Children of Paradise (Les Enfants du Paradis) - Marcel Carne (1945)

The only black and white, French subtitled movie I had previously seen was 'Jules et Jim'. I was forced to watch during my first year University English course. I think it scarred me for life about foreign films - BORING. (Or at least I thought it was back then.) So I was not filled with much enthusiasm when I found out that this was a black and white, French subtitled film. I was very wrong...this was an awesome movie. 

I have been trying to figure out why it was so good. But I can't. It's just good. The story was engaging, the acting was great. I thought maybe it was just because my expectations were so low...but not the case. In my post-movie reading, this has been called 'the greatest French movie ever made'. I would agree. 

Apparently the amazing thing about this film was it was made during the Nazi occupation of France. Considering the scope of the film - the set, cast and all that stuff - that was a great feat. 

I could go on and on about how wonderful this movie is - but, dear reader, I would suggest you see it yourself. 

One word to describe 'Les Enfants du Paradis': Merveilleux