The 8th Cannes Film Festival took place from 26 April to 10 May 1955. French writer and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol served as jury president for the main competition.
The first Palme d'Or was awarded, as the highest prize of the Festival, to Marty by Delbert Mann.
Until the 1954 Festival, the whimsical way various prizes were being awarded had drawn much criticism. In answer to this, from 1955 onwards, the Jury was composed of foreign celebrities from the film industry.
The festival opened with Rififi by Jules Dassin, and closed with Carmen Jones by Otto Preminger.
Juries
Main Competition Marcel Pagnol, French writer and filmmaker - Jury President Marcel Achard, French writer Juan Antonio Bardem, Spanish filmmaker A. Dignimont, French Jacques-Pierre Frogerais, French Leopold Lindtberg, Swiss director Anatole Litvak, American filmmaker Isa Miranda, Italian actress Leonard Mosley, British writer Jean Nery, French Sergei Yutkevich, Soviet filmmaker
Short Films Competition Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, French actor Herman van der Horst, Dutch Marcel Ichac, French filmmaker Karl Korn, West-German Jean Perdrix, French filmmaker
Official Selection
In Competition The following feature films competed for the Palme d'Or: English titleOriginal titleDirector(s)Production countryBad Day at Black RockJohn SturgesUnited StatesBiraj BahuBimal RoyIndiaA Big FamilyБольша́я семья́Iosif KheifitsSoviet UnionBlack DossierLe Dossier noirAndré CayatteFrance, ItalyBoot PolishPrakash AroraIndiaCarmen Jones (closing film)Otto PremingerUnited StatesThe Crucified Lovers近松物語Kenji MizoguchiJapanThe Country GirlGeorge SeatonUnited StatesDog's HeadsPsohlavciMartin FričCzechoslovakiaEast of EdenElia KazanUnited StatesThe End of the AffairEdward DmytrykUnited Kingdom, United StatesFire in the Night Det brenner i natt!Arne SkouenNorwayThe Gold of NaplesL'oro di NapoliVittorio De SicaItalyHeroes of ShipkaГерои ШипкиSergei VasilyevSoviet Union, BulgariaHill 24 Doesn't Answerגבעה 24 אינה עונהThorold DickinsonIsraelJeddaCharles ChauvelAustraliaA Kid for Two FarthingsCarol ReedUnited KingdomLife or Deathحياة أو موتKamal El SheikhEgyptA Stranger on the StairsUn extraño en la escaleraTulio DemicheliMexicoLiliomfiKároly MakkHungaryLost ContinentContinente perdutoLeonardo Bonzi, Mario Craveri, Enrico Gras,Angelo Francesco Lavagnino and Giorgio MoserItalyLudwig IILudwig II: Glanz und Ende eines KönigsHelmut KäutnerWest Germany MartyDelbert MannUnited StatesMiracle of MarcelinoMarcelino pan y vinoLadislao VajdaSpainThe MosquitoDie MückeWalter ReischWest GermanyOnna no Koyomi女の暦Seiji HisamatsuJapanRififi (opening film)Du rififi chez les hommesJules DassinFranceRomeo and JulietРомео и ДжульеттаLev Arnshtam and Leonid LavrovskySoviet UnionRootsRaícesBenito AlazrakiMexicoSamba FantásticoJean Manzon and René PersinBrazil, FranceThe Princess Sen千姫Keigo KimuraJapanThe Sign of VenusIl segno di VenereDino RisiItalyStellaΣτέλλαMichael CacoyannisGreece
Out of Competition The following films were selected to be screened out of competition: Italia K2 by Marcello Balbi Les trésors de la Mer Rouge by Michel Rocca
Short Films Competition The following short films competed for the Short Film Palme d'Or:
2'21"6 Butterfly Stroke: Dolphin-Kick by T. Mijata A esperanca e' eterna by Marcos Margulies Aggtelek by Ágoston Kollányi Arte popular Portuguesa by João Mendes Black on White by John Read Blinkity Blank by Norman McLaren Bow Bells by Anthony Simmons Bronsalder by Lars Krantz Bush Doctor by Jean Palardy Cyrk by Włodzimierz Haupe De sable et de feu by Jean Jabely Den standhaftige Tinnsoldat by Ivo Caprino Der Schatz des Abendlandes by Ernst Stephan Niessner, Edmund Von Hammer Dobreho vojak svejk by Jiri Trnka Dock by Emile Degelin Guardians of the Soil by David Millin Host by Thor Arnijot Udvang, Carsten Munch Images préhistoriques by Arcady & Thomas L. Rowe In cantec si dans by Ion Bostan Isole di fuoco by Vittorio De Seta Jakten over sporene by Erik Borge L'homme dans la lumière by René Lucot La ciudad blanca by Waldo Cerruto La grande pèche by Henri Fabiani Le conte de ma vie by Jørgen Roos Les jardiniers d'Allah by Michel Clarence Niedzielny poranek by Andrzej Munk Nos forets by Auguste Kern Op de spitsen by Rudi Hornecker Opici cisar by Jan Lacko Island of Sakhalin (Ostrov Sakhalin) by Vassili Katanian, Eldar Ryazanov Pierre Romain desfossez by Gérard De Boe Pulsschlag der Zeit by René Boeniger Symphony of Life by T.A. Abraham The Golden River by Pittamandalam Venktatachalapathy Pathy The Story of Light by Joop Geesink Tickets Please by Emil Nofal Trois coquillages de Tunisie by Roger Mauge When Magoo Flew by Pete Burness Zolotaya antilopa by Lev Atamanov
Official Awards
Main Competition Palme d'Or: Marty by Delbert Mann Best Director: Jules Dassin for Rififi Sergei Vasilyev for Heroes of Shipka Tribute: Hill 24 Doesn't Answer by Thorold Dickinson Best Acting Award: Spencer Tracy for Bad Day at Black Rock The entire male and female cast of A Big Family Jury Special Prize: Lost Continent by Leonardo Bonzi, Mario Craveri, Enrico Gras, Angelo Francesco Lavagnino and Giorgio Moser Best Dramatic Film: East of Eden by Elia Kazan Best Lyrical Film: Romeo and Juliet by Lev Arnshtam and Leonid Lavrovsky Distinction to two children: Kumari Naaz for her performance in Boot Polish Pablito Calvo for his performance in Miracle of Marcelino
Short Films Competition Short Film Palme d'Or: Blinkity Blank by Norman McLaren Special Distinction: Zolotaya Antilopa by Lev Atamanov Best Short Documentary: Isole di fuoco by Vittorio De Seta Prix du reportage filmé: La grande pêche by Henri Fabiani
Independent Awards
FIPRESCI Prize Death of a Cyclist by Juan Antonio Bardem Roots by Benito Alazraki
OCIC Award Marty by Delbert Mann Special Mention: Miracle of Marcelino by Ladislao Vajda
References
Media Institut National de l'Audiovisuel: Opening of the 1955 Festival (commentary in French) INA: Last moments of the 1955 festival (commentary in French)
External links 1955 Cannes Film Festival (web.archive) Official website Retrospective 1955 Cannes Film Festival Awards for 1955 at Internet Movie Database