In this classic adaptation of Emile Zola's novel, a tortured train engineer falls in love with a troubled married woman who has helped her husband commit a murder.In this classic adaptation of Emile Zola's novel, a tortured train engineer falls in love with a troubled married woman who has helped her husband commit a murder.In this classic adaptation of Emile Zola's novel, a tortured train engineer falls in love with a troubled married woman who has helped her husband commit a murder.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
- Pecqueux
- (as Carette)
- Roubaud
- (as Ledoux de la Comédie Française)
- Dauvergne
- (as Gerard Landry)
- Philomène Sauvagnat
- (as Jenny Helia)
- Victoire Pecqueux
- (as Colette Regis)
- Une voyageuse
- (as Claire Gerard)
- Tante Phasie
- (as Germaine Clasis)
- Grandmorin
- (as Berlioz)
- Dabadie
- (as Cortegianni)
- Un lampiste
- (as Perez)
- Commissaire Cauche
- (as Roussel)
- Un lampiste
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Émile Zola
- Jean Renoir(uncredited)
- Denise Leblond(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJean Gabin learned how to operate a locomotive before shooting.
- GoofsAt about the 0:28:00 mark the boom mic shadows moves on the far left wall.
- Quotes
Jacques Lantier: Pecqueux, I have to tell you something. Don't say a word and don't move. I killed her. That's right, I killed her. It's all over. I'll never see her again. It'll be the death of me, I know it. I couldn't bear to hold her anymore. I loved her, you know? I loved her little hands most of all. But there's one thing I don't get: why haven't they arrested me?
- Alternate versionsThere is an Italian edition of this film on DVD, distributed by DNA srl, "LA BÊTE HUMAINE (L'angelo del male, 1938) + VERSO LA VITA (1936)" (2 Films on a single DVD), re-edited with the contribution of film historian Riccardo Cusin. This version is also available for streaming on some platforms.
- ConnectionsEdited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Une histoire seule (1989)
Apart from this, 'La bete humaine' is an excellently made film. Competent acting, to start with -- for instance by female lead Simone Simon, a forgotten name. This film's setting in a French railroad-environment adds the right amount of drama, and provides a solid foundation for its plot. According to the technical standards of 1938, its shooting is first-class.
'La bete humaine' is a novel from the Rougon-Maquart-series by the great French author Emile Zola. Back in the second half of the 19th century, Zola wrote 'naturalism': an ultra-realistic style with a bottom-line of pessimism. Coincidence or not, this style fits well with the year 1938, when Adolf Hitler's dark shade was already looming over Europe.
- wvisser-leusden
- Jul 16, 2010
- How long is La Bête Humaine?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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