Le Jour se lève (Daybreak) Photos

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Cast

Jean Gabin
as Francois

Arletty
as Clara

Jules Berry
as M. Valentin

Jacqueline Laurent
as François

Rene Genin
as Concierge

Mady Berry
as Concierge's Wife

Bernard Blier
as Gaston

Marcel Peres
as Paulo

Jacques Baumer
as The Inspector

Rene Bergeron
as Cafe Proprietor

Gabrielle Fontan
as Old Woman

Arthur Devère
as Gerbois

Georges Douking
as Blind Man

Germaine Lix
as Singer

Léonce Corne

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Critic Reviews for Le Jour se lève (Daybreak)

Audience Reviews for Le Jour se lève (Daybreak)

• Aug 21, 2011

  A somber, suspenseful tale -- mostly told in flashback -- about a good man (Jean Gabin) who is driven to murder. As he barricades himself in his upstairs apartment, avoiding the police and a voyeuristic crowd, the events leading to the killing are recounted. The story involves a choice between two lovers, along with a smooth-talking dog trainer who becomes an obstacle. The direction and cinematography are wonderful, but some aspects about the climax were unsatisfying for me. And did the police really make no effort to negotiate in those days?
  

  Eric B Super Reviewer
• Jul 04, 2011

  awesome, i saw this a long time ago
  Bob S Super Reviewer
• May 12, 2011

  one of the great doomed romantic epics of poetic realism, with director marcel carné, his writing partner, the poet jacques prévert, and the fatalistic hero of so many films of the era, jean gabin, all at the height of their powers. wonderful atmosphere
  Stella D Super Reviewer
• Mar 29, 2011

  "Le Jour Se Leve" starts with Valentin(Jules Berry) making so theatrical a departure from the mortal coil that even a blind man could not miss it. A lot of the neighbors do not either, as the police are called. Arriving at the door of the culprit, Francois(Jean Gabin), a factory worker who everybody swears is just the swellest of guys, they look to arrest him peacefully. But he does not feel like talking to anybody, especially the police, who he fires shots at, preferring instead to think of happier days when he met Francoise(Jacqueline Laurent) on their mutual name day. They date but, suspicious, he follows her one night to a music hall. "Le Jour Se Leve" gets off to an excellent start with some exquisite camerawork and Jean Gabin again proving how good an actor he was, bringing out the light and darkness in his character. But the movie eventually gets bogged down in a convoluted soap opera. While some might not think there is much reasoning behind Francois' pulling the trigger, I think this goes to the tragedy of the movie that nothing good can ever come from taking a life, no matter the intentions.
  Walter M Super Reviewer

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