Cinema of France
France has been influential in the development of film as a mass medium and as an art form.
Early personalities
- Gaumont Pictures
- Lumiere Brothers
- Georges Méliès
- Pathé Frères
Post-World War II period
At the Cahiers du cinéma, critics and lovers of film would discuss film and why it worked. Modern film theory was born there. Additionally, many of the theoreticians went on to make films themselves.
Personalities from 1950-1960 period
- André Bazin
- François Truffaut (New Wave director)
- Jean-Luc Godard (New Wave director)
- Jacques Tati (actor, comedian)
- Jean-Louis Trintignant (actor)
- Roger Vadim (director)
- Brigitte Bardot (actor)
- Jean Cocteau
- Jean Renoir
- Alain Resnais
- Jean-Paul Belmondo
- Sarah Bernhardt
- Maurice Chevalier
- Marcel Marceau
- Michel Piccoli
Actors since 1960
- Catherine Deneuve
- Daniel Auteuil
- Gérard Depardieu
- Vincent Cassel
- Marie Trintignant
- Mathieu Kassovitz
- Emmanuelle Béart
- Juliette Binoche, Academy Award for role in The English patient
- Isabelle Huppert
- Virginie Ledoyen
- Sophie Marceau, Princess Isabelle in Braveheart, a "Bond" Girl
- Emmanuelle Seigner
- Audrey Tautou
- Michael Vartan
Directors since 1960
- Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- Mathieu Kassovitz
- Jean-Jacques Annaud
- Olivier Assayas
- Luc Besson
- Catherine Breillat
- Abel Gance
Various actors
- Isabelle Adjani
- Renée Adorée
- Anouk Aimée
- Fanny Ardant
- Jean-Pierre Aumont
- Charles Aznavour
- Charles Boyer
- Capucine
- Leslie Caron
- Aurore Clément
- Claudette Colbert
- Alain Delon
- Julie Delpy
- Fernandel
- Louis de Funès
- Judith Godrèche
- Irène Jacob
- Jean Marais
- Mistinguett
- Simone Signoret
- Hervé Villechaize
