Best French Films of the Occupation

La Fille du puisatier (1940)

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The best of Marcel Pagnol's "single mother" dramas brings together two giants of French cinema, Raimu and Fernandel.

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Volpone (1941)

Harry Baur is the definitive Volpone in this superlative adaptation of the famous Ben Jonson play, which also stars Louis Jouvet.

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L'Assassinat du Père Noël (1941)

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This dark murder mystery was the first film to be made in France under the Occupation, which lends it a grim double meaning.

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Le Dernier des six (1941)

Image depicting the film Le Dernier des six

Pierre Fresnay and Suzy Delair make an unlikely crime-fighting duo in this slick comedy thriller, scripted by H.G. Clouzot.

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Les Visiteurs du soir (1942)

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Symbols of French resistance abound in this historical fantasy, made during the Occupation, with a deliciously diabolical performance from Jules Berry.

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Inconnus dans la maison (1942)

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Raimu gives a masterful performance in this dark, atmospheric adaptation of a Georges Simenon novel.

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Le Corbeau (1943)

This "black diamond" of the Occupation is an ingeniously crafted suspense thriller and a shocking depiction of a morally bankrupt society.

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Douce (1943)

This poignant upstairs-downstairs drama has an appealing blend of romance and satire, with a great performance from Odette Joyeux.

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Goupi mains rouges (1943)

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This black comedy-cum-rural thriller features some wonderfully eccentric performances from actors such as Robert Le Vigan and Fernand Ledoux.

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Boule de suif (1945)

Made soon after the Liberation, this spirited satire on the Occupation condemns the complacent bourgeoisie and glorifies the Resistance.

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La Fiancée des ténèbres (1945)

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This creepy neo-realist fantasy feels like a cross between Cocteau's La Belle et la bête and the 1976 horror film The Omen.

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Falbalas (1945)

The world of haute couture is the backdrop for this poignant melodrama in which a top fashion designer is driven insane by love.

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Un ami viendra ce soir (1946)

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The first French film to tackle France's treatment of Jews during WWII and the thorny issue of collaboration with the Nazis.

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Monsieur Vincent (1947)

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This compelling portrait of St Vincent de Paul, starring Pierre Fresnay, was the first French film to win an Oscar.

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Quai des Orfèvres (1947)

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This dark suspense thriller from the director of Les Diaboliques gives a rare insight into the French music hall of the 1940s.

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Les Jeux sont faits (1947)

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Philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre conceived this existentialist fantasy, which explores the question of free will with imagination and humour.

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Le Silence est d'or (1947)

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Maurice Chevalier stars in this delightful Parisian melodrama, René Clair's first French film after his return from Hollywood.

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Le Diable au corps (1947)

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Gérard Philipe is perfectly cast as the hero of this sublime adaptation of Raymond Radiguet's scandalous 1923 novel.

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