Themes: Fish Out of Water, Class Differences, Eccentric Families
Main Cast: Michel Simon, Charles Granval, Marcella Hainia, Jean Gehret, Severine Lerczynska
Release Year: 1932
Country: FR
Run Time: 87 minutes
Plot
Boudu (played by Michel Simon, who also produced the film) is a shaggy, foul-smelling tramp who is rescued from drowning by bourgeois Frenchman Charles Granval. Deciding to "reform" Boudu, Granval invites the hobo into his home. Boudu returns the favor by turning the household upside down and by conducting an affair with Granval's wife Marcella Hainia. All ends happily--for Boudu at least--when the tramp wins the national lottery and marries maid Severine Lerczynska, who is so delighted that she ends her own affair with the hypocritical Granval. Boudu decides to forego his new-found wealth for his previous carefree existence, leaving the greedy Lerczynska in the lurch. Filmed in 1932, Boudu Saved From Drowning was not released in the US until 1967, at which time it was universally praised by the wine-and-cheese critics. A less subtle but not less hilarious American remake, 1986's Down and Out in Beverly Hills, starred Nick Nolte, Richard Dreyfuss and Bette Midler (this film spawned a brief, heavily laundered 1987 TV sitcom). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
A classic black comedy from masterful French director Jean Renoir, Boudo Saved From Drowning is notable for its innovative film techniques, its bizarre characterizations, and its "modern" style of acting. It's the thin tale of a scruffy hobo (played by the film's producer, Michel Simon) whom a well-to-do French family saves from drowning. Instead of being grateful, he plagues the family, carrying on an affair with the lady of the household. Boudu soon became a minor classic of French cinema. It was not released in the United States until 1967, when it became an art-house hit. Years later, it inspired a remake set in the Los Angeles area, Down and Out in Beverly Hills. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Max Dalban - Godin; Jean Dasté - Student; Jacques Becker - Poet on Bench; George Damoux - Marriage Guest; Georges Darnoux - Wedding Guest; Jane Pierson - Rose, neighbor's maid
Credit
Georges Darnoux - First Assistant Director, Jacques Becker - First Assistant Director, Jean Renoir - Director, Suzanne de Troeye - Editor, Marguerite Renoir - Editor, Raphael - Composer (Music Score), Leo Daniderff - Composer (Music Score), Jean-Paul Alphen - Cinematographer, Marcel Lucien - Cinematographer, Jean Gehret - Producer, Michel Simon - Producer, Jean Castanier - Set Designer, Laurent - Set Designer, Jean Renoir - Screenwriter, Albert Valentin - Screenwriter, Rene Fauchois - Play Author
Boudu Saved from Drowning (French:Boudu sauvé des eaux) is a 1932Frenchfilm, directed by Jean Renoir. Renoir wrote the film's screenplay, from the play by René Fauchois. The film stars Michel Simon as Boudu.
Bourgeois Parisian book seller Edouard Lestingois (Charles Granval) rescues a tramp, Boudu, from a suicidal plunge into the river Seine. Boudu is brought into Lestingois household and evokes the age old principle that the book-seller is now responsible for his life. The family adopts the bum and dedicates itself to reforming him into a proper middle class person. Boudu (Michel Simon) shows his gratitude by shaking the household to its foundations, challenging the hidebound principles of his hosts and seducing them with his anarchic charm.
The film was remade in 1986 for an American audience as Down and Out in Beverly Hills, directed by Paul Mazursky.[1] Another remake, Boudu, was released in 2005. Gérard Jugnot directed, from a screenplay by Philippe Lopes-Curval. It starred Gérard Depardieu as Boudu. Both are adaptation of René Fauchois' play, not remake of Jean Renoir film.
