Charles Spaak — Playwright (18)
Before the Deluge (1954) [Movie] TMDB IMDb WikiData
Avant le déluge
other title: Prima del diluvio / Vor der Sintflut
The title of this French "reality" drama, which translates to Before the Deluge, is a play on Louis XVI's famous prognostication, "Apres moi, le deluge." Set in 1950, the film concentrates on five Parisian adolescents. Certain that the next war will herald the apocalypse, the youngster make plans to run off to a desert island and set up a new society. This, however, will require money, which is why the boys decide to pull off a "necessary" robbery. Idealism collapses in the face of cold reality, as the five youths suffer from the consequences of their actions. Avant le Deluge was one of a group of films cowritten by director Andre Cayatte and Charles Spaak which endeavored to explore the touchy social issues of the day: others in the Cayatte-Spaak canon include the euthanasia-themed Justice est Faite and the capital-punishment tract Nous sommes tous des assassins.
Adorable Creatures (1952) [Movie] TMDB IMDb
Adorables créatures
other title: Liebenswerte Frauen / Adorables créatures
Andre Noblet, a 21-year-old French artist falls madly in love with Christine, the mother of two children. He tells Chistine he will tell all to her husband and demand her freedom. Christine learns that her husband has been carrying on a romance of his own and they have a meeting.
The Boarder (1954) [Movie] IMDb WikiData TMDB
La spiaggia
director: Alberto Lattuada actor: Martine Carol / Raf Vallone
other title: La Spiaggia / La Pensionnaire
A mysterious woman takes her daughter on vacation after they've been separated for several months. There, she meets some of the richest and most eccentric people, who are hiding just as much as she is.
Diamonds Are Brittle (1965) [Movie] WikiData IMDb TMDB
Un milliard dans un billard
director: Nicolas Gessner actor: Jean Seberg / Claude Rich
other title: Allarme in cinque banche / Diamantenbillard
Bernard Noblet is a modest bank clerk with a passion for billiards. His fiancée Juliette, a schoolteacher, dreams of one day living the high life, and his best friend Roger, a little-known inventor, is equally despairing. After careful consideration, a solution emerges: a cleverly organized hold-up will enable them to live in luxury for the rest of their lives. Bernard soon makes the acquaintance of Bettina and her mother, Madame Ralton, professionals in the "heist" business.
Hatred (1938) [Movie] TMDB IMDb WikiData
Mollenard
director: Robert Siodmak actor: Harry Baur / Albert Préjean
other title: Mollenard / El capitán corsario
Captain Justin Mollenard works for a company that sells armaments to the Far East. After an eventful stay in Shanghai, where he and his cargo are the victim of a malicious attack, he returns to his hometown of Dunkirk. Mollenard receives a frosty welcome from his wife Mathilde, who resents the way in which he has neglected his family for so many years. Mollenard’s only wish is to get back to sea as soon as he can, but a sudden heart-attack leaves him paralysed and entirely in his wife’s power...
Crime and Punishment (1956) [Movie] IMDb WikiData TMDB
Crime et châtiment
director: Georges Lampin actor: Jean Gabin / Marina Vlady
other title: I peccatori guardano il cielo / Schuld und Sühne
Former student Raskolnikov is pushed to murder when struggling to pay the rent on his apartment. When the murder is being investigated by the police, Raskolnikov struggles between trying to hide his guilt and the pressure to confess.
The Idiot (1946) [Movie] TMDB IMDb WikiData
L'Idiot
other title: Der Idiot / L'Idiot
Muichkine, a young Russian prince, returns home to St. Petersburg from a mental institution, determined to spread decency and kindness in the harsh and cruel world. He becomes betrothed to an innocent young girl while trying to save a less-innocent woman from her own travail, but jealousy and his own naivete conjoin to bring about unimaginable tragedy.
Behind These Walls (1946) [Movie] IMDb WikiData TMDB
Jéricho
other title: Jéricho
June 1944, a French town towards the end of the occupation. Following several attacks perpetrated by the resistance, the inhabitants who listen to English radio are rounded up by the Germans in a prison and considered as hostages. In one of the cells are found men from all walks of life: an aristocrat, the Viscount of Saint-Leu, Doctor Noblet, a resistance fighter, Béquille the wanderer with a wooden leg, and a strange character nicknamed "Black Market". The latter arouses mistrust among the prisoners, because it could well have been introduced by the enemy.
The End of the Day (1939) [Movie] IMDb TMDB WikiData
La Fin du jour
director: Julien Duvivier actor: Louis Jouvet / Michel Simon
other title: I prigionieri del sogno / Lebensabend
Aged penniless actors are living in a old people's home. They always talk about their past glory or failures. One day Raphael Saint-Clair comes; he has been a famous actor and had a lot of love affairs. Passions come back, and jealousies... A bitter film about aging, failure and the entertainment.
War Goddess (1973) [Movie] TMDB IMDb WikiData
Le guerriere dal seno nudo
director: Terence Young actor: Alena Johnston / Sabine Sun
other title: Le guerriere dal seno nudo / Les Amazones
Alena Johnston is Antione, the War Goddess of the Amazons, who must mate with the Greek king Theseus to propogate her race. Traditionally this is done only out of duty, but this time she falls in love with her "boy toy"... a definite no-no for an Amazon queen. Helmed by James Bond director Terence Young and based on a story co-authored by Robert Graves, this sexy and spectacular entry in the sword-and-sandal genre features an incredible bevy of Euro-cult starlets including Rosanna Yanni, Helga Line and Luciana Paluzzi, plus a lyrical score by Academy Award-winner Riz Ortolani.
The Last Turning (1939) [Movie] IMDb TMDB WikiData
Le Dernier Tournant
director: Pierre Chenal actor: Fernand Gravey / Michel Simon
other title: Le Dernier Tournant / Le dernier tournant
Frank, a hobo, ends up in a garage-truck stop in the middle of nowhere. Nick Marino, its older, kind and naive owner, is married to Cora, a sexy and mercenary woman half his age. Frank, although not a fan of hard work, accepts Nick's offer to work for him. Of course, it is not for Nick's sake that the young man becomes his attendant, but for the love of Cora under whose spell he has fallen at once. It does not take long before Cora, who despises her husband, asks her lover to help her get rid of him. Frank is reluctant at first but ...
The Strange Monsieur Victor (1938) [Movie] TMDB IMDb WikiData
L'Étrange Monsieur Victor
director: Jean Grémillon actor: Raimu / Madeleine Renaud
other title: Lo strano signor Vittorio / Der merkwürdige Herr Victor
Outwardly, Monsieur Victor would appear to be the model citizen. A respectable Toulon shopkeeper, he has a devoted wife and is courteous and considerate to all who know him. However, beneath this veneer of respectability hides a notorious receiver of stolen goods, who trades with hardened criminals. Victor manages to keep up his double life without any difficulty until the fateful day when one of his partners in crime threatens to expose him. Fearing a scandal, Victor kills the crook in a moment of panic, using a shoemaker's tool. Naturally, the murder is blamed on a local shoemaker, who is sentenced to ten years' hard labour. Seven years later, the former shoemaker reappears in Toulon, having escaped from prison. The first person to recognise him is Monsieur Victor...