CFS Season #10 1954-55

Seeking better life, two convicts escape from prison.

A struggling farmer in 1840 New Hampshire makes a pact with Satan for economic success, then enlists famed orator Daniel Webster to extract him from the consequences of his contract.

A young priest taking over the parish at Ambricourt tries to fulfill his duties even as he fights a mysterious stomach ailment.

After being rejected by the Confederate military, not realizing it was due to his crucial civilian role, an engineer must single-handedly recapture his beloved locomotive after it is seized by Union spies and return it through enemy lines.

After an accidental explosion in the lab, its inventor slips in and out of dream-like hallucinations, realizing that he had given the formula to one of his colleagues, who he tries to stop before it is too late.

When an aristocratic woman known only as "Madame de . . ." sells a pair of earrings given to her by her husband in order to pay some debts, she sets off a chain reaction of financial and carnal consequences that can end only in despair.

The Mille Miglia, a thousand mile motor race around Italy, starts and finishes at Brescia and passes through Rome, Florence and Bologna. This video documents the twentieth Mille Miglia of 1953. In Italy, where the design and construction of competition cars is a significant industry, the most famous names are Ferrari and Alpha Romeo. Enzo Ferrari was responsible for building the winning cars of the previous five Mille Miglia. Enthusiastic supporters travel to Maranello to see the Ferraris testing for this year's race. At Alpha Romeo, in Milan, designers consider racing as part of a process for developing cars for conventional motorists. Over five hundred cars have been entered for this year's race, with one thousand drivers and co drivers. The competitors are numbered and start one at a time, with the smallest cars first. All vehicles are divided between four touring classes for standard production cars, and four sports car classes. As well as the main race, there is close competition for each class prize. As tension mounts at the start, where cars set off every half minute, the police struggle to contain an enthusiastic crowd. As most of the leading drivers possess the skill and experience to win the race, greatest interest focuses on them. Each car is issued with a card, which the driver must ensure is stamped at control points along the route. After the first 180 miles, the Ferraris have broken every record, with an average speed of over 100 mph. From a control point at L'Aquila, the route descends through the mountains and down to Rome. Special flags are used to warn drivers of hazards, which include unexpected corners, narrow bridges and level crossings that may be closed. Around the circuit, many cars have run into difficulties and some are already out of the race. As the race continues, hundreds of different types and sizes of car compete around the circuit. French cars are leading in both classes on the stretch to Bologna, the last control point before the finish at Brescia. The remaining 140 miles forms the fastest section of the course. On the last leg, Ferrari takes the lead to win, with Alpha Romeo in second, and Lancia third.

Filmmaker Robert J. Flaherty presents a docufictional account of a family living in a Samoan village in the early 1920s.

For the family really no money, Alexei began to make a living. Everything was limited to dirty chores, but while reading could end his depression. After hard working experience, he was determined to Kazan in the passion of being a strongmen.

The problem of the reasonableness of capital punishment.

Late nineteenth century in a finishing school for young girls near in France, the principal, the fascinating Miss Julie, sows confusion in the heart of the newcomer, Olivia.

A group of juvenile delinquents live a violent and crime-filled life in the festering slums of Mexico City, as the morals of young Pedro are gradually corrupted and destroyed by the others.

A wanted gangster is both king and prisoner of the Casbah. He's protected from arrest by his friends, but is torn by his desire for freedom. A visiting Parisian beauty may determine his fate.

A jealous husband intends to kill the man his wife is meeting for business, but arrives to find the deed already done.

Arriving home to find his native land under the yoke of corrupt merchants, an adventurer named Sadko sets sail in search of a mythical bird of happiness.

After a run-in with the law, a Mongolian man becomes a fugitive and joins the Russian Civil War.

The final days of Jesus from the time he enters the city of Jerusalem. Viewed as a threat, it is decided that he must be captured, tried, and executed as a criminal, a plan aided and abetted by disciple Judas Iscariot.

Female prisoners of various ethnic background struggle to survive the hardships of Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

In 1431, Jeanne d'Arc is placed on trial on charges of heresy, and the ecclesiastical jurists attempt to force her to recant her claims of holy visions.

The body of Franz Wozzeck lies on a table in an anatomy lecture of a small German university. Whereas the doctor in charge of dissecting the cadaver can only see the murdered corpse lying on the table, Buechner, a medical student, sees the corpse of a "human being." "A human being" he adds, "that we have murdered." Buechner then proceeds to tell the story of Franz Wozzeck. Franz Wozzeck was a poor soldier. He endured the harassment and humiliation of his military superiors. His meager soldier's pay allowed him to provide for his beloved wife, Marie, and their child with the bare necessities and secure a modest future for them. It was this basic desire to earn money for his family that lead Wozzeck to be the guinea pig in a series of harsh medical experiments - for his participation in the experiments Wozzeck earned a few pennies. Marie is a beautiful and sensual girl, who loves Franz. But she also suffers from his physical and mental deterioration, and his morbid pathological visions. Owing to her difficulties with Franz, Marie eventually falls into the hands of the tenacious and seductive drum-major. When Wozzeck learns about his wife's infidelity - in their small village, news of conjugal indecorum quickly makes the rounds - he directs his entire indignation and rage against Marie. Indeed, it's not his tormentors he pursues with his wrath, but rather his beloved wife - whom he eventually kills. A film, based on Georg Buechner's taut drama, with exceptional visual power. Sharply realistic and uncannily visionary.