The Canon / Parallax Editorial Archive
Curated by Pedro Neves, Founder of Parallax
La Bête Humaine
Directed by Jean Renoir
1938•1h 40m•NR•★ 7.5
Crime / Drama / Romance
Synopsis
A train engineer plagued by hereditary homicidal urges falls in love with the seductive, mistreated wife of a corrupt stationmaster, becoming entangled in a plot to murder her older husband. Jean Renoir's propulsive adaptation of Émile Zola starring Jean Gabin and Simone Simon.
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La Bête Humaine
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Director Spotlight
Cinematic Profile
Jean Renoir
Editorial Context
CanonContemplative
The Canon
The permanent living editorial archive curated by Pedro Neves, Founder of Parallax.
CuratedScholarly
Criterion Collection
A continuing series of important classic and contemporary films.
MovementNocturnal
Film Noir
Stories where morality is uncertain and every decision carries a cost.
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Cast & Crew
DirectorJean Renoir
WriterJean Renoir
CinematographyCurt Courant
MusicJoseph Kosma
Principal Cast
Jean GabinLantier
Simone SimonSéverine
Fernand LedouxRoubaud
Julien CarettePecqueux
Blanchette BrunoyFlore
Gérard LandryDauvergne
Jenny HéliaPhilomène
Colette RégisVictoire
Technical Specifications
Runtime1h 40m (100 mins)
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Collector Status
Not Yet Collected
Production Details
DirectorJean Renoir
LanguagesFrench
CountryFR
StudioParis Film Productions
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