Charles-Marie Vanel was a French actor and director. During his 65-year film career, which began in 1923, he appeared in more than 200 films and worked with many prominent directors, including Alfred Hitchcock, Luis Buñuel, Jacques Feyder, and Henri-Georges Clouzot. He is perhaps best remembered for his role as a desperate truck driver in Clouzot's The Wages of Fear for which he received a Special Mention at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953.
Personal Column is a 1939 French thriller film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Maurice Chevalier, Pierre Renoir, Marie Déa and Erich von Stroheim. It was shot at the Joinville Studios in Paris. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Maurice Colasson and Georges Wakhévitch. Lured, an American re-make, directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Lucille Ball, was released in 1947.
Cargaison blanche or Le Chemin de Rio is a 1937 French crime film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Käthe von Nagy, Jules Berry and Suzy Prim. in which two journalists go on the trail of gangsters who are kidnapping women to sell in South America. The film was made by Nero Film, with sets designed by the art director Lucien Aguettand. It was remade in 1958 directed by Georges Lacombe.
Samson is 1936 French drama film directed by Maurice Tourneur and starring Harry Baur, Gaby Morlay and André Lefaur. It was based on the 1908 play of the same title by Henri Bernstein, which had previously been made into three silent films. The film was shot at the Joinville Studios in Paris, with sets designed by the art director Guy de Gastyne.
A Rare Bird is a 1935 French comedy film directed by Richard Pottier and starring Pierre Brasseur, Max Dearly and Monique Rolland. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Robert Hubert and Jacques Krauss. It is based on the 1934 novel Three Men in the Snow by Erich Kästner.
Immediate Call, is a 1939 French comedy drama film, directed by Léon Mathot and starring Mireille Balin, Roger Duchesne, Erich von Stroheim, and Bernard Lancret. The plot is about a hosted peace conference, that results in saving the world.
The Alibi is a 1937 French mystery film directed by Pierre Chenal and starring Erich von Stroheim, Albert Préjean and Jany Holt. It has been described as a precursor to film noir.
Thunder Over Paris is a 1940 French drama film directed by Dominique Bernard-Deschamps and starring Arletty, Marcel Dalio and Annie Ducaux. It was shot at the Joinville Studios of Pathé in Paris. The film's sets were designed by the art director Robert Hubert. It was filmed before the outbreak of war and released during the Phoney War period before the Fall of France.
The Dance of Death, is a 1948 French-Italian drama film directed by Marcel Cravenne and starring Erich von Stroheim, Denise Vernac and Palau. It is based on August Strindberg's The Dance of Death. It was shot at the Titanus Studios in Rome and the Icet Studios in Milan. The film's sets were designed by Georges Wakhévitch.
Alarm in Morocco is a 1953 French-Italian adventure film directed by Jean-Devaivre and starring Jean-Claude Pascal, Gianna Maria Canale and Erich von Stroheim. Partly shot on location in Morocco, it was made using the Gevacolor process.
The Other Side of Paradise is a 1953 French drama film directed by Edmond T. Gréville and starring Erich von Stroheim, Jacques Sernas and Denise Vernac. Much of the film was shot on location in Provence. The film's sets were designed by the art director Jean Douarinou.
The Benefactor is a 1942 French crime film directed by Henri Decoin and starring Raimu, Suzy Prim and Pierre Larquey. It was shot at the Cité Elgé Studios in Paris. The film's sets were designed by the art director Serge Piménoff.
Devil and the Angel is a 1946 French drama film directed by Pierre Chenal and starring Madeleine Sologne, Erich von Stroheim and Louis Salou.
The West is a 1938 French drama film directed by Henri Fescourt and starring Charles Vanel, José Noguéro and Hélène Robert. It is a remake of the director's own 1928 silent film of the same title.
Crossroads is a 1938 French mystery drama film directed by Curtis Bernhardt and starring Charles Vanel, Jules Berry and Suzy Prim. It inspired two English-language remakes, the 1940 British film Dead Man's Shoes and Hollywood's Crossroads in 1942. It was shot at the Billancourt Studios in Paris and on location in the city. The film's sets were designed by the art director Jean d'Eaubonne and Raymond Gabutti.
The Assault is a 1936 French drama film directed by Pierre-Jean Ducis and starring Charles Vanel, Alice Field and Madeleine Robinson. It is based on the 1912 play of the same title by Henri Bernstein.
That's Not the Way to Die is a 1946 French mystery crime film directed by Jean Boyer and starring Erich von Stroheim, Anne-Marie Blanc and Denise Vernac. The film's sets were designed by the art director Aimé Bazin. It borrows its main plot device from the 1932 American film The Death Kiss. von Stroheim was not happy with the film, but felt it received good reviews and was popular with audiences.
The Last of the Six is a 1941 French mystery thriller film directed by Georges Lacombe and starring Pierre Fresnay, Michèle Alfa and Suzy Delair. It was shot at the Billancourt Studios in Paris. The film's sets were designed by the art director Andrej Andrejew. It is based on the 1931 novel The Six Dead Men by the Belgian writer Stanislas-André Steeman.
Threats is a 1940 French drama film directed by Edmond T. Gréville and starring Mireille Balin, John Loder, Ginette Leclerc and Erich von Stroheim. Gréville began production on the film shortly after the Munich Agreement of September 1938. It was shot at the François 1er Studios in Paris. The film's sets were designed by the art director Lucien Jaquelux.
Alexis, Gentleman Chauffeur is a 1938 French comedy film directed by Max de Vaucorbeil and René Guissart and starring Suzy Prim, André Luguet and Raymond Cordy. The film's sets were designed by the art director Émile Duquesne.
