The Lower Depths

Name: The Lower Depths
Genre: Drama
Released: TODO_MISSING
Rating: 89

1937, Drama, 1h 32m

9 Reviews 500+ Ratings

The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl

Forget Baghdad: Jews and Arabs: The Iraqi Connection

Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist

The Inner Tour

Death of a Cyclist

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

The Lower Depths Photos

View All Photos (8)

Movie Info

Inhabitants of a flophouse struggle to survive under the harsh treatment imposed by the landlord, Kostyleva (Vladimir Sokoloff). One resident, young thief Wasska Pepel (Jean Gabin), ends his affair with the landlord's wife, Vassilissa (Suzy Prim), and takes up with her sister, Natacha (Junie Astor). Pepel also befriends the baron (Louis Jouvet), a former nobleman fallen on hard times, but Pepel's attempts at happiness are complicated when he's accused of murder by a spiteful Vassilissa.

Genre:

Drama
Original Language:

French (Canada)
Director:

Jean Renoir
Producer:

Alexandre Kamenka
Writer:

Maxim Gorky, Eugène Zamiatine, Jacques Companéez, Jean Renoir, Charles Spaak, Jean Renoir, Charles Spaak
Release Date (Theaters):

Sep 10, 1937 wide
Runtime:

1h 32m
Distributor:

Arthur Mayer & Joseph Burstyn Inc., Criterion Collection
Production Co:

Films Albatros

Cast & Crew

Jean Gabin
Wasska Pepel

Louis Jouvet
The Baron

Jany Holt
Nastia

Suzy Prim
Vassilissa Kostyleva

Vladimir Sokoloff
Kostylev

Junie Astor
Natacha

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The Lower Depths

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (1)

Full Review… Time Out

Full Review… Dave Kehr Chicago Reader

Full Review… Michael Atkinson Village Voice

Full Review… Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy) Esquire Magazine

Full Review… Donald J. Levit ReelTalk Movie Reviews

Full Review… Fernando F. Croce CinePassion

Full Review… Film4 Staff Film4

Full Review… Jake Euker Filmcritic.com

Full Review… TV Guide

View All Critic Reviews (9)

Audience Reviews for The Lower Depths

Oct 05, 2009

it may well be a bastardization of gorky's play but i found it completely charming. louis jouvet is wonderful as the dissolute baron and jean gabin is my hero as ever. i still need to see kurosawa's version which is said to be grittier but i can't help but forgive renoir for loving his characters too much to see them suffer in the end

Stella D Super Reviewer
Mar 04, 2008

Looks good, but is missing a punch.

Anthony V Super Reviewer
Apr 24, 2007

i watched this film after i saw kurosawas japanese version, and this one was just as good. this is a french film about people who live in poverty. the characters are interesting and the story was told well. you really admire some of these people, and others come across as almost happy and peaceful despite thier circumstances. really good film.

danny d Super Reviewer