The filmmaker Tavernier forgot to interview

PostED ON OCTOBER 18 2022

Every day, Lumière shines the spotlight on a little-known filmmaker and a movie worth discovering; doing justice to these forgotten films in the history of cinema is also the role of the Lumière Film Festival.

Who is he?

Anatole Litvak (1902-1974), the most European of American filmmakers. His life story followed the turmoil of the century: a Jew born in Ukraine, he constantly emigrated to the West, working in Germany, France (directing ‘Mayerling’, which had launched the career of Danielle Darrieux) before settling in Hollywood. He ended his career in Europe, where he directed prestigious international co-productions (‘Anastasia’, ‘The Night of the Generals’).

His film at the Lumière Film Festival?

Previously unreleased in France, ‘The Long Night’ (1947) is an extremely faithful remake of Marcel Carné's ‘Daybreak’ (‘Le Jour se lève’). Since we don't touch masterpieces: the movie has a bad reputation, which is largely unfounded when we finally discover it. The acting is tremendous: Henry Fonda takes on the role of Jean Gabin with all his humanity, while Vincent Price is as creepy as ever in the role played by Jules Berry. Litvak softens Carné's darkness, showing, heart-warmingly, a crowd in solidarity with the hero holed up in his apartment...

What makes it worth discovering?

His American period is not well known, with films like ‘Three Sisters’, ‘Sorry, Wrong Number’ and ‘Decision Before Dawn’. Bertrand Tavernier himself regretted never having interviewed Litvak, even though the latter had spent the last twenty years of his life in France. When will we see a retrospective?

The Long Night, 1947

A. F .

Screening:

The Long Night  by Anatole Litvak (1947, 1h41)
Cinéma Opéra Tue. 18 2:30pm