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Private company

Le Film d'art

Logo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

French movement of early narrative films

Film d'art (French for "art film") was an influential film movement or genre that developed in France prior to World War I and began with the release of L'Assassinat du duc de Guise (1908), directed by Charles Le Bargy and André Calmettes of the Comédie Française for the Société Film d'Art, a company formed to adapt prestigious theatre plays starring famous performers to the screen. The success of L'Assassinat du duc de Guise inspired other companies to make similar films, initiating the film d'art movement.2 It was founded by Paul Laffitte.1 It ceased to exist in 1972.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

Jan 18, 1908Founded1
  • HeadquartersFrance1

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Scene from film Camille with Sarah Bernhardt in the title role
Photo: Film d’Art production; released in the U.S. in 1912 by the French-American Film Company as Camille, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons4

Film d'art (French for "art film") was an influential film movement or genre that developed in France prior to World War I and began with the release of L'Assassinat du duc de Guise (1908), directed by Charles Le Bargy and André Calmettes of the Comédie Française for the Société Film d'Art, a company formed to adapt prestigious theatre plays starring famous performers to the screen. The success of L'Assassinat du duc de Guise inspired other companies to make similar films, initiating the film d'art movement. Among them were Pathé, which started a film d'art division called Société Cinématographique des Auteurs et des Gens de Lettres (SCAGL). Examples of films d'art include Calmettes's La Duchesse de Langeais (1910) and La Dame aux Camélias (1912), and Albert Capellani's Notre-Dame de Paris (1911) and Les Misérables (1913).2

The story

Founded by Paul Laffitte on Jan 18, 1908.1

Leadership

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Timeline

  1. 1972Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. Jan 18, 1908Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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