Normally I'm sympathetic to concerns over American cultural hegemony, but I'm really struggling to see the big deal here. If we're talking about domestic markets where more people's livelihoods are at stake like agriculture then sure, I'm A Okay with protecting them. But cinema? Really? Trading the health of your domestic film industry for a lifeline for the whole country sounds like an unbelievably good deal. Hell, even without official protections the French market seems like it would still prefer French films on account of them being in, y'know, French?
3 months ago | 144
French filmmakers: “well of course we should let the country collapse to ‘protect our film industry’ because that’s doing wonders for us right now” This is a meme tier event that deserves more attention than the maginot line
3 months ago | 134
Considering French Film making is still alive & well that should probably say something
3 months ago | 50
Ensuring that American films were seen in France, gave the French visual evidence of the greater wealth and far higher standard of living that Americans enjoyed and countered the false arguments of French communists that the Soviet system was superior.
3 months ago | 2
The cost wasn't steep if that's all it cost. Im sure the non Parisians were glad to have the help.
3 months ago (edited) | 49
the french film boom was right after that. talk about liberalization
3 months ago | 82
“We’ll give you all the redevelopment aid you want…but you also have to put up with John Wayne…” Damn….tough call…..
3 months ago | 34
I’ve watched a bunch of French cinema and it’s always seems that American directors have been trying to imitate their French counterparts throughout the history of film, this deal was made to sound bad by the looks of it, plus thinking that American movies will instantly replace French ones shows absolutely 0 respect for their own movies even though they acted like it’s the most important thing to French culture.
3 months ago | 2
The English actor Peter Sellers played all the parts!
3 months ago | 0
I don't know, I'd argue that the French at least kept their culture well and proud on their film industry, as seen in the works of Truffaut, Tati, and maybe Besson.
3 months ago | 4
As usual a superb recounting. You should tell the story of how the CIA acquired the world's whole supply of LSD from Switzerland and poisoned a French town with it.
3 months ago | 0
Leon blum? He's still around? Last I heard about him was that he was desperately trying to get France and Britain to support Republican Spain when the Spanish Civil War broke out 10 years ago!
3 months ago | 8
This could've been a perfect occasion to "persuade" the french to get out from Indochina, avoiding a senseless bloodbath. This surely would've been seen by most locals as an act of "good" will from the USA, and would've got closer to the USA the people of Indochina. Imagine if, instead of sending their youths in France 's colleges, they would've studied in US ' ones, surely they would'vent been exposed to the far leftists' influence, don't forget that too many "revolutionaries" studied in France, as the Khmer Rouges' leaders.
3 months ago | 0
Find someone who looks at you like the guy with the glasses is looking at that document.
3 months ago | 0
France sign an what? There is at least one word missing in the first sentence...
3 months ago | 1
there was a time AFTER this where french film being a little americanized were realy realy good now french film at a few exceptions, are pseudo intelectual over bloated "i'm an artiste an auteur" kind of nonsense
3 months ago | 0
This is why when you watch french cinema from after the picture always seems angry at the auidence.
3 months ago | 5
Whoever wrote the part of this post describing the positioning of those in the picture never wanted anyone to identify those in the picture. Awkward phrasing at its worst. 😡
3 months ago | 3
World War Two
On 28 May 1946, France signs an with the United States, securing vital postwar loans in exchange for economic concessions.
Léon Blum, representing the French government, and U.S. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes finalise an agreement that wipes France's debts for loans from the First World War and 1939-1940 while also granting a $650 million loan to help stabilise the shattered French economy. In return, the United States gains sweeping access to French markets - most controversially, to the French film industry.
The agreement comes at a critical moment. France’s economy remains paralysed by wartime damage, widespread inflation, and a collapsing franc. Imports of food, fuel, and machinery are desperately needed. With little hard currency and few international lenders willing to assist, the French government turns to Washington.
But the terms are steep. French protections on domestic industries, especially cinema, must be rolled back to allow a flood of American films. To many, this feels less like economic aid and more like cultural annexation. French filmmakers and intellectuals immediately denounce the agreement, warning that national cinema risks being drowned by Hollywood’s dominance.
Yet the choice is clear: accept the agreement and gain precious time to recover, or risk deeper economic collapse. The communists rail against growing U.S. influence, and Gaullists grumble at the perceived surrender of sovereignty, but France has little bargaining power left.
For the Americans, the agreement is both economic and strategic. By offering support with strings attached, Washington reinforces its influence in a key Western ally and ensures France remains tied to the emerging postwar order centred on U.S. leadership.
The Blum-Byrnes Agreement signals the start of a new phase in Franco-American relations - one defined not by liberation or war, but by loans, trade, and an uneasy balance between recovery and dependence.
Picture: Byrnes flanked by (from left) U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Fred M. Vinson, French ambassador to the US Henri Bonnet and representative of the French government Leon Blum, signs the agreement, May 28, 1946.
Source: Getty Images
3 months ago | [YT] | 2,506