How World War II Created the Cannes Film Festival

2 minute read

The official timeline of the Cannes Film Festival makes it clear that the glitzy celebration of cinema began in 1946. So why was TIME reporting in July of 1939 that the festival would take place that autumn?

The plans were even concrete enough to promise readers an exact set of dates:

For six years the world’s fair of the cinema world has been the International Film Festival at Venice. In the past this annual, late-summer gathering to pick the world’s best films has chosen such universally acclaimed cinemas as Man of Aran, Anna Karenina, Mayerling, La Kermesse Héroïque. But two years ago B. Mussolini began to take a personal, political interest in the cinema business, and last year cinemindustries not bedded in the Rome-Berlin axis began to feel its centrifugal force. The No. 1 prize, the Mussolini Cup, went jointly to Nazi Leni Riefenstahl’s 1936 Olympic Games film (four hours running time) and to Vittorio Mussolini’s Luciano Serra, Pilota, an ecstatic drama of Italian wings over Ethiopia. Walt Disney’s world favorite, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, was favored with a special Hors Concours (out of competition) Medal.

Last week France, Great Britain and the U. S. decided to let Venice be bygones, were reported getting together on a new international film festival to be held this year at Cannes, September 3-17.

Poster for the planned first Festival International du film de Cannes, September 1939. The event was postponed until after World War II and the first festival was held in 1946.
Poster for the planned first Festival International du film de Cannes, September 1939. The event was postponed until after World War II and the first festival was held in 1946.RDA—Getty Images

The September 1939 film festival, of course, never happened — and, based on the reasons for the film festival’s establishment, it’s not hard to guess why. The coming of World War II derailed all plans to launch a rival to the Venice film festival, and it wasn’t until after the peace came that the festival in Cannes finally took place. As these photos show, the bash was, appropriately, a happy occasion.

French Actress Michele Morgan poses in a bathing suit at the 1st Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France in 1946.
French Actress Michele Morgan poses in a bathing suit at the 1st Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France in 1946.Serge DE SAZO/Gamma-Rapho—Getty Images
Poster presenting the french films in the competition of the 1st Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France in 1946.
Poster presenting the french films in the competition of the 1st Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France in 1946. Serge DE SAZO/Gamma-Rapho—Getty Images
Actress Josette Day presents the Film "Beauty and the Beast" directed by Jean Cocteau at the first Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France in 1946.
Actress Josette Day presents the Film "Beauty and the Beast" directed by Jean Cocteau at the first Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France in 1946.Serge DE SAZO/Gamma-Rapho—Getty Images
Jean-Pierre Aumont and Maria Montez at Cannes Film Festival, 1946.
Jean-Pierre Aumont and Maria Montez at Cannes Film Festival, 1946.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone—Getty Images
Tyrone Power in Cannes, France, 1946.
Tyrone Power in Cannes, France, 1946.Serge DE SAZO/Gamma-Rapho—Getty Images
Pierre Dudan in Cannes, France in 1946.
Pierre Dudan in Cannes, France in 1946.Serge DE SAZO/Gamma-Rapho—Getty Images
French actress Michele Morgan with artist and filmmaker Jean Cocteau on the beach during the Cannes Film Festival, 1946.
French actress Michele Morgan with artist and filmmaker Jean Cocteau on the beach during the Cannes Film Festival, 1946.Tallandier/RDA—Getty Images
Miss Cannes in Cannes, France, 1946.
Miss Cannes in Cannes, France, 1946.Serge DE SAZO/Gamma-Rapho—Getty Images
Edith Piaf on the Carlon Hotel's Terrace at the first Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France In 1946.
Edith Piaf on the Carlon Hotel's Terrace at the first Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France In 1946.Serge DE SAZO/Gamma-Rapho—Getty Images
The Actress Celia Johnson and the director David Lean being awarded the Paris Grand Prix of Cannes Film Festival for the movie Brief Encounter. The prize is given by Georges Huisman, (left) first President of Cannes Film Festival.
The Actress Celia Johnson and the director David Lean being awarded the Paris Grand Prix of Cannes Film Festival for the movie Brief Encounter. The prize is given by Georges Huisman, (left) first President of Cannes Film Festival. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone—Getty Images

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Write to Lily Rothman at lily.rothman@time.com