French Literature Reviews - 2026
V. Vignaux, Casque d'or by Jacques Becker
Art and Visual Culture
Valérie Vignaux, Casque d'or by Jacques Becker
Neuilly-sur-Seine: Atlande, coll. "Clefs concours cinéma", 2009, 154 p.
- ISBN: 978-2-35030-119-8
- Price: 19 €
Publisher's overview:
Jacques Becker's Casque d'or has been selected this year for the *agrégation interne* competitive exam. Published by Atlande in their "Clefs concours" series, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the subject. Designed both as a landmark reference compared to traditional monographs and lectures, and as a revision tool, the book is structured around thematic fact sheets that summarize the latest research findings.
The volume is organized around a structure comprising:
- contextual landmarks: a review of the intellectual and aesthetic background.
- major "critical issues", essential for understanding the stakes and the work itself.
- methodological tools: a chronology, glossary, outline of the work, and bibliography.
- a cross-referencing system linking the fact sheets and bibliographic references.
Its author, Valérie Vignaux, senior lecturer in film studies at the François Rabelais University of Tours, has previously published a monograph on Jacques Becker (Céfal, 2001) based on her doctoral dissertation, which was awarded the Simone Genevois Prize.
She has also authored an essay on Jacques Rivette's La Religieuse (Céfal, 2005) and is currently preparing a monograph on the film critic and historian Georges Sadoul. Together with Clément Chéroux, she edited Portes, un cahier surréaliste de Georges Sadoul (Textuel, 2009).
This volume addresses the cinematic landscape and aesthetic traditions surrounding Jacques Becker's work, situating the film within the French cinematic heritage examined by scholars of the medium. The study engages with the broader historical and intellectual currents of film history, aligning with academic approaches commonly applied to motion pictures in higher education curricula. Valérie Vignaux, senior lecturer in film studies at the François Rabelais University of Tours, has previously published a monograph on Jacques Becker based on her doctoral dissertation, which was awarded the Simone Genevois Prize.
Readers interested in French film history and the critical analysis of classic cinema may find this examination of Casque d'or relevant to their studies. The text reviews the background of the film alongside major critical perspectives, providing structured documentation designed to aid academic revision and reference. It outlines contextual landmarks, critical issues and methodological materials such as chronologies, glossaries and bibliographies, reflecting the standard scholarly apparatus found in specialized guides for competitive examinations.