And Then There Were None 1945  N/R, 97 min.
Genre: Mystery / Drama / Thriller
Director: Rene Clair
Cast: Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston, Louis Hayward, June Duprez, Roland Young, C. Aubrey Smith, Judith Anderson, Mischa Auer, Richard Haydn, Queenie Leonard, Harry Thurston
A mysterious host invites 10 people to spend a weekend in a house on a deserted island . Once assembled, the guests hear a record that accuses them all of past murders. Then the guests become murder victims, one by one. From an Agatha Christie story, this was remade several times as "Ten Little Indians." This one, however, remains one of the best.
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 The Flame of New Orleans 1941  N/R, 78 min.
Genre: Comedy / Adventure / Drama / Romance
Director: Rene Clair
Cast: Marlene Dietrich, Bruce Cabot, Roland Young, Mischa Auer, Andy Devine, Laura Hope Crews, Franklin Pangborn, Melville Cooper, Anne Revere, Clarence Muse, Frank Jenks, Eddie Quillan, Theresa Harris
Beautiful Claire Ledoux (Marlene Dietrich) arrives in mid-19th century New Orleans with plans to marry a rich man. Her plot leads her to wealthy banker Charles Giraud (Roland Young), but she then learns that sea captain Robert Latour (Bruce Cabot) is interested in her. Problems arise when Zoltov (Mischa Auer), who knew Claire in Europe, tells people that Claire has a checkered past. Now, Claire assumes two identities to cover her adventurous tracks, but Charles eventually figures out the truth, and Claire ends up with her sea captain.
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Freedom for Us 1931 N/R, 104 min.
Genre: Foreign / Drama / Comedy / Musical
Director: Rene Clair
Cast: Henri Marchand, Raymond Cordy, Paul Ollivier, Andre Michaud, Rolla France, Germaine Aussey, Leon Lorin, William Burke, Vincent Hyspa, Alexander D'Arcy, Jacques Shelly, Albert Broquin, Maximilienne, Eugene Stuber, Marguerite de Morlaye
This famous anti-capitalist statement starts with two prisoners who become friends. Louis (Raymond Cordy) escapes and becomes an executive at a phonograph factory. When his friend, Emile (Henri Marchand), gets out of jail, he ends up as an assembly-line worker at his friend's factory. The de-humanization of the workers is highlighted with comedic interludes. This is the first non-English speaking film to receive an Oscar nomination (Best Art Direction).
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The Grand Maneuver 1955 N/R, 104 min.
Genre: Foreign / Comedy
Director: Rene Clair
Cast: Michele Morgan, Gerard Philipe, Brigitte Bardot, Yves Robert, Jean Desailly, Pierre Dux, Jacques Francois, Lise Delamare, Jacques Fabbri
Set in France during the early 20th century, this French offering involves the efforts of a cavalry lieutenant, Armand de la Verne (Gerard Philipe), to win a bet that he can seduce the young divorcee, Marie-Louise (Michele Morgan). Watch for a very young Brigitte Bardot in the role of Lucie.
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 I Married a Witch 1942 N/R, 76 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Rene Clair
Cast: Fredric March, Veronica Lake, Cecil Kellaway, Robert Benchley, Susan Hayward, Elizabeth Patterson, Robert Warwick, Emory Parnell, Emma Dunn, Eily Malyon
A victim (Veronica Lake) of the 17th-century Salem witch trials comes back to life in the 20th century to torment descendants of those who condemned her to death and falls in love instead.
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It Happened Tomorrow 1944  N/R, 84 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Rene Clair
Cast: Dick Powell, Linda Darnell, Jack Oakie, Edgar Kennedy, John Philliber, Edward Brophy, George Cleveland, Sig Ruman, Paul Guilfoyle, Eddie Acuff, George Chandler, Marion Martin
Set in the 1890s, young newspaper reporter Larry (Dick Powell) seeks ways to rise above his competition in the newsgathering world. He meets a mysterious man who grants him the power to foresee the next day's news. All goes well until Larry's own death is predicted. Will he be able to avoid the prediction from happening? And what about his true love Sylvia (Linda Darnell), the daughter of a fake psychic? A fun comedy/fantasy.
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Under the Roofs of Paris 1930 N/R, 96 min.
Genre: Foreign / Musical
Director: Rene Clair
Cast: Albert Prejean, Pola Illery, Edmond T. Greville, Paul Ollivier, Gaston Modot, Bill Bocker, Jane Pierson, Raymond Aimos, Thomy Bourdelle
First made as a silent film, music and dialog were then added in this early musical/drama. Best friends Albert and Louis (Albert Prejean and Edmond T. Greville) are street singers, and both vie for another singer, Pola (Pola Illery). When Albert is wrongfully sent to prison, Louis and Pola become lovers. But when Albert gets out of jail, the three come to an agreement.
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| 1. And Then There Were None (1945)
2. The Flame of New Orleans (1941)
3. Freedom for Us (1931)
4. The Grand Maneuver (1955)
5. I Married a Witch (1942)
6. It Happened Tomorrow (1944)
7. The Million (1931)
8. Under the Roofs of Paris (1930)
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