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The History of French Cinema: 1955

29/1 -

Henri-Georges Clouzot's psychological thriller Les Diaboliques is released.   Customers are refused entry into cinemas after the film has started and the audience are requested by a title card at the end of the film that requests "Don't be diabolical yourself. Don't spoil the ending for your friends by telling them what you've just seen. On their behalf -- Thank you" [ADD}

13/4 -

Jules Dassin’s heist movie Du rifìfì chez les hommes is released.   Dassin and scriptwriter Auguste Le Breton transform a familiar tale of criminals executing a daring robbery into a tense and engaging thriller.   Jean Servais, Carl Mohner, Robert Manuel, Magali Noël and Dassin himself (as Perlo Vita) star. [ADD}

20/4 -

The premises of the Cinémathèque Française in Avenue de Messine are closed. [ADD}

27/4 -

French Cancan, Jean Renoir’s first French film in fifteen years, is released.   Jean Gabin stars as Ziedler, founder of the Moulin Rouge. [ADD}

1/8 -

While filming Trapeze in Paris, Sally Marlow, the stunt double for Gina Lollobrigida, breaks her nose in an accident. [ADD}

3/9 -

Charles Lindbergh’s triumphant arrival in France is recreated for a scene in Billy Wilder’s biopic of the aviator, The Pride of St. Louis. [ADD}

29/11 -

In Paris, Jean Delannoy films the beheading of Michele Morgan as Marie Antoinette for his forthcoming biopic, Marie-Antoinette reine de France. [ADD}

23/12 -

Max Ophul’s last film, the fictionalised biopic of famous courtesan Lola Montes is released.   Its fractured structure, in the form of numerous flashbacks that are not necessarily in chronological order, divide the critics.   Martine Carol stars as Lola, with Peter Ustinov, Anton Walbrook, Will Quadflieg and Oskar Werner in support. [ADD}

23/12 -

Robert Hossein marries young actress Marina Vlady, the younger sister of Odile Versois, in Paris. [ADD}

– Arthouse cinemas offering specialised programming begin to appear. [ADD}

Other Key French Films of 1955

The History of Cinema: 1955