Danton (1983)

In 1793, as the Terror begins in France, Georges Danton, a champion-of-the-people, returns to clash against Maximilien Robespierre and his extremist party.

Director:

Andrzej Wajda

Writers:

Jean-Claude Carrière (scenario), Stanislawa Przybyszewska (based on the play by: "L'Affaire Danton/Sprawa Dantona")

Stars:

Gérard Depardieu, Wojciech Pszoniak, Anne Alvaro

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 6 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gérard Depardieu	...	Danton
Wojciech Pszoniak	...	Robespierre
Anne Alvaro	...	Éléonore Duplay
Roland Blanche	...	Lacroix
Patrice Chéreau	...	Camille Desmoulins (as Patrice Chereau)
Emmanuelle Debever	...	Louison Danton
Krzysztof Globisz	...	Amar
Ronald Guttman	...	Herman
Gérard Hardy	...	Tallien
Tadeusz Huk	...	Couthon
Stéphane Jobert	...	Panis
Marian Kociniak	...	Lindet
Marek Kondrat	...	Barère de Vieuzac
Boguslaw Linda	...	Saint Just
Alain Macé	...	Héron (as Alain Mace)

Storyline

Action opens in November of 1793, with Danton returning to Paris from his country retreat upon learning that the Committee for Public Safety, under Robespierre's incitement, has begun a series of massive executions, The Terror. Confident in the people's support, Danton clashes with his former ally, but calculating Robespierre soon rounds up Danton and his followers, tries them before a revolutionary tribunal and dipatches them to the guillotine.

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Plot Keywords:

revolutionary | counter revolution | boy | beheading | 1790s | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the time, Poland's Solidarity movement was very popular in France and, with the film being directed by a Polish director, Andrzej Wajda, everything seemed right for the film to be a hit. There are elements in the film that seemed to draw an analogy between the French Revolution and Solidarity's fight against Communism. However, the Government had swung to the right by the time the film was released in January 1983. The harsh, icy portrayal of Robespierre was considered particularly objectionable and the attitude was that Wajda had denigrated the French Revolution by misrepresenting its icons.

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Goofs

Many significant figures and events were presented inaccurately or not at all. Danton was presented as a drunk. Louis de Saint-Just, known at the time as the "Angel of Death" and the public face of the Reign of Terror, acted like a modern-day hippie. Much of the military history, such as the Civil War in the Vendée, was completely excluded, removing the Terror from its historical context. The film largely excludes the common people of France, despite the fact that the Revolution was a popular uprising.

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Quotes

Robespierre: You admit a dictatorship is needed. That means the nation is unable to govern itself and democracy is only an illusion.

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Crazy Credits

Anne Alvaro gets an "and introducing" credit ("et pour la première fois à l'écran").

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Alternate Versions

The dialogue in the dubbed version with American voice actors sometimes differs sharply from the original: for example, Robespierre's last words to Saint-Just are not the dismissive "Don't wake me when you leave" ("Ne me réveillez pas quand tu sortiras") but the prophetic "Whatever happens will happen soon" (so that, like Danton, he apparently realises he will shortly meet Danton's fate).

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Connections

Featured in One Hundred and One Nights (1995)

User Reviews

Historic film about the struggles among two greatest figures of French revolution

The film tells upon the title role , Danton (Gerard Depardieu) , confronting Robespierre ( Wojciech Pszoniak ) during French revolution . The film is based on real deeds , they are the following : Danton(1759-1794) as lawyer participated in overthrowing of king Louis XVI and the proclamation of the Republic , being Minister of Justice in the Convention (1792)and founder of Cordeliers club . He proposed creation revolutionary committees as the Public Salvation Committee which he presided but was substituted by Robespierre , starting a period of revolutionary dictatorship known as ¨the Terror¨(1793) . Besides , in the film appears other historic personages as Camille Desmoulins (Patrice Chereau , nowadays a famed filmmaker ) , Louis David (the prestigious painter) , Saint Just (a famous Jacobino) , Tallien...

The picture especially narrates the happenings surrounding the facing off of the two main figures , one-time revolution partners , and their posterior fall and execution , though gives results a contemporary parable about the modern Poland , thus Danton is Lech Walesa , the leader of syndicate named Solidarity and Robespierre is Wojciech Jaruzelski who was the Prime Minister who imposed the martial law in Poland . Gerard Depardieu is excellent in the title character and magnificently portrayed , also in secondary roles turn up awesome actors as the recently deceased Jacques Villeret ( Dinner game,Crimen in paradise ) and Angela Winkler ( The tin drum ). The motion picture is well directed by Andrzej Wajda , justly considered the best Polish director . The flick will appeal to historical cinema buffs and Gerad Depardieu fans .

Details

Country:

France Poland

Language:

French

Release Date:

12 January 1983 (France)

Also Known As:

Danton

Filming Locations:

Jossigny, Seine-et-Marne, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont, TF1 Films Production, S.F.P.C.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1