Main Cast: Maria Schell, François Perier, Armand Mestral, Mathilde Casadesus, Suzy Delair
Release Year: 1956
Country: IT/FR
Run Time: 89 minutes
Plot
Emile Zola's obscure novel entitled "L'Assommoir" has been made into several films. This is one of the best. In this two hour movie an entire mini-series worth of problems have been compressed about a young woman to whom life has dealt hard blows. Set in the 19th-century, this woman deals with an alcoholic husband while doing everything within her power to keep the family together. An incredibly depressing movie in which the protagonist keeps on trying no matter what besets her, the performances are creditable and the direction superb. Self-involved characters give viewers no one to cheer for, but this movie received multiple awards, ranging from Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival to an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film. The music was composed by Georges Auric. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
Jany Holt - Mme. Lorilleaux; Jacques Hilling - Mon. Boche; Amedee; Yvonne Claudie; Gérard Darrieu; Odette Florelle - Maman Coupeau; Jacques Harden - Goujet; Lucien Hubert - M. Poisson; Jacqueline Morane - Mme. Gaudron; Aram Stephan; André Wasley - Pere Colombe; Hubert DeLapparent - Mon. Lorilleaux; Rachel Devirys - Mme. Fauconnier; Micheline Luccioni - Clemence; Helene Tossy - Mme. