Alberto Cavalcanti

Alberto Cavalcanti

Alberto de Almeida Cavalcanti was a Brazilian-born film director and producer. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, the son of a prominent mathematician. He was a precociously intelligent child, and by the age of 15 was studying law at university. Following an argument with a professor he was expelled. His father sent him to Geneva, Switzerland on condition that he did not study law or politics. Cavalcanti chose to study architecture instead. At 18 he moved to Paris to work for an architect, later switching to working on interior design. After a visit back to Brazil he took up a position at the Brazilian consulate in Liverpool, England. Cavalcanti corresponded with Marcel L'Herbier, a leading light in France's avant-garde film movement. This led to a job offer from L'Herbier for Cavalcanti to work as a set designer. So, in 1920 he left his job at the Consulate and moved back to France to work for L'Herbier; he was to be involved in the making of numerous films, the most notable being L'Inhumaine. He was soon making his own films, in 1926 directing his first, Rien Que les Heures (Nothing But Time) — a day in the life of Paris and its citizens. In 1927 he collaborated with Walter Ruttmann on a similar project set in Berlin, called Berlin: Die Sinfonie der Großstadt (Berlin: Symphony of a Big City). Cavalcanti took a job with Paramount's French studios after the talkies came in, but he found himself making more commercial films which could not hold his interest and left Paramount in 1933. In the same year he returned to England to work for John Grierson's GPO Film Unit. He was involved in many capacities, from production to sound engineer. He was to spend seven years at the GPO Film Unit, working on many projects. Much of his work at the GPO was uncredited, he acted as a mentor to many new film makers, but in 1937 he was appointed acting head of the GPO Film Unit when Grierson left for Canada. When told that the only way the position could become permanent was to become a naturalized British citizen, he decided to leave the unit. In 1940 Cavalcanti joined Ealing Studios, under the leadership of producer Michael Balcon. He worked as an art editor, producer and director. His most notable works of this period (many of them propaganda films) were Yellow Caesar (1941), Went the Day Well? (1942), Three Songs of Resistance (1943), Champagne Charlie (1944), Dead of Night (as co-director) (1945) and Nicholas Nickleby (1947). In 1946 Cavalcanti left Ealing over a dispute about money. He went on to direct three more films in the UK, before returning to Brazil in 1950. In Brazil he worked as a producer for Companhia Cinematográfica Vera Cruz; the company eventually became insolvent. After being blacklisted as a communist in Brazil, he decided to move back to Europe in 1954. He eventually settled in France, where he continued his work in television. He died in Paris in 1982 at the age of 85.

  • Title: Alberto Cavalcanti
  • Popularity: 3.171
  • Known For: Directing
  • Birthday: 1897-02-06
  • Place of Birth: Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Homepage:
  • Also Known As: Альберто Кавальканти, Cavalcanti
img

Alberto Cavalcanti Movies

  • 1969
    imgMovies

    Lettres de Stalingrad

    Lettres de Stalingrad

    1 1969 HD

    This film is based on actual letters German soldiers sent home from the siege of Leningrad during World War II. The litany of trouble these poor...

    img
  • 1976
    imgMovies

    Um Homem e o Cinema

    Um Homem e o Cinema

    1 1976 HD

    Alberto Cavalcanti reviews his own prolific career as a filmmaker.

    img
  • 1970
    imgMovies

    Alberto Cavalcanti

    Alberto Cavalcanti

    1 1970 HD

    img
  • 1929
    imgMovies

    Paris Cinéma

    Paris Cinéma

    9 1929 HD

    The first behind-the-scenes documentary in the film industry, from the making of a camera (Debrie) to studio shooting and directing, including...

    img
  • 1934
    imgMovies

    Pett and Pott: A Fairy Story of the Suburbs

    Pett and Pott: A Fairy Story of the Suburbs

    5 1934 HD

    The film, made to advertise domestic telephone sets, is based around two very different families. The Petts are conventional, happy and have...

    img
  • 1934
    imgMovies

    Pett and Pott: A Fairy Story of the Suburbs

    Pett and Pott: A Fairy Story of the Suburbs

    5 1934 HD

    img
  • 1934
    imgMovies

    Pett and Pott: A Fairy Story of the Suburbs

    Pett and Pott: A Fairy Story of the Suburbs

    5 1934 HD

    img
  • 1942
    imgMovies

    Went the Day Well?

    Went the Day Well?

