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) (as Pierre MacOrlan), 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:

spanish foreign legion | murder | escape | desert | spanish colonial | 

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Taglines:

NO escape or flight! NO escape in love! The PAST is never dead!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Quotes

concierge: Hey, you speak Spanish now!
Pierre Gilieth: No, but I understand the situation.

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Connections

Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Une histoire seule (1989)

User Reviews

Riffraff Beau Geste.

"La bandera" is one of Julien Duvivier's most famous movies,but it seems a bit dated now.People who saw a version of "Beau Geste" cannot help but be struck by the similarities between the two stories:the "legion etrangere" ,as a way out when the police is hot on your heels.But whereas Beau Geste characters are noble,distinguished and chivalrous,Duvivier's hero and his mates are riffraff .The main character,played by Gabin ,is a good guy who committed an unpremeditated murder.

The best part of the movie ,in my opinion,is the description of the fort,the barrack-rooms,the brothel .Here,the hero falls in love with a morrocan girl.There's the rub:she's played by Annabella (who was Tyrone Power's wife) who does not look like a North African,not at all,hence the necessity to make her up outrageously ,with ugly results.

Like in "Beau Geste",the Arabs are the baddies,period.The courageous legionnaires always call them "les salopards" (the bastards).Duvivier achieves a real tour de force here:we never see the enemy when they attack the little fort!The poisoned water is a good dramatic idea and the final echoes Edith Piaf's song "le fanion de la légion".

However,"la bandera",with its military stereotypes, does not equal Duvivier's other pre-war works "la fin du jour" ,"carnet de bal" , "la belle équipe" or "pépé le moko" ,the latter taking place in North Africa too.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

2 May 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Escape from Yesterday

Filming Locations:

Barrio Chino, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

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