For a nation that was badly scarred by both World Wars, is it so surprising that some of the most profound and poignant war films were made in France?

The silent era of French cinema

Before the advent of sound France was a world leader in cinema. Find out more about this overlooked era.

The very best American film comedies

American film comedy had its heyday in the 1920s and '30s, but it remains an important genre and has given American cinema some of its enduring classics.

The best French Films of the 1920s

In the 1920s French cinema was at its most varied and stylish - witness the achievements of Abel Gance, Marcel L'Herbier, Jean Epstein and Jacques Feyder.

The best French Films of the 1910s

In the 1910s, French cinema led the way with a new industry which actively encouraged innovation. From the serials of Louis Feuillade to the first auteur pieces of Abel Gance, this decade is rich in cinematic marvels.

Useful Links

Other things to look at

Biography of Raymond Bernard

Review of Germinal

Review of La Terra trema

Review of La Reine Margot

Review of A Matter of Life and Death