Yves Montand: his best films

Yves Montand, the celebrated French actor and singer, left an indelible mark on cinema from the 1940s to the 1980s. With his charismatic presence and remarkable range, he starred in a variety of films that showcased not only his acting prowess but also his musical talent. Yves Montand was born in Italy in 1921, but his family moved to France after the rise of Mussolini. During the 1940’s, Edith Piaf discovered him and made him part of her team.

This partnership would assist tremendously Montand’s career and his songs would become popular all over France (and not only). During his lifetime, he released over 15 albums, most of which were extremely successful.

Although he was one of the most popular French singers, Yves Montand was also a great actor. And in this article, we will focus on some films where he was exceptional and we totally recommend:

1. The Wages of Fear (1953)
   
   One of Montand’s most iconic roles comes in The Wages of Fear, directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot. This gripping adventure tells the story of four men who have to transport a dangerous cargo of nitroglycerin across treacherous South American terrain. Yves Montand is Mario, a desperate man seeking a way out of poverty. The film’s tension and moral dilemmas resonate deeply, making it a classic of world cinema.
   
   
2. The War is Over (1966)
   
   In this political film by Alain Resnais, Yves Montand is Diego, a middle-aged communist who tries to dissuade his fellow comrades from taking radical actions. During the 1960’s, the political situation in France was extremely tumultuous. We can easily agree that Resnais’ film was a predecessor of May 1968, which shook Paris and the rest of the world.
   
   
3. Z (1969)
   
   Although the collaboration between Yves Montand and director Costa Gavras started in 1965, with the very interesting film “The Sleeping Car Murder”, it was in 1969 that they gave to the world the film “Z”, one of the most important political films of all times. Yves Montand is Z, a deputy who tries to inform people of a Mediterranean country (Greece) about the upcoming coup d’etat by military forces. On his way to a public speech, he will be attacked by some fascists. The film is based on Vassilis Vassilikos novel with the same name and it depicts the real events that took place in early 1960’s in Greece, with the murder of Grigoris Lambrakis, a leftist deputy by fascists. Jean-Louis Trintignan and Irene Papas also star in this must-see film.
   

4. The Confession (1970)

In a totalitarian regime, Yves Montand is Gerard, a high rank official who is arrested for high treason. They will question him, they will torture him and they will put him in isolation. In order to confess for crimes that he didn’t do. With this film, Costa Gavras criticizes the methods of socialistic countries to their own members. Yves Montand, who was radical leftist in real life till the early 1970’s, portrays uniquely the madness that was taking place in the so-called socialist countries. Simone Signoret plays also in this film. She is Lise, Gerard’s wife and also gives an excellent performance. For the record, Montand and Signoret were married in real life for over 35 years, until Signoret’s death in 1985.

5. Jean de Florette (1986) & Manon of the Springs (1986)

We add these two films together, because this is how their director, Claude Berri, intended to. Based on Marcel Pagnol’s works, these films explore themes of family, love, and rural life in Provence. Montand portrays the scheming farmer, Le Papet, whose actions lead to tragic consequences for the protagonists. Both films feature Montand as a patriarch who wants to control everything. Those films showcase Montand’s ability to portray complex characters, way different than the ones he had portrayed the previous decades.

Yves Montand’s filmography is a testament to his versatility and talent as an actor. From thrilling dramas to poignant political commentaries, Montand brought a unique charisma to each role. In France, they still love him, watch his movies and listen to his songs. We totally believe that you should discover his work, and you can start with the films we mentioned above.