for anyone who's interested in surrealism or the history of cinema. Also check out "The Phantom of Liberty" for more crazy Bunuel madness.