Air France loves the cinema: Episode 2 "1946-1958"
A close relationship with the cinema, both from a historical and cultural point of view.
It is this special relationship that gave rise to "Air France loves the cinema", a series of four episodes recounting the major stages in the life of the airline. The first episode broadcast was entitled "1945-1958: rebirth".
1945: France emerged from the war battered and bruised, and had to recover, both economically and culturally. Air France, whose activity was reduced during this period, benefited from this reconstruction which led to the birth of modern commercial aviation.
The movie industry, which was booming, accompanied this development. Air France took advantage of this to associate its image with the production of successful films and to become a powerful symbol. "Aux yeux du souvenir", directed by Jean Delannoy in 1948, was the benchmark film, featuring new airport infrastructures, new aircraft, and values associated with the various professions (expertise of the pilot played by Jean Marais, professionalism of the stewardess played by Michèle Morgan).
A series of films followed, in which stars promoted air travel, conveying a sophisticated and modern image of the company with the "longest network in the world". Edith Piaf, Bourvil and Brigitte Bardot all took to the air! On screen as well as in their private lives.
Travel by proxy then started to give way to real travel!