La bandera (1935)

Pierre Gilieth has committed a murder in Paris. He flees to Barcelona, where he runs out of money. So he joins the Spanish Foreign Legion. He meets there two fellow countrymen, Mulot and ... See full summary »

Director:

Julien Duvivier

Writers:

Pierre Dumarchais (novel), Julien Duvivier (adaptation),

Stars:

Annabella, Jean Gabin, Robert Le Vigan

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Annabella	...	Aischa la Slaoui
Jean Gabin	...	Pierre Gilieth
Robert Le Vigan	...	Fernando Lucas
Raymond Aimos	...	Marcel Mulot
Pierre Renoir	...	Le capitaine Weller
Gaston Modot	...	Le légionnaire Muller
Margo Lion	...	Planche-à-Pain
Charles Granval	...	Le ségovien
Reine Paulet	...	Rosita
Viviane Romance	...	La fille de Barcelone
Jesús Castro Blanco	...	Le sergent
Robert Ozanne	...	Le légionnaire tatoué
Maurice Lagrenée	...	Siméon
Louis Florencie	...	Gorlier
Little Jacky	...	Le légionnaire Weber

Storyline

Pierre Gilieth has committed a murder in Paris. He flees to Barcelona, where he runs out of money. So he joins the Spanish Foreign Legion. He meets there two fellow countrymen, Mulot and Lucas. He tries to forget his fault... but Lucas's friendship soon appears to be less unselfish...

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Plot Keywords:

france | spanish foreign legion | soldier | spanish | troop | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

2 May 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Escape from Yesterday

Filming Locations:

Morocco

Company Credits

Production Co:

Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie (SNC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was initially dedicated to Colonel Franco and his troops. The dedication was removed after the Spanish civil war.

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Connections

Featured in A Good Year (2006)

User Reviews

Birth of the Great Gabin

If you like your meat salty and undercooked and have already tasted the treat that is Jean Gabin on film, this is about as early as you can step back in his career and still get a satisfying meal. He is marching toward his roguish best in this foreign legion romance, and the locations and decor are alluring, even in the faded print I have on DVD. I'm guessing this might be the first film in which he performs his slow burn to explosion, and MAN is this scene -- in close-up -- great!

I don't know much about the beginnings of the poetic realist movement in French cinema, but Duvivier was one of its main practitioners, and this is a precursor to his great PEPE LE MOKO, where the powerful, rash man is driven to destruction by love. Though not as accomplished as the later Gabin romances PORT OF SHADOWS, THE HUMAN BEAST, or LE JOUR SE LEVE, LA BANDERA has its charms. In addition to a great role and performance by Gabin, there is a strong supporting cast including Raymond Aimos, Pierre Renoir, and the indispensable Gaston Modot. Recommended!