The Lower Depths
The Lower Depths is a 1936 French drama film directed by Jean Renoir and starring Jean Gabin, Suzy Prim and Louis Jouvet. It is based on the 1902 play of the same title by Maxim Gorky. Its scenes contrast the life of the upper and lower classes to comedic effect. It was shot at the Epinay Studios of Eclair and on location between Epinay and Saint-Denis on the Seine. The film's sets were desgned by the art director Eugène Lourié.
Plot
A wealthy baron (Jouvet) becomes bankrupt through gambling. Contemplating suicide, he finds his gun missing and confronts the thief Pépel (Gabin) who plans to rob him. Instead they share "a drink between colleagues" in a scene played as light comedy and become friends. The baron allows Pépel to leave with a bronze sculpture. Creditors seize the baron's household furnishings. The Baron tells his servant Félix that he hopes all that Félix has stolen from him will cover his unpaid wages, to which Félix agrees. Pépel is arrested for stealing the bronze. Pépel jokes with the police until the baron arrives to identify him as a "dear friend". The story shifts to life in the slums, where men argue at cards. They mock a woman who reads romantic tales, and many individuals have brief character portraits. The baron arrives to become a lodger in the slums and Pépel sets him up with a bed. The baron joins the card game.
Awards
Cast
- Alex Allin
- André Gabriello
- Camille Bert
- Fernand Bercher
- Irène Joachim
- Jacques Becker
- Jany Holt
- Jean Gabin
- Jean Sylvain
- Junie Astor
- Léon Larive
- Louis Jouvet
- Maurice Baquet
- Nathalie Alexeief-Darsène
- Paul Grimault
- Paul Temps
- René Génin
- René Stern
- Robert Le Vigan
- Robert Ozanne
- Suzy Prim
- Vladimir Sokoloff
More details
| author | Charles Spaak Jean Renoir Maxim Gorky Yevgeny Zamyatin |
|---|---|
| award | Louis Delluc Prize |
| director | Jean Renoir |
| editor | Marguerite Renoir |
| genre | drama |
| keywords | arrest better life card game contemplating suicide gamble good time kill life in the slums make up mourn party police inspector remember river slum landlord slumlord speak steal |
| musicBy | Jean Wiener |
| producer | Alexandre Kamenka |
| productionCompany | Films Albatros |
| publisher | Gaumont Film Company |
| theme | noir |