    7.189 1942 HD

    img
  • 1934
    imgMovies

    Granton Trawler

    Granton Trawler

    4.9 1934 HD

    img
  • 1945
    imgMovies

    Dead of Night

    Dead of Night

    7.185 1945 HD

    img
  • 1944
    imgMovies

    Champagne Charlie

    Champagne Charlie

    5 1944 HD

    img
  • 1947
    imgMovies

    They Made Me a Fugitive

    They Made Me a Fugitive

    6.7 1947 HD

    img
  • 1947
    imgMovies

    The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

    The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

    6.361 1947 HD

    img
  • 1949
    imgMovies

    For Them That Trespass

    For Them That Trespass

    5.2 1949 HD

    img
  • 1927
    imgMovies

    La P’tite Lili

    La P’tite Lili

    4.846 1927 HD

    img
  • 1935
    imgMovies

    Coal Face

    Coal Face

    6.1 1935 HD

    img
  • 1951
    imgMovies

    Angela

    Angela

    1 1951 HD

    img
  • 1929
    imgMovies

    Captain Fracasse

    Captain Fracasse

    6.5 1929 HD

    img
  • 1938
    imgMovies

    North Sea

    North Sea

    5.7 1938 HD

    img
  • 1926
    imgMovies

    Nothing But Time

    Nothing But Time

    7.278 1926 HD

    img
  • 1952
    imgMovies

    Simão, o Caolho

    Simão, o Caolho

    5 1952 HD

    img
  • 1952
    imgMovies

    Simão, o Caolho

    Simão, o Caolho

    5 1952 HD

    img
  • 1938
    imgMovies

    Mony a Pickle

    Mony a Pickle

    3.5 1938 HD

    img
  • 1927
    imgMovies

    The Little People

    The Little People

    1 1927 HD

    img
  • 1933
    imgMovies

    Plaisirs défendus

    Plaisirs défendus

    1 1933 HD

    img
  • 1932
    imgMovies

    Tour of Song

    Tour of Song

    1 1932 HD

    img
  • 1939
    imgMovies

    Men of the Alps

    Men of the Alps

    1 1939 HD

    img
  • 1942
    imgMovies

    Alice in Switzerland

    Alice in Switzerland

    1 1942 HD

    img
  • 1934
    imgMovies

    New Rates

    New Rates

    1 1934 HD

    img
  • 1953
    imgMovies

    Song of the Sea

    Song of the Sea

    5.7 1953 HD

    img
  • 1960
    imgMovies

    Herr Puntila and His Servant Matti

    Herr Puntila and His Servant Matti

    1 1960 HD

    img
  • 1953
    imgMovies

    Song of the Sea

    Song of the Sea

    5.7 1953 HD

    img
  • 1934
    imgMovies

    Pett and Pott: A Fairy Story of the Suburbs

    Pett and Pott: A Fairy Story of the Suburbs

    5 1934 HD

    img
  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Sea Fever

    Sea Fever

    6.2 1927 HD

    img
  • 1940
    imgMovies

    Sea Fort

    Sea Fort

    1 1940 HD

    img
  • 1942
    imgMovies

    Find, Fix and Strike

    Find, Fix and Strike

    1 1942 HD

    img
  • 1943
    imgMovies

    Greek Testament

    Greek Testament

    5.5 1943 HD

    img
  • 1934
    imgMovies

    The Glorious Sixth of June

    The Glorious Sixth of June

    1 1934 HD

    img
  • 1935
    imgMovies

    BBC: The Voice of Britain

    BBC: The Voice of Britain

    1 1935 HD

    img
  • 1978
    imgMovies

    Le Voyageur du silence

    Le Voyageur du silence

    1 1978 HD

    img
  • 1959
    imgMovies

    Venetian Honeymoon

    Venetian Honeymoon

    3 1959 HD

    img
  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Little Red Riding Hood

    Little Red Riding Hood

    1 1930 HD

    img
  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Little Red Riding Hood

    Little Red Riding Hood

    1 1930 HD

    img
  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Little Red Riding Hood

