'Children Of Paradise'

An interesting film because it was voted as the greatest French film of all time in 1995. Since I've seen this film and about two dozen others from the 1950s and 1960s, I find this hard to believe.

It's also interesting -- and this may be why it received such a distinction -- point is that it was filmed during the Vichy regime or German occupation of France. It was released in 1945.

The film was a bit of a rebellion against the restrictions the government set out to make on French art at the time. A time limit was set for 90 minutes, so the film was split into two.

Many of the extras in the film were Resistance fighters needing daytime cover and having had to work elbow to elbow with Vichy sympathizers. Several of the production crew were Jewish.

After the Allied invasion of northern France, filming was suspended. Some think only (the film was done in the south of France) to have the film be released after liberation. Cans of film were hidden in case liberation did come before release (which sounds dirty).

Robert le Vigan portrayed a snitch in the film. Ironically, he was actually an informant for the Nazis and he was sentenced to death by the resistance. He was tried and convicted in 1946. Although one scene with le Vigan remains in the film, he was replaced by Jean Renoir's brother, Pierre.

Historically and nostalgically, this film is probably the greatest in France's history. But is context of release important to the film's total impact?