Alberto Cavalcanti

Alberto Cavalcanti

Known for: Directing
Biography: 1897-02-06
Deathday: 1982-08-23 (85 years old)

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Biography

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.

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Filmography

all 95

Movies 94

Director 56

Producer 20

self 4

Writer 2

Screenplay 1

TV Shows 1

Self - Interviewee
Made In Ealing: The Story of Ealing Studios

Made In Ealing: The Story of Ealing Studios (1986)

Movie
Self
He Stands in a Desert Counting the Seconds of His Life

He Stands in a Desert Counting the Seconds of His Life (1986)

Movie
Screenplay
Brasília, segundo roteiro de Alberto Cavalcanti

Brasília, segundo roteiro de Alberto Cavalcanti (1982)

Movie
Director
Le Voyageur du silence

Le Voyageur du silence (1978)

Movie
Self (archive footage)
Encyclopédie audiovisuelle du cinéma

Encyclopédie audiovisuelle du cinéma (1978)

TV
Self
Um Homem e o Cinema

Um Homem e o Cinema (1976)

Movie
Director
La visite de la vieille dame

La visite de la vieille dame (1971)

Movie
ArchiveFootage
Alberto Cavalcanti

Alberto Cavalcanti (1970)

Movie
Astronomer
Lettres de Stalingrad

Lettres de Stalingrad (1969)

Movie
Director
The Monster of Highgate Ponds

The Monster of Highgate Ponds (1961)

Movie
Director
Herr Puntila and His Servant Matti

Herr Puntila and His Servant Matti (1960)

Movie
Director
Venetian Honeymoon

Venetian Honeymoon (1959)

Movie
Director
The Wind Rose

The Wind Rose (1957)

Movie
Director
Mulher de Verdade

Mulher de Verdade (1955)

Movie
Director
Song of the Sea

Song of the Sea (1953)

Movie
Director
Simão, o Caolho

Simão, o Caolho (1952)

Movie
Producer
Terra é Sempre Terra

Terra é Sempre Terra (1951)

Movie
Writer
Angela

Angela (1951)

Movie
Producer
Santuário

Santuário (1951)

Movie
Producer
Painel

Painel (1951)

Movie
Director
Caiçara

Caiçara (1950)

Movie
Director
For Them That Trespass

For Them That Trespass (1949)

Movie
3.5
Director
The First Gentleman

The First Gentleman (1948)

Movie
Director
They Made Me a Fugitive

They Made Me a Fugitive (1947)

Movie
Director
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947)

Movie
Director
Dead of Night

Dead of Night (1945)

Movie
1
Director
Champagne Charlie

Champagne Charlie (1944)

Movie
Director
The Halfway House

The Halfway House (1944)

Movie
Director
Trois chansons de la résistance

Trois chansons de la résistance (1944)

Movie
Director
The Sky’s the Limit

The Sky’s the Limit (1943)

Movie
Producer
Greek Testament

Greek Testament (1943)

Movie
Director
Went the Day Well?

Went the Day Well? (1942)

Movie
6
Associate Producer
The Foreman Went to France

The Foreman Went to France (1942)

Movie
Director
Alice in Switzerland

Alice in Switzerland (1942)

Movie
Director
Film and Reality

Film and Reality (1942)

Movie
Producer
Find, Fix and Strike

Find, Fix and Strike (1942)

Movie
Director
Yellow Caesar

Yellow Caesar (1941)

Movie
Director
Mastery of the Sea

Mastery of the Sea (1940)

Movie
Director
Young Veteran

Young Veteran (1940)

Movie
Producer
Sea Fort

Sea Fort (1940)

Movie
Producer
Spring Offensive

Spring Offensive (1940)

Movie
Producer
French Communique

French Communique (1940)

Movie
Director
La Cause Commune

La Cause Commune (1940)

Movie
Producer
Men of the Lightship

Men of the Lightship (1940)

Movie
Producer
Squadron 992

Squadron 992 (1940)

Movie
Associate Producer
Salvage with a Smile

Salvage with a Smile (1940)

Movie
Director
A Midsummer Day's Work

A Midsummer Day's Work (1939)

Movie
Director
Men of the Alps

Men of the Alps (1939)

Movie
Producer
The First Days

The First Days (1939)

Movie
Producer
North Sea

North Sea (1938)

Movie
6
Producer
N or NW

N or NW (1938)

Movie
Producer
Speaking from America

Speaking from America (1938)

Movie
Director
Mony a Pickle

Mony a Pickle (1938)

Movie
Producer
The HPO

The HPO (1938)

Movie
Producer
Book Bargain

Book Bargain (1937)

Movie
Director
We Live in Two Worlds

We Live in Two Worlds (1937)

Movie
Director
The Line to Tschierva Hut

The Line to Tschierva Hut (1937)

Movie
Director
Message from Genova

Message from Genova (1936)

Movie
Producer
BBC: The Voice of Britain

BBC: The Voice of Britain (1935)

Movie
Producer
The King's Stamp

The King's Stamp (1935)

Movie
Director / Writer
Coal Face

Coal Face (1935)

Movie
Writer
Votre sourire

Votre sourire (1934)

Movie
Sound Designer
Granton Trawler

Granton Trawler (1934)

Movie
Director
The Glorious Sixth of June

The Glorious Sixth of June (1934)

Movie
Director
Coralie and Company

Coralie and Company (1934)

Movie
Director
Pett and Pott: A Fairy Story of the Suburbs

Pett and Pott: A Fairy Story of the Suburbs (1934)

Movie
Director
Montmartre qui tourne

Montmartre qui tourne (1934)

Movie
Director
New Rates

New Rates (1934)

Movie
Director
Le mari garçon

Le mari garçon (1933)

Movie
Director
Plaisirs défendus

Plaisirs défendus (1933)

Movie
Director
The Brazilian thing

The Brazilian thing (1932)

Movie
Editor
The Amazon Head Hunters

The Amazon Head Hunters (1932)

Movie
Director
Tour de chant

Tour de chant (1932)

Movie
Director
Halfway Up the Sky

Halfway Up the Sky (1931)

Movie
Director
The Devil's Holiday

The Devil's Holiday (1931)

Movie
Director
In a lost island

In a lost island (1931)

Movie
Director
All His Life

All His Life (1930)

Movie
Director
Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood (1930)

Movie
Director
A Canção do Berço

A Canção do Berço (1930)

Movie
Actor
Paris Cinéma

Paris Cinéma (1929)

Movie
Director
Captain Fracasse

Captain Fracasse (1929)

Movie
Director
Train Without Eyes

Train Without Eyes (1929)

Movie
Director / Writer
Yvette

Yvette (1927)

Movie
Director
Sea Fever

Sea Fever (1927)

Movie
Director
La P’tite Lili

La P’tite Lili (1927)

Movie
ProductionDesigner
The Little People

The Little People (1927)

Movie
Director
La jalousie du barbouillé

La jalousie du barbouillé (1927)

Movie
Editor
Voyage au Congo

Voyage au Congo (1927)

Movie
Director
Nothing But Time

Nothing But Time (1926)

Movie
Art Direction
The Late Mathias Pascal

The Late Mathias Pascal (1925)

Movie
Art Direction
L'Inhumaine

L'Inhumaine (1924)

Movie
Assistant Director
The Gallery of Monsters

The Gallery of Monsters (1924)

Movie
ProductionDesigner
The Flood

The Flood (1924)

Movie
ProductionDesigner
Résurrection

Résurrection (1923)

Movie
Costume Design
El Dorado

El Dorado (1921)

Movie

Ratings

Average 4.22
Based on 29.8 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1921
1932
1939
1934
1986
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Information

Known For
Directing

Gender
Male

Birthday
1897-02-06

Deathday
1982-08-23 (85 years old)

Birth Name
Alberto de Almeida Cavalcante

Birth Place
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Citizenships
France, Brazil

Also Known As
Альберто Кавальканти, Cavalcanti


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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Michael Balcon
Alberto Cavalcanti
Michael Balcon worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
11 Movies
John Croydon
Alberto Cavalcanti
John Croydon worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
10 Movies
Philippe Hériat
Alberto Cavalcanti
Philippe Hériat worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
9 Movies
Marcel L'Herbier
Alberto Cavalcanti
Marcel L'Herbier worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
6 Movies
1 TV Show
Charles Crichton
Alberto Cavalcanti
Charles Crichton worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
6 Movies
Catherine Hessling
Alberto Cavalcanti
Catherine Hessling worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
5 Movies
1 TV Show
Humphrey Jennings
Alberto Cavalcanti
Humphrey Jennings worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
6 Movies
Douglas Slocombe
Alberto Cavalcanti
Douglas Slocombe worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
6 Movies
Ernest Irving
Alberto Cavalcanti
Ernest Irving worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
6 Movies
Hal Mason
Alberto Cavalcanti
Hal Mason worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
5 Movies
Michael Relph
Alberto Cavalcanti
Michael Relph worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
5 Movies
Richard Q. McNaughton
Alberto Cavalcanti
Richard Q. McNaughton worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
5 Movies
Angus MacPhail
Alberto Cavalcanti
Angus MacPhail worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
5 Movies
Benjamin Britten
Alberto Cavalcanti
Benjamin Britten worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
5 Movies
Len Page
Alberto Cavalcanti
Len Page worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
5 Movies
Harry Watt
Alberto Cavalcanti
Harry Watt worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
5 Movies
Eric Williams
Alberto Cavalcanti
Eric Williams worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
5 Movies
Jonah Jones
Alberto Cavalcanti
Jonah Jones worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
5 Movies
H.E. Fowle
Alberto Cavalcanti
H.E. Fowle worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
5 Movies
John Dighton
Alberto Cavalcanti
John Dighton worked together with Alberto Cavalcanti in:
4 Movies
  • Alberto Cavalcanti
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