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General Minor 
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TITLE |
Bête
humaine, La (1938) |
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ALT__TITLE |
1. The Human
Beast 2. Judas Was a Woman |
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DISABILITY |
General
Depression Fits |
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NOTES |
Since this
film has achieved the status of a classic I think it |
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will be more
generally screened under its original French title. |
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If you love
old steam engines you'll like this film, it's full of |
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them. The
original novels were set in the 1870s but the film is |
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The story is
about Jacques (Jean Gabin) an engine driver. |
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Ostensibly
normal, just getting on with his job Jacques is |
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actually
mentally unstable and prone to depression and fits. |
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Jacques is
aware his condition is hereditary which makes it |
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Jacques
lusts after Severine who is married to Robaud. |
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When Jacques
sees Robaud kill his boss Robaud offers him |
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Severine to
keep him quiet. But then Severine wants him to kill Robaud.
Disgusted Jacques kills Severine and then himself. |
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An intense,
brooding study. It's difficult to say how well the |
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film
explores Jacques' mental condition but there's an overall |
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impression
depicted not least by the giant engines and the |
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close-ups
(giant on the screen) of Gabin's expressive face. |
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From the
novel (actually several novels) by Emile Zola |
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Remade as
Human Desire (1953) |
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Notes
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