Question 1

What unusual technique was used to create the illusion of longer streets in the film's Le Havre setting?

Accepted Answer

The streets were constructed with a 'false perspective' technique where buildings were gradually scaled down in the background, making them appear up to four times longer than they actually were when shot with the proper camera lens.

Question 2

How did writer Jacques Prévert update the original book's setting to make the film more relevant to 1930s audiences?

Accepted Answer

Prévert updated the period from the World War One year of 1914 in the original book to the pre-World War II year of 1938.

Question 3

Which future New Wave filmmaker cited seeing this film at age 18 as inspiration to become a filmmaker?

Accepted Answer

New Wave auteur Eric Rohmer cited seeing this film at age 18 as what made him want to eventually become a filmmaker.

Question 4

What unusual preview event occurred before Port of Shadows had even finished shooting?

Accepted Answer

In May 1938, before the film finished shooting, the French Cinematheque showed an excerpt from the footage in progress to the public.

Question 5

Despite being set in the French port of Le Havre, where were the film's streets actually created?

Accepted Answer

The streets were actually all built on a sound stage, not in the actual port city of Le Havre.

Port of Shadows

Customers also watched

Loved this film?

Share with others