Le dernier métro (1980)

In occupied Paris, an actress married to a Jewish theater owner must keep him hidden from the Nazis while doing both of their jobs.

Director:

François Truffaut

Writers:

François Truffaut (scenario), Suzanne Schiffman (scenario)

Stars:

Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu, Jean Poiret

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 13 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Catherine Deneuve	...	Marion Steiner
Gérard Depardieu	...	Bernard Granger
Jean Poiret	...	Jean-Loup Cottins
Andréa Ferréol	...	Arlette Guillaume
Paulette Dubost	...	Germaine Fabre
Jean-Louis Richard	...	Daxiat
Sabine Haudepin	...	Nadine Marsac
Maurice Risch	...	Raymond Boursier
Heinz Bennent	...	Lucas Steiner
Christian Baltauss	...	Lucien Ballard - Bernard's Replacement
Pierre Belot	...	Desk Clerk
René Dupré	...	Valentin - Writer in Hotel Lobby (as Rene Dupre)
Aude Loring	...	Frau Wiedekind
Alain Tasma	...	Marc - Jean-Loup's Assistant
Rose Thiéry	...	Mme. Thierry - Jacquôt's Mother (as Rose Thierry)

Storyline

Paris, 1942. Lucas Steiner is a Jew and was compelled to leave the country. His wife Marion, an actress, directs the theater for him. She tries to keep the theater alive with a new play, and hires Bernard Granger for the leading role. But Lucas is actually hiding in the basement... A film about art and life.

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Plot Keywords:

jew | anxiety | gestapo | hideout | world war two | 

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Taglines:

A story of love and conflict.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Holds the record for most César awards (the French equivalent of the Oscars) for a single film, at 10. It's tied with Cyrano de Bergerac (1990) for this honor, another film starring Gérard Depardieu.

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Goofs

In one scene in the cellar, during a conversation between Marion and Lucas, we can see the sound recordist hiding himself in a corner of the cellar.

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Quotes

Raymond Boursier: You all right? As the boss used to say, the theater is like a bathroom and cemetery - when you got to go, you got to go.

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Connections

References Le père Goriot (1945)

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Soundtracks

Prière à Zumba
Written by Agustín Lara and Jacques Larue
(Editions F. Day)

User Reviews

A human movie

An almost banal story about normal people which by its naturalness attains a truly remarkable human greatness. Against the background of nazi occupation of Paris with its whole train of treasons, pusillanimities, courage, resistance, collusions and collaboration with the enemy, indignities and oppression, a theatrical company staged underground by its director who is secretly hidden because he's Jewish, puts on the stage a play about love also repressed, a play however which resounds as a freedom although smothered shout in the darkness enveloping France and Europe by then. The acting performance of Depardieu and Deneuve is brilliant as usual although very simple and natural. Besides that, Deneuve is indeed one of the most beautiful movie stars we have ever seen. This movie is also a hymn to the theatre as free expression since ancient Greece, living through the love of those who devote themselves to it, very often with abnegation and in adverse conditions. It must by all means be seen because, in spite of all, it makes us believe in human virtues which keep pace here with the theatrical actors' talent.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

Italian French German

Release Date:

17 September 1980 (France)

Also Known As:

Le dernier métro

Filming Locations:

Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,206, 25 April 1999

Gross USA:

$3,007,945

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,007,945

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Carrosse, Sédif Productions, TF1 Films Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min 133 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1