    Little Red Riding Hood

    1 1930 HD

    img
  • 1941
    imgMovies

    Yellow Caesar

    Yellow Caesar

    5.8 1941 HD

    img
  • 1953
    imgMovies

    Song of the Sea

    Song of the Sea

    5.7 1953 HD

    img
  • 1937
    imgMovies

    We Live in Two Worlds

    We Live in Two Worlds

    1 1937 HD

    img
  • 1943
    imgMovies

    The Sky’s the Limit

    The Sky’s the Limit

    1 1943 HD

    img
  • 1944
    imgMovies

    Trois chansons de la résistance

    Trois chansons de la résistance

    1 1944 HD

    img
  • 1940
    imgMovies

    Mastery of the Sea

    Mastery of the Sea

    1 1940 HD

    img
  • 1937
    imgMovies

    The Line to Tschierva Hut

    The Line to Tschierva Hut

    1 1937 HD

    img
  • 1937
    imgMovies

    The Line to Tschierva Hut

    The Line to Tschierva Hut

    1 1937 HD

    img
  • 1939
    imgMovies

    A Midsummer Day's Work

    A Midsummer Day's Work

    1 1939 HD

    img
  • 1923
    imgMovies

    Résurrection

    Résurrection

    1 1923 HD

    img
  • 1935
    imgMovies

    Coal Face

    Coal Face

    6.1 1935 HD

    img
  • 1961
    imgMovies

    The Monster of Highgate Ponds

    The Monster of Highgate Ponds

    5 1961 HD

    img
  • 1950
    imgMovies

    Caiçara

    Caiçara

    7 1950 HD

    img
  • 1957
    imgMovies

    The Wind Rose

    The Wind Rose

    5 1957 HD

    img
  • 1957
    imgMovies

    The Wind Rose

    The Wind Rose

    5 1957 HD

    img
  • 1951
    imgMovies

    Terra é Sempre Terra

    Terra é Sempre Terra

    1 1951 HD

    img
  • 1950
    imgMovies

    Caiçara

    Caiçara

    7 1950 HD

    img
  • 1960
    imgMovies

    Herr Puntila and His Servant Matti

    Herr Puntila and His Servant Matti

    1 1960 HD

    img
  • 1935
    imgMovies

    The King's Stamp

    The King's Stamp

    1 1935 HD

    img
  • 1942
    imgMovies

    Film and Reality

    Film and Reality

    1 1942 HD

    img
  • 1976
    imgMovies

    Um Homem e o Cinema

    Um Homem e o Cinema

    1 1976 HD

    img
  • 1955
    imgMovies

    Mulher de Verdade

    Mulher de Verdade

    5 1955 HD

    img
  • 1930
    imgMovies

    A Canção do Berço

    A Canção do Berço

    1 1930 HD

    img
  • 1938
    imgMovies

    Happy in the Morning: A Film Fantasy

    Happy in the Morning: A Film Fantasy

    1 1938 HD

    img
  • 1938
    imgMovies

    Happy in the Morning: A Film Fantasy

    Happy in the Morning: A Film Fantasy

    1 1938 HD

    img
  • 1938
    imgMovies

    Happy in the Morning: A Film Fantasy

    Happy in the Morning: A Film Fantasy

    1 1938 HD

    img
  • 1924
    imgMovies

    The Gallery of Monsters

    The Gallery of Monsters

    8 1924 HD

    img
  • 1924
    imgMovies

    L'Inhumaine

    L'Inhumaine

    6.8 1924 HD

    img
  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Yvette

    Yvette

    1 1927 HD

    img
  • 1921
    imgMovies

    El Dorado

    El Dorado

    6.6 1921 HD

    img
  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Sea Fever

    Sea Fever

    6.2 1927 HD

    img
  • 1934
    imgMovies

    Montmartre qui tourne

    Montmartre qui tourne

    1 1934 HD

    img
  • 1932
    imgMovies

    The Brazilian thing

    The Brazilian thing

    1 1932 HD

    img
  • 1931
    imgMovies

    Halfway Up the Sky

    Halfway Up the Sky

    1 1931 HD

    img
  • 1931
    imgMovies

    In a lost island

    In a lost island

    1 1931 HD

    img
  • 1931
    imgMovies

    The Devil's Holiday

    The Devil's Holiday

    1 1931 HD

    img
  • 1930
    imgMovies

    Toute sa vie

    Toute sa vie

    1 1930 HD

    img
  • 1933
    imgMovies

    Le mari garçon

    Le mari garçon

    1 1933 HD

    img
  • 1934
    imgMovies

    Coralie and Company

    Coralie and Company

    1 1934 HD

    img
  • 1929
    imgMovies

    Train Without Eyes

    Train Without Eyes

    1 1929 HD

    img
  • 1938
    imgMovies

    N or NW

    N or NW

    6.2 1938 HD

    img
  • 1937
    imgMovies

    Daily Round

    Daily Round

    1 1937 HD

    img
  • 1982
    imgMovies

    Brasília, segundo roteiro de Alberto Cavalcanti

    Brasília, segundo roteiro de Alberto Cavalcanti

    1 1982 HD

    img
  • 1940
    imgMovies

    Young Veteran

    Young Veteran

    1 1940 HD

    img
  • 1940
    imgMovies

    Young Veteran

    Young Veteran

    1 1940 HD

    img
  • 1927
    imgMovies

    Yvette

    Yvette

    1 1927 HD

    img
  • 1955
    imgMovies

    Mulher de Verdade

    Mulher de Verdade

    5 1955 HD

    img
  • 1925
    imgMovies

    The Late Mathias Pascal

    The Late Mathias Pascal

    6.9 1925 HD

    img
  • 1942
    imgMovies

    The Foreman Went to France

    The Foreman Went to France

    6.2 1942 HD

    img
  • 1940
    imgMovies

    Salvage with a Smile

    Salvage with a Smile

    1 1940 HD

    img
  • 1927
    imgMovies

    La jalousie du barbouillé

    La jalousie du barbouillé

    1 1927 HD

    img
  • 1971
    imgMovies

    La visite de la vieille dame

    La visite de la vieille dame

    1 1971 HD

    img
  • 1948
    imgMovies

    The First Gentleman

    The First Gentleman

    6 1948 HD

    img
  • 1940
    imgMovies

    French Communique

    French Communique

    1 1940 HD

    img
  • 1940
    imgMovies

    La Cause Commune

    La Cause Commune

    6 1940 HD

    img
  • 1936
    imgMovies

    Message from Genova

    Message from Genova

    1 1936 HD

    img
  • 1939
    imgMovies

    The Chiltern Country

    The Chiltern Country

    1 1939 HD

    img
  • 1978
    imgS2 E27

    Encyclopédie audiovisuelle du cinéma

    Encyclopédie audiovisuelle du cinéma

    1 1978 HD

    Produced for television by Claude-Jean Philippe, the « Encyclopédie audiovisuelle du cinéma », recounts the history of...

    img