French cinema under the Occupation
Under the direction of Alfred Greven, a former soldier and staunch Nazi, the company produced thirty full-length films between 1941 and 1944. Thanks to the considerable resources provided by the Germans and Greven's insistence on engaging only the best artists and technicians in an attempt to rival the achievements of Hollywood, these films were generally of exceptional quality and include a number that are now regarded as classics of French cinema - notably Le Corbeau, La Main de diable, Cécile est morte and Au bonheur des dames. All but one of the films produced by Continental were recorded at Paris Studios Cinéma in Billancourt. Continental's last film Les Caves du majestic was shot at Neuilly, rue du Château.
Despite the German censorship, some of these films do contain subtle anti-Nazi messages and hint at covert support for the French resistance, although others, such as Maurice Tourneur's Le Val d'enfer, are blatantly pro-Vichy.
The list of directors who worked for Continental is truly impressive, including such names as: Henri-Georges Clouzot, André Cayatte, Maurice Tourneur and Christian-Jaque. Equally, the list of actors includes some of the most talented and popular performers of the day: Danielle Darrieux, Pierre Fresnay, Albert Préjean, Fernandel.
After the Liberation of France by the Allies in 1944, Continental was immediately wound up, the last film to be made being Les Caves du Majestic.
The most notable film to made by Continental was the dark psychological thriller Le Corbeau. This film acquired a reputation as Nazi propaganda and was banned straight after the Liberation; its director, H.G. Clouzot, was forbidden from making films for three years and its lead actor, Pierre Fresnay, was imprisoned for six months.
Despite the association with the Nazi Occupation, the films made by Continental constitute an integral part of French cinema history, and represent French filmmaking in the 1940s at its best.
Premier rendez-vous (1941)
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Le Dernier des six (1941)
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Ne bougez-plus (1941)
Péchés de jeunesse (1941)
Mam'zelle Bonaparte (1941)
Caprices (1942)
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Annette et la dame blonde (1942)
La Symphonie fantastique (1942)
Jean-Louis Barrault stars in this lavish historical drama which recounts the life of the great composer Hector Berlioz.
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Les Inconnus dans la maison (1942)
Raimu gives a great performance in this dark, atmospheric adaptation of a Georges Simenon novel.
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L'Assassin habite au 21 (1942)
Pierre Fresnay is teamed up with Suzy Delair once more in this classic comedy thriller, which includes some deliciously eccentric performances.
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La Fausse maîtresse (1942)
André Cayatte's first film is so unlike the kind of film he is known for (crime-dramas). It is a light comedy, starring the delightful Danielle Darrieux.Read full review...
Simplet (1942)
Comedy giant Fernandel makes his directorial debut with this enjoyable Provençal comedy.Read full review...
Défense d'aimer (1942)
Richard Pottier's first film for Continental sees Suzy Delair paired with Paul Meurisse.Mariage d'Amour (1942)
Henri Decoin's least memorable film for Continental, a melodrama starring François Périer and Paul Meurisse.Picpus (1943)
The first of three films made by Continental which see popular actor Albert Préjean in the role of the world-famous sleuth Maigret.Read full review...
La Main du Diable (1943)
Pierre Fresnay stars in one of the most memorable and disturbing of French fantasy films, inspired by a notorious German horror film.Read full review...
Vingt-cinq ans de bonheur (1943)
A little-known comedy starring Denise Grey and Jean Tissier.Au bonheur des dames (1943)
Michel Simon, Albert Préjean and Suzy Prim star in this rather poignant drama, André Cayatte's second film, made under very difficult circumstances.Read full review...
Le Val d'enfer (1943)
This strikingly naturalistic drama features a great performance from Ginette Leclerc, and can be interpreted as an allegory for resistance to the Nazi Occupation.Read full review...
Le Corbeau (1943)
This "black diamond" of the Occupation is regarded as a masterpiece, the first of Clouzot's great films and featuring a great performance from Pierre Fresnay.Read full review...
Mon amour est près de toi (1943)
Director Richard Pottier teams up with popular singer Tino Rossi in this humdrum comedy.La Ferme aux loups (1943)
This entertaining comedy-thriller sees Martine Carol in her first significant screen role.Adrien (1943)
Fernandel is on fine form in this entertaining screwball comedy, which he also directed.Read full review...
Pierre et Jean (1943)
Renée Saint-Cyr stars in this early film melodrama from André Cayatte.Cécile est morte (1944)
Albert Préjean reprises the role of Maigret in this atmospheric thriller, which has more than a touch of film noir about it.Read full review...
La Vie de plaisir (1944)
Possibly the unluckiest French film ever! It was released just before the Liberation (May 1944), when powercuts were rife, only to be banned (for being anti-French) one month later.Les Caves du Majestic (1945)
For the third and final time, Albert Préjean plays the role of Maigret in this ingenious murder mystery.Read full review...