The Adultress (1953)
"Thérèse Raquin" (original title)

A truckdriver kills the husband of the woman he loves, and becomes the object of blackmail.

Director:

Marcel Carné

Writers:

Émile Zola (novel), Marcel Carné (adaptation),

Stars:

Simone Signoret, Raf Vallone, Jacques Duby

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Simone Signoret	...	Thérèse Raquin
Raf Vallone	...	Laurent
Jacques Duby	...	Camille Raquin
Maria Pia Casilio	...	Georgette, la bonne
Marcel André	...	Michaud
Martial Rèbe	...	Grivet (as Martial Rebe)
Paul Frankeur	...	Le contrôleur
Alain Terrane	...	Un camioneur
Bernard Véron	...	Le postier
Jean Sylvère	...	(as Jean Sylvere)
Francette Vernillat	...	Françoise, la bossue
Lucien Hubert	...	Le chef de gare de Dijon
Jacques Hilling	...	(as Jacques Hiling)
Jean Rozenberg
Madeleine Barbulée	...	Madame Noblet, une cliente (as Madeleine Barbulé)

Storyline

Therese has a boring life. She married Camille, her cousin, a sickly haberdasher, fully dominated by his mother (who lives with them). She dreams about passion. One day comes a truckdriver, Laurent... and of course they fall in love. But they will be pursued by fate.

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Plot Keywords:

train | blackmail | passion | truck | truck driver | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

6 November 1953 (France)

Also Known As:

The Adultress

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paris Film Productions, Lux Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System PM51)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Raf Vallone refused to be dubbed in the French version and had his contract amended accordingly. The scenario was also slightly changed to "Italianize" the character of Laurent.

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Connections

Referenced in Bad Education (2004)

User Reviews

Pallid Stuff

Despite the considerable talent involved, this tale of passion and murder is pallid stuff. It's filled with bald plot-twists, ending with the ultimate of deux ex machinas, a huge truck careening down a small street for no reason except to kill off a major character, thus creating the pat ironic ending. Every plot twist is unconvincing, from the idea that Vallone and Duby would hit it off in any context, or that the couple would plan to leave a day or so after they told her husband about their affair rather than immediately, to the mother conveniently having a totally paralysing stroke at just the right moment. I guess one can blame Zola for some of this, but this updated version adds nothing.