The Lower Depths (1936)
"Les bas-fonds" (original title)

A charismatic thief makes friends with a bankrupt baron who comes to live in the thief's slum. Meanwhile the thief seeks the love of a young woman, who is held emotionally captive by her slumlord family.

Director:

Jean Renoir

Writers:

Maxim Gorky (play), Yevgeni Zamyatin,

Stars:

Jean Gabin, Suzy Prim, Louis Jouvet

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean Gabin	...	Wasska Pepel
Suzy Prim	...	Vassilissa Kostyleva
Louis Jouvet	...	Le baron / The Baron
Jany Holt	...	Nastia
Vladimir Sokoloff	...	Kostylev
Robert Le Vigan	...	The Alcoholic Actor
Camille Bert	...	The Count
René Génin	...	Louka, the wise old man (as René Genin)
Paul Temps	...	Satine
Robert Ozanne	...	Jabot de Travers
Henri Saint-Isle	...	Kletsch, the cobbler (as Saint-Iles)
Alex Allin
André Gabriello	...	The Inspector
Léon Larive	...	Felix, le majordomo
Nathalie Alexeeff	...	Anna, the dying woman

Storyline

The winner of the Louis Delluc Prize as the most outstanding French photo-play of 1936, as selected by the Young Independent Critics of France (an organization and not a description.) The film treats the imprisoning hold of poverty; the disheartening odds of people rising from such social despair, and the ease in which those in the upper spheres of Society may descend.

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Plot Keywords:

thief | poverty | france | despair | husband wife relationship | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

10 September 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Lower Depths

Filming Locations:

Bords de la Seine, Epinay-sur-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Films Albatros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Tobis-Klangfilm)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

As Kostylev lies dead on the anvil, the shadow of the camera can be seen approaching on the ground.

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Quotes

Vassilissa Kostyleva: One day, everything will be ours. We'll go away together. To live the good life where no one knows us.
Wasska Pepel: Stop it.
Vassilissa Kostyleva: You don't love me anymore. Why not?

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Connections

Version of Nachtasyl (2005)

User Reviews

Strong drama

Very dark but strong drama, about a bunch of people with no faith and no hope. It's very cynical, but Jean Renoir's directions gives the movie a unique twist. Great acting by Jouvet and Gabin, and young Junie Astor.