After the Fall of France in 1940, Gance filmed a popular melodrama called "Vénus aveugle", which he saw as an allegory of the current state of France and a message of hope directed to the ordinary French people in their time of misfortune. At this period Gance was among those who saw Philippe Pétain as the means of the country's salvation, and in September 1941 "Vénus aveugle" had its first screening in Vichy, preceded by a speech in which Gance paid tribute to Pétain.