La bête humaine

Film Info

France
1938
96 minutes
Black and White
1.33:1
French
Spine #324

Based on the classic Emile Zola novel, Jean Renoir’s La bête humaine was one of the legendary director’s greatest popular successes—and earned star Jean Gabin a permanent place in the hearts of his countrymen. Part poetic realism, part film noir, the film is a hard-boiled and suspenseful journey into the tormented psyche of a workingman.

Cast

Jacques Lantier	Jean Gabin
Séverine	Simone Simon
Pecqueux	Julien Carette
Roubaud	Fernand Ledoux
Flore	Blanchette Brunoy
Philoméne	Jenny Helia
Victoire Pecqueux	Colette Regis
Madame Misard	Germaine Clasis
Judge	André Tavernier
Cabuche	Jean Renoir

Credits

Director	Jean Renoir
Producer	Raymond Hakim and Robert Hakim
Screenplay	Jean Renoir
From the novel by	Émile Zola
Production manager	Roland Tual
Music	Joseph Kosma
Editing	Marguerite Houlet Renoir

Disc Features

New, restored high-definition digital transfer of the original uncensored version
Introduction to the film by Jean Renoir
New interview with director Peter Bogdanovich
Archival footage of Renoir directing actress Simone Simon, and interviews with Renoir, Émile Zola scholar Henri Mitterand, and others on adapting Zola to the screen
Gallery of on-set photographs and theatrical posters
Theatrical trailer
New and improved English subtitle translation
A booklet featuring critic Geoffrey O’Brien, film historian Ginette Vincendeau, and production designer Eugène Lourié