1955 Best Films and Reviews Cahiers du Cinema

In 1955, Cahiers du Cinema printed 54 film reviews covering 51 films. Two of the films reviewed -- Rebecca and Hallelujah -- were vintage Hollywood productions. All but one of these reviews were published in the Les Films section. Federico Fellini's La Strada was considered of such an importance that its review appeared in the front Le Sommaire section of the March 1954 issue. The "notes on other films" section was discontinued temporarily. On 17 occasions, the reviewer of the film cited the film on his 10 Best Films list, while on 29 occasions, the film was not recognized in the reviewer's list. Eight reviews were filed by reviewers who did not contribute a list. Twenty-eight of the films made at least one list.
Once again Cahiers published 17 Best-Films lists.
The three older generation Cahiers regulars -- André Bazin, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze and Pierre Kast
Seven younger generation Cahiers regulars -- Charles Bitsch, Claude Chabrol, Philippe Demonsablon, Jean-José Richer, Jacques Rivette, François Truffaut and Eric Rohmer (By the end of 1955, Maurice Scherer had pretty much abandoned signature in his Christian name in favor of the nom de plume "Eric Rohmer".)
The other six posting lists were: critic/teacher Henri Agel, film director and theorist Alexander Astruc, novelist/playwright Jacques Audiberti, producer Pierre Braunberger, critic and future director Ado Kyrou, critic Claude Mauriac, and director Alain Resnais. Once again, Jacques Audiberti was the only participant born in the 19th Century, but this year Pierre Braunberger joined in the the 50-something category. Claude Mauriac and Henri Agel were the only 40-somethings.
The convention here will be for the film title to be in green, the reviewer to be in red, whether or not he listed the film to be in white, followed by an enumeration in magenta of those who had listed the film.


Jan 1955
Les Diaboliques André Bazin NO Jacques Audiberti, Claude Mauraic

Romeo and Juliet Jacques Siclier No List (1954 list) André Bazin, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, Pierre Kast, Claude Mauriac, François Truffaut
Le Dernier Pont Jacques Doniol-Valcroze NO Jacques Audiberti, Pierre Braunberger
The Desert Rats Philippe Demonsablon NO (1954 list) Claude Chabrol
Okasan Jacques Doniol-Valcroze NO (1954 list) Henri Agel, Jacques Audiberti, Pierre Braunberger, Pierre Kast, Alain Resnais

February 1955
Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves François Truffaut NO
On the Waterfront Jacques Doniol-Valcroze NO
Dial M for Murder Jacques Doniol-Valcroze NO Charles Bitsch, Jean-José Richer
Le Pain vivant Claude Chabrol NO

March 1955
Le Sommaire
La Strada André Martin No List Henri Agel, Alexander Astruc, Jacques Audiberti, André Bazin, Pierre Braunberger, Pierre Kast, Claude Mauraic, Alain Resnais, Jean-José Richer, Eric Rohmer
Les Films
Sabrina Jacques Doniol-Valcroze NO
Apache/Push Over Claude Chabrol NO/NO François Truffaut (Apache), Jacques Rivette (Apache), Jacques Audiberti (Apache), Alexander Astruc (Apache)

Rebecca Claude Chabrol NO

April 1955
Johnny Guitar Robert Lachenay (François Truffaut) YES Charles Bitsch, Philippe Demonsablon, Alain Resnais, Jacques Rivette
Rear Window Claude Chabrol YES Alexander Astruc, Pierre Braunberger, Charles Bitsch, Philippe Demonsablon, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, Alain Resnais, Jean-José Richer, Jacques Rivette, Eric Rohmer, François Truffaut
Rififi Jacques Doniol-Valcroze YES André Bazin, Pierre Braunberger, Pierre Kast, Ado Kyrou, Jean-José Richer
Destination Gobi Philippe Demonsablon NO

May 1955
French Cancan André Bazin YES Alexander Astruc, Pierre Braunberger, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, Eric Rohmer
Voyage in Italy Maurice Scherer (Eric Rohmer) YES Henri Agel , Alexander Astruc, André Bazin, Charles Bitsch, Claude Chabrol, Philippe Demonsablon, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, Jean-José Richer, Jacques Rivette, François Truffaut
Le Sel de la Terre Willy Acher No List Henri Agel, Ado Kyrou, Alain Resnais
La Tour de Nesle Robert Lachenay (François Truffaut) NO

June 1955
A Star is Born Charles Bitsch NO Eric Rohmer
Vera Cruz François Truffaut NO Ado Kyrou
This is Cinerama André Bazin NO
The Gold of Naples André Bazin YES Pierre Kast, Alain Resnais
A Far Country Philippe Demonsablon NO

July 1955
The Barefoot Contessa Jacques Doniol-Valcroze YES
The Barefoot Contessa François Truffaut YES
The Barefoot Contessa Philippe Demonsablon YES
The Barefoot Contessa Claude Chabrol YES Henri Agel, Alexander Astruc, Charles Bitsch, Claude Mauraic, Eric Rohmer, Alain Resnais
Hill 24 Doesn't Answer Jacques Doniol-Valcroze NO
Magnificent Obsession Philippe Demonsablon NO
The Romance of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai Willy Acher No List
Battle Cry Claude Chabrol NO

August-September 1955
Marty Jacques Doniol-Valcroze NO
08/15 André Martin No List
Human Desire Philippe Demonsablon YES Jacques Rivette
Them Fereydoun Hoveyda No List
World for Ransom Philippe Demonsablon NO

October 1955

Death of a Cyclist Jacques Doniol-Valcroze NO Jacques Audiberti, Pierre Kast, Ado Kyrou

Kiss Me Deadly Charles Bitsch NO Alexander Astruc, Claude Chabrol, Pierre Kast, Ado Kyrou, François Truffaut

November 1955

Les Mauvaises Rencontres Jacques Rivette YES Henri Agel, Jacques Audiberti, André Bazin, Charles Bitsch, Pierre Braunberger, Claude Chabrol, Philippe Demonsablon, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, Pierre Kast, Alain Resnais, Jean-José Richer, François Truffaut

Run for Cover Philippe Demonsablon NO

Comicos Jacques Doniol-Valcroze YES

December 1955

Les Grandes manoevres Jean-José Richer NO

Land of the Pharoahs (the direction) Jacques Rivette YES

Land of the Pharoahs (the screenplay) Claude Chabrol NO Charles Bitsch

Hallelujah Eric Rohmer NO

La Pointe courte Annette Raynaud No List

The White Sheik Pierre Kast YES Henri Agel, Pierre Braunberger, Alain Resnais

Lourdes and its Miracles Henri Agel YES Claude Mauriac

The Big Knife Jean-José Richer YES Alexander Astruc, Jacques Audiberti, André Bazin, Charles Bitsch, Pierre Braunberger, Claude Chabrol, Philippe Demonsablon, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, Pierre Kast, Eric Rohmer, François Truffaut

Man without a Star Philippe Demonsablon NO

Der Letzte Akt - La Fin d'Hitler Jacques Siclier No List

Reviewed January 1956 and cited for 1955
Lola Montès François Truffaut YES
Lola Montès Philippe Demonsablon YES Henri Agel, Alexander Astruc, Jacques Audiberti, André Bazin, Pierre Braunberger, Claude Chabrol, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, Pierre Kast, Claude Mauraic, Jean-José Richer, Jacques Rivette, Eric Rohmer
Ordet Eric Rohmer YES Henri Agel, Alexander Astruc, André Bazin, Charles Bitsch, Pierre Braunberger, Claude Chabrol, Philippe Demonsablon, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, Jean-José Richer, Jacques Rivette
To Catch a Thief Jean-Yves Goute (Claude Chabrol) YES Charles Bitsch, Jacques Rivette, Eric Rohmer
The Blackboard Jungle Jean Domarchi No List
The Blackboard Jungle Philippe Demonsablon YES Claude Chabrol, Ado Kyrou
The Man from Laramie André Bazin YES
Raices Pierre Kast YES Ado Kyrou, Jean-José Richer

Reviewed February 1956
East of Eden François Truffaut YES Jacques Audiberti, Alain Resnais
The Barefoot Contessa/Lola Montès Jacques Siclier No List (see above)

Films not reviewed but cited
Continente perduto -- This Italian documentary which won a Jury Special Prize at Cannes and a Grand Silver Plaque at Berlin in 1955 was cited by Henri Agel.
Donne proibite -- cited by Jacques Audiberti
The Seven Samurai and The Creature from the Black Lagoon -- both cited by Ado Kyrou
Prehistoric Women -- cited by Alain Resnais