Cahiers du cinéma n°1 - April 1951 (1951-04)Cahiers du cinéma
"We want there to be a faithful account of cinema in terms of its highest and most valuable efforts, and where they come from. This account will be chronicled in Cahiers, with serenity and vigor, and with the belief cinema deserves."
Cahiers du cinéma issue no. 1
Such is the declaration of intent published in the first issue of the new magazine founded in April 1951 by a core group of movie critics—André Bazin, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, and Lo Duca—and financially supported by Léonid Keigel called Cahiers du cinéma. But where did the name come from?
The issue opens with a discussion—or a council of war—between Doniol-Valcroze, Bazin, and Keigel, three friends discussing the issue of the name. Doniol-Valcroze is in favor of the name Cahiers, Bazin is undecided, and Keigel is against it. Thus a back and forth of suggestions ensues.
Cinématographe (to make Jean Cocteau happy), Cineart (deemed ridiculous), Caméra, Objectif (as a nod to the French movie society Objectif 49), Le Magazine du cinéma (too close to Éric Rohmer's Gazette du cinéma), La Revue du film, L'Art du film, and so on.
A conversation between Bazin, Keigel and Valcroze (1/4)Cahiers du cinéma
- Jacques Doniol-Valcroze: I suggest Cahiers du cinéma (notebooks on cinema).
- André Bazin: Hmm
- Léonid Keigel: Why notebooks?
- Jacques Doniol-Valcroze: Why not?
- Léonid Keigel: It's for schoolchildren, it's not the name of a magazine.
A conversation between Bazin, Keigel and Valcroze (2/4)Cahiers du cinéma
- Jacques Doniol-Valcroze: A notebook is a collection of sheets of paper brought together. And well, we will bring together papers on cinema.
- André Bazin: Hmm, obviously this isn't a popular name.
- Jacques Doniol-Valcroze: To my knowledge, there is just the Cahiers de la Pléiade by the Nouvelle Revue Française (French New Review).
A conversation between Bazin, Keigel and Valcroze (3/4)Cahiers du cinéma
- André Bazin: There was Cahiers de la Quinzaine by Charles Péguy.
- Léonid Keigel: Ah
- Jacques Doniol-Valcroze: So?
- Léonid Keigel: No. It isn't a good idea. Sorry.
- André Bazin: I'm not fully convinced. I'm wondering if ... if Cinématographe isn't better.
A conversation between Bazin, Keigel and Valcroze (4/4)Cahiers du cinéma
- Léonid Keigel: That comes across as scientific. Not easy to sell.
- Jacques Doniol-Valcroze: So, you're rejecting Cahiers.
- André Bazin: Well, listen Jacques, let's think about it, talk to Lo Duca about it. We still have a few days.
In the end, for lack of anything better, they went with Cahiers du cinéma. Was it a good idea? That's another story.
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