The Golden Age of French Cinema

L'Âge d'or (1930)

This anarchic masterpiece of surrealist rebellion marks the start of Buñuel's life-long crusade against the bourgeoisie.

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Le Sang d'un poète (1930)

Through dream-like imagery, we glimpse the troubled mind of a poet afflicted by pain and fear as he strives for his art.

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Sous les toits de Paris (1930)

An enchanting visual poem to the ordinary people of Paris, their lives, their loves, set in the city of romance.

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Prix de beauté (1930)

The only French film to feature the iconic actress Louise Brooks, in what was to be her last major film role.

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À nous la liberté (1931)

Technology enslaves mankind but utltimately will free him, a Utopian vision which inspired Chaplin's Modern Times.

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Le Million (1931)

This spectacular musical comedy is an obvious forerunner of the great Hollywood song and dance films of the 1930s.

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Marius (1931)

A memorable tale of unrequited love set in the romantic environs of the French port of Marseilles.

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L'Opéra de quat'sous (1931)

This French film version of the famous Brecht-Weill opera stars the ever-popular Albert Préjean and Florelle.

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Boudu sauvé des eaux (1932)

This delightful satire of bourgeois attitudes features an unforgettable performance from Michel Simon.

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Les Misérables (1933)

One of cinema's most ambitious and compelling adaptations of the most famous novel in French literature.

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La Maternelle (1933)

Madeleine Renaud gives an extraordinary performance in this poignant drama, an early example of social realism.

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Quatorze Juillet (1933)

One of the most alluring of Clair's films, with great performances and some very imaginative camera work.

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La Belle équipe (1936)

The hopes of failings of the Popular Front are relived in this poignant drama in which camerarderie ends in brutal rivalry and mistrust,

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Drôle de drame (1937)

The most off-the-wall work from the legendary Carné-Prévert partnership is this outlandish black comedy, which features Louis Jouvet in a kilt.

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Mayerling (1936)

Charles Boyer and Danielle Darrieux star in one of the great romantic film dramas of all time - not to be confused with the 1968 remake.

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Le Crime de M. Lange (1936)

The triumph of the ordinary man over an odious capitalist parasite - surely there can be no political message in this film?

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La Grande illusion (1937)

One of the triumphs of French cinema, this potent anti-war film so offended the Nazis that they tried to obliterate it.

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L'Étrange M. Victor (1937)

Raimu gives one of his towering performances in this sombre tale of guilt, deceit and retribution.

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Regain (1937)

L'Herbier takes a plain melodrama and transforms it into an enthralling dream-like fantasy, heaving with emotional turmoil.

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Un carnet de bal (1937)

What makes this episodic film unmissable is its exceptional cast, which includes Harry Baur, Marie Bell, Fernandel, Louis Jouvet and Raimu.

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Gueule d'amour (1937)

This fine adaptation of André Beucler's novella features Jean Gabin at his near best as a legionnaire who falls for the wrong woman.

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La Marseillaise (1938)

This epic account of the French Revolution is one of Jean Renoir's most ambitious and compelling films.

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Le Schpountz (1938)

French comedy giant Fernanel stars in one of his most famous roles in this enjoyable satire of the French film industry.

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Les Otages (1938)

Raymond Bernard's most unusual film is this strange black comedy on the nature of heroism, released when war in Europe appeared unavoidable.

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