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Port of Shadows

Original title: Le quai des brumes
  • 19381938
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
9.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Michèle Morgan and Jean Gabin in Le quai des brumes (1938)
Trailer for Port of Shadows
Play trailer2:25
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Romance
A military deserter finds love and trouble (and a small dog) in a foggy, French port city.A military deserter finds love and trouble (and a small dog) in a foggy, French port city.A military deserter finds love and trouble (and a small dog) in a foggy, French port city.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
9.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Marcel Carné
  • Writers
    • Pierre Mac Orlan(novel)
    • Jacques Prévert(scenario and dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Jean Gabin
    • Michel Simon
    • Michèle Morgan
Top credits
  • Director
    • Marcel Carné
  • Writers
    • Pierre Mac Orlan(novel)
    • Jacques Prévert(scenario and dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Jean Gabin
    • Michel Simon
    • Michèle Morgan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 58User reviews
    • 54Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Port of Shadows
    Trailer 2:25
    Port of Shadows

    Photos110

    Michèle Morgan and Jean Gabin in Le quai des brumes (1938)
    Michèle Morgan in Le quai des brumes (1938)
    Jean Gabin and Michel Simon in Le quai des brumes (1938)
    Michèle Morgan in Le quai des brumes (1938)
    Michel Simon in Le quai des brumes (1938)
    Michèle Morgan and Jean Gabin in Le quai des brumes (1938)
    Jean Gabin in Le quai des brumes (1938)
    Michèle Morgan in Le quai des brumes (1938)
    Jean Gabin in Le quai des brumes (1938)
    Le quai des brumes (1938)
    Le quai des brumes (1938)
    Le quai des brumes (1938)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jean Gabin
    Jean Gabin
    • Jeanas Jean
    Michel Simon
    Michel Simon
    • Zabelas Zabel
    Michèle Morgan
    Michèle Morgan
    • Nellyas Nelly
    Pierre Brasseur
    Pierre Brasseur
    • Lucienas Lucien
    Édouard Delmont
    Édouard Delmont
    • Panamaas Panama
    • (as Delmont)
    Raymond Aimos
    Raymond Aimos
    • Quart Vittelas Quart Vittel
    • (as Aimos)
    Robert Le Vigan
    Robert Le Vigan
    • Le peintreas Le peintre
    • (as Le Vigan)
    René Génin
    René Génin
    • Le docteuras Le docteur
    • (as Genin)
    Marcel Pérès
    Marcel Pérès
    • Le chauffeuras Le chauffeur
    • (as Perez)
    Jenny Burnay
    Jenny Burnay
    • L'amie de Lucienas L'amie de Lucien
    Roger Legris
    Roger Legris
    • Le garçon d'hôtelas Le garçon d'hôtel
    • (as Legris)
    Martial Rèbe
    • Le clientas Le client
    Léo Malet
    • Soldieras Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Marcel Melrac
      Raymond Pélissier
        Raphaël
        • Un compliceas Un complice
        • (uncredited)
        Jacques Soukoff
        • Lucien's henchmanas Lucien's henchman
        • (uncredited)
        Gaby Wagner
        • Compliceas Complice
        • (uncredited)
        • Director
          • Marcel Carné
        • Writers
          • Pierre Mac Orlan(novel)
          • Jacques Prévert(scenario and dialogue)
        • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
        • All cast & crew

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        Storyline

        Edit

        Did you know

        Edit
        • Trivia
          Some may notice that the Le Havre setting, while realistic, seems to have a slightly strange perspective. This is because the streets were constructed with a "false perspective" technique: the buildings were gradually scaled down in size the farther they go into the background; when shot with the proper camera lens, such a street will seem to stretch away from the camera up to four times longer than it actually does.
        • Goofs
          When Jean and Nelly have their picture taken, they are standing close together. After a brief cut to the photographer who instructs them not to move anymore, there is a clear gap between them.
        • Quotes

          Quart Vittel: What could be simpler than a tree?

          Le peintre: A tree. But when I paint one, it sets everyone on edge. It's because there's someone or something hidden behind that tree. I can't help painting what's hidden behind things. To me a swimmer is already a drowned man.

        • Connections
          Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: La monnaie de l'absolu (1999)

        User reviews58

        Review
        Top review
        10/10
        Like Being Punched Really Hard in the Gut
        I took a class in French Poetic Realism and Italian Neorealism this past Fall in which I saw many of the best films I will ever see. The third film we watched in the class was Jean Vigo's L'Atalante, which is just about the most gorgeous experience in film viewing I have ever experienced. I left the building in a cloud of euphoria, and I have never stopped thinking about it. One week later, we watched Le Quai des Brumes (Port of Shadows). It affected me greatly in the opposite direction of L'Atalante. It made me lonely and grief-stricken. That is in no way a criticism; for the most part, any film that transforms my emotions, whether for the better or the worse, is a great film.

        Le Quai des brumes is about a man played by the great Jean Gabin (the star of La Grande Illusion) who has deserted the army (a fact that is never mentioned specifically, since the French censors refused to let the filmmakers portray such an immoral deed). Everyone who he finds around him is morally corrupt. He finally befriends a dog, the most loyal of all animals, and then Nelly, a young woman who is being torn apart by her gangster suitor, Lucien, and her foster-father Zabel (played by L'Atalante's own Michel Simon).

        The whole film falls into unavoidable and quite grueling violence. It is so depressing that the French director Jean Renoir (of La Grande Illusion and Rules of the Game) accused it of being Fascist. Those who know the film know this quotation, and have pondered it for the longest time. It does make perfect sense however. Hope leaves quickly after it is seen, and it is hard to get rid of. It fascistically knocks you down. 10/10
        helpful•35
        7
        • zetes
        • Feb 9, 2001

        Details

        Edit
        • Release date
          • October 29, 1939 (United States)
        • Country of origin
          • France
        • Language
          • French
        • Also known as
          • Obala v megli
        • Filming locations
          • Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, France
        • Production company
          • Ciné-Alliance
        • See more company credits at IMDbPro

        Box office

        Edit
        • Gross US & Canada
          • $27,389
        • Opening weekend US & Canada
          • $6,618
          • Sep 16, 2012
        • Gross worldwide
          • $39,623
        See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

        Technical specs

        Edit
        • Runtime
          1 hour 31 minutes
        • Color
          • Black and White
        • Aspect ratio
          • 1.33 : 1

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