Les Bas-Fonds (1936)
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Synopsis of Les Bas-Fonds
Voted 1936's best picture by a circle of prestigious French critics, Jean Renoir's The Lower Depths (Les Bas-Fonds) is based on the "gutter" play by Russian author Maxim Gorky. Louis Jouvet plays The Baron, forced by circumstance to give up his life of luxury and to set up residence in the slums of Paris. As Jouvet observes the passing parade, he bears witness to the frustrated romance between Jean Gabin and Junie Astor, the thwarted dreams of actor Robert Le Vigan, and the oppressive cruelties of landlord Vladimir Sokoloff. The Lower Depths surprised Renoir's admirers, who weren't used to seeing the director involve himself in so sordid and depressing a tale. Actually, the project was brought to Renoir by a producer friend of his, who secured the director's services by promising to provide Louis Jouvet and Jean Gabin as the leading actors. Renoir's The Lower Depths would make a fascinating companion piece to Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's 1957 adaptation of the same Gorky play. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast of Les Bas-Fonds
- Jean Gabin - Wasska Pepel
- Suzy Prim - Vassilissa
- Jany Holt - Nastia
- Robert Le Vigan - L'Acteur
- René Génin - Le Vieillard
- Robert Ozanne - Jabot
- Alex Allin
- Lucien Mancini - Patron de la guinguette
- Maurice Baquet - Accordeoniste
- Louis Jouvet - The Baron
- Junie Astor - Natacha
- Vladimir Sokoloff - Kostileff
- Camille Bert - Le Comte
- Paul Temps - Satine
- Léon Larive - Felix, le domestique
- André Gabriello - Le Commissaire
- Sylvain
- Director(s):
- Jean Renoir
- Writer(s):
- Jacques Companeez, Charles Spaak, Jean Renoir
- Producer(s):
- Arthur Mayer
- 1937 - French Film Critics Circle - Prix Louis-Delluc
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