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Port of Shadows

Original title: Le quai des brumes
  • 1938
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
9.6K
YOUR RATING
Michèle Morgan and Jean Gabin in Port of Shadows (1938)
Trailer for Port of Shadows
Play trailer2:25
1 Video
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaRomance

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.

  • Director
    • Marcel Carné
  • Writers
    • Pierre Mac Orlan
    • Jacques Prévert
  • Stars
    • Jean Gabin
    • Michel Simon
    • Michèle Morgan
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    9.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Marcel Carné
    • Writers
      • Pierre Mac Orlan
      • Jacques Prévert
    • Stars
      • Jean Gabin
      • Michel Simon
      • Michèle Morgan
    • 60User reviews
    • 36Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Port of Shadows
    Trailer 2:25
    Watch Port of Shadows

    Photos110

    Michèle Morgan and Jean Gabin in Port of Shadows (1938)
    Michèle Morgan in Port of Shadows (1938)
    Jean Gabin and Michel Simon in Port of Shadows (1938)
    Michèle Morgan in Port of Shadows (1938)
    Michel Simon in Port of Shadows (1938)
    Michèle Morgan and Jean Gabin in Port of Shadows (1938)
    Jean Gabin in Port of Shadows (1938)
    Michèle Morgan in Port of Shadows (1938)
    Jean Gabin in Port of Shadows (1938)
    Port of Shadows (1938)
    Port of Shadows (1938)
    Port of Shadows (1938)

    Top cast

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

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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 reviews60

        Review
        Review
        Featured review
        9/10
        Engaging, provoking theatre
        Interesting what a contrast this movie makes to Carne's "The Children of Paradise". The two are almost complete opposites where mise-en-scene is concerned, and yet more interesting is that they both show a filmmaker with a craft of form and expression that rises beyond most other filmmakers, including his contemporaries.

        "Port of Shadows" is about a French army deserter (Jean Gabin, wonderful as usual) who attempts to flee the nation in order to finally begin a life away from the bad luck that's always held him. He appears at a small port town, immediately falls in love, and sets off a chain of events that show an inherent fatalism with a sense of humor, tragedy, and substance.

        This movie has one of those scripts that's very appealing in the way that it sends characters wandering through the mists, and yet somehow everything comes together and ties up all loose ends by the end. Adding to it the moody, brooding cinematography filled with fog and smoke, and one can't help but immerse oneself gladly into a different world. Also, Carne adds a sense of theatricality and the Carnivalesque that even Fellini couldn't compare to.

        This is definitely a film that well deserves being called "a classic of French cinema." --PolarisDiB
        helpful•14
        1
        • Polaris_DiB
        • Sep 17, 2007

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        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

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

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