Les Bas-fonds (The Lower Depths) (Underground) (Underworld)

1936

Les Bas-fonds (The Lower Depths) (Underground) (Underworld)

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Les Bas-fonds (The Lower Depths) (Underground) (Underworld) Photos

View All Photos (1)

Movie Info

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, Rovi

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Art House & International, Classics, Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Romance
Directed By:

Jean Renoir
Written By:

Maxim Gorky, Yevgeni Zamyatin
In Theaters:

Jan 1, 1936 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Aug 10, 2004
Runtime:

92 minutes
Studio:

Criterion Collection

Cast

Jean Gabin
as Wasska Pepel

Suzy Prim
as Vassilissa

Louis Jouvet
as The Baron

Jany Holt
as Nastia

Vladimir Sokoloff
as Kostileff

Junie Astor
as Natacha

Robert Le Vigan
as L'Acteur

Camille Bert
as Le Comte

Rene Genin
as Le Vieillard

Paul Temps
as Satine

Robert Ozanne
as Jabot

Leon Larive
as Felix le domestique

Alex Allin

André Gabriello
as Le Commissaire

Maurice Baquet
as Accordeoniste

Lucien Mancini
as Patron de la guinguette

Sylvain

View All

Critic Reviews for Les Bas-fonds (The Lower Depths) (Underground) (Underworld)

All Critics (8) | Top Critics (3)

Gabin and Jouvet are their usual glorious selves, though the tendency towards pessimism makes this one of Renoir's less rewarding films.

May 9, 2007 | Full Review…

Time Out
Top Critic
It carries some interest in its curious blend of tones and styles -- it oscillates between vaudeville turns and stark tragedy.

May 9, 2007 | Full Review…

Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic
Renoir sought out balance and humanistic sympathy, reshaping the narrative so the thief (Jean Gabin) and the Baron (Louis Jouvet) bond over their mutual rebellion against the social system.

Aug 30, 2006

Michael Atkinson
Village Voice
Top Critic
Gabin did not attain the international status of American counterparts or later countryman Belmondo, though his Pepel here is a thing of beauty.

Mar 20, 2014 | Full Review…

Donald J. Levit
ReelTalk Movie Reviews
The text is Gorky's, the names and the whiskers are Russian, yet the world here is wholly French, or, rather, wholly Jean Renoir's

Feb 14, 2010 | Full Review…

Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
The result is powerful, if frequently uncomfortable, viewing.

May 9, 2007 | Full Review…

Film4 Staff
Film4
The Lower Depths both gains and loses by its proximity to Renoir's later masterpieces: It's not one of them them, but the same guy made it.

Aug 30, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/5

Jake Euker
Filmcritic.com
The relationship between Gabin's Pepel and Jouvet's Baron is a brilliant one -- Renoir pointing to their internal similarities by stressing their external differences.

Aug 30, 2006 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

TV Guide

View All Critic Reviews (8)

Audience Reviews for Les Bas-fonds (The Lower Depths) (Underground) (Underworld)

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