Prison Without Bars
To mark the release of Xavier Giannoli’s film, The Rays and Shadows, we delved into our collections to present to you three films directed by Léonide Moguy at the end of the 1930s in France. Actress Corinne Luchaire, one of the central characters in Giannoli's film, starred in Moguy's films. They all illustrate, in their own way — and in a particularly striking manner today — a social and political turning point in France, between the Popular Front and the progressive demands of 1936, and the rise of the far right, just a few months before World War II.
In a reformatory, an inmate saved by the kindness of an understanding warden steals the heart of the man she loves...
Léonide Moguy
Léonide Moguy was a French filmmaker of Russian descent. He was committed to using cinema to improve society, prompting audiences to reflect on human and social issues. A renowned editor and actor’s director, he tackled several controversial subjects for his time. He was interested in human psychology and sought to develop his female characters more deeply so as not to reduce the actresses he worked with to their physical appearance. In doing so, he helped launch the careers of several future stars, including Corinne Luchaire, Mylène Demongeot, Sophia Loren, and Pier Angeli. During his stay in the United States, he also gave Ava Gardner one of her first major roles.
