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Continental-Films (also known
as Continental) was a film
production company financed and managed by the Germans at the time when
France was under Nazi Occupation during World War II. The company
was created in September 1940 by the Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph
Goebbels to give the Germans some control over the French film
industry, as part of a strategy of suppressing French nationalism.
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.
Despite the German censorship, some of these films do contain anti-Nazi
messages and hint at covert support for the French resistance, perhaps
the most blatant example being Maurice Tourneur's Le Val d'enfer.
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 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.
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Henri Decoin (1941) |
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Maurice Gleize (1941) |
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Danielle Darrieux, one of the most popular young actresses of her day,
stars in this light romantic comedy, directed by her former husband Henri Decoin.
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Fernandel was already a huge star in France by the time he came to make this, his
first film comedy for Continental.
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Georges Lacombe (1941) |
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Christian-Jaque (1941) |
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Pierre Fresnay and Suzy Delair make an unlikely crime-fighting duo in this
slick comedy thriller, scripted by none other than H.G. Clouzot.
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Harry Baur stars in this compelling melange of fairy tale, romance, melodrama and
suspense thriller - a dark yet beautiful film.
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Pierre Caron (1941) |
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Maurice Tourneur (1941) |
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A lightweight comedy that is almost forgotten - not one of Continental's biggest successes.
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Maurice Tourneur's first film for Continental is this run-of-the-mill
drama which features the great Harry Baur.
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Maurice Tourneur (1942) |
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Léo Joannon (1942) |
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Edwige Feuillère and Raymond Rouleau star in this conventional drama,
Maurice Tourneur's second film for Continental.
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Danielle Darrieux and Albert Préjean make a memorable
couple in this sparkling romantic comedy.
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Jean Dréville (1942) |
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Christian-Jaque (1942) |
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Jean Dréville's only film for Continental was this slightly wooden
romantic drama.
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Jean-Louis Barrault stars in this lavish historical drama
which recounts the life of the great composer Hector Berlioz.
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Henri Decoin (1942) |
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Henri-Georges Clouzot (1942) |
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Raimu gives a great performance in this dark, atmospheric adaptation of a
Georges Simenon novel.
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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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André Cayatte (1942) |
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Fernandel and Carlo Rim (1942) |
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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.
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Comedy giant Fernandel makes his directorial debut with this enjoyable
Provençal comedy.
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Richard Pottier (1942) |
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Henri Decoin (1942) |
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Richard Pottier's first film for Continental sees Suzy Delair paired with Paul Meurisse.
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Henri Decoin's least memorable film for Continental, a
melodrama starring François Périer and Paul Meurisse.
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Richard Pottier (1943) |
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Maurice Tourneur (1943) |
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The first of three films made by Continental which see popular actor
Albert Préjean in the role of the world-famous sleuth Maigret.
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Pierre Fresnay stars in one of the most memorable and disturbing of French fantasy
films, inspired by a notorious German horror film.
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René Jayet (1943) |
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André Cayatte (1943) |
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A little-known comedy starring Denise Grey and Jean Tissier.
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Michel Simon, Albert Préjean and Suzy Prim star in this rather poignant
drama, André Cayatte's second film, made under very difficult circumstances.
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Maurice Tourneur (1943) |
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Henri-Georges Clouzot (1943) |
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This strikingly naturalistic drama features a great performance from
Ginette Leclerc, and can be interpreted as an allegory for resistance to the Nazi Occupation.
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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.
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Richard Pottier (1943) |
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Richard Pottier (1943) |
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Director Richard Pottier teams up with popular singer Tino Rossi in this
humdrum comedy.
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This entertaining comedy-thriller sees Martine Carol in her first significant screen role.
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Fernandel (1943) |
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André Cayatte (1943) |
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Fernandel is on fine form in this entertaining screwball comedy, which he also directed.
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Renée Saint-Cyr stars in this early film melodrama from André Cayatte.
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Maurice Tourneur (1944) |
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Albert Valentin (1944) |
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Albert Préjean reprises the role of Maigret in this atmospheric thriller,
which has more than a touch of film noir about it.
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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.
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Richard Pottier (1945) |
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André Cayatte (1946) |
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For the third and final time, Albert Préjean plays the role of Maigret
in this ingenious murder mystery.
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A lacklustre crime drama, one of André Cayatte's least memorable films.
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Filmed
in 1941
L'Assassinat du père Noël
Le Dernier des six
Premier rendez-vous
Le Club des soupirants
Péchés de jeunesse
Ne bougez plus
Caprices
Mam'zelle Bonaparte
Annette et la dame blonde
La Symphonie fantastique
Les Inconnus dans la maison
Filmed in 1942
Simplet
Mariage d'amour
La Fausse maîtresse
L'Assassin habite au 21
Défense d'aimer
La Main du Diable
Picpus
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Filmed
in 1943
Vingt-cinq ans de bonheur
Au bonheur des dames
Adrien
Le Corbeau
Mon amour est près de toi
Le Val d'enfer
La Ferme aux loups
Pierre et Jean
La Vie de plaisir
Le Dernier sou
Cécile est morte
Filmed in 1944
Les Caves du Majestic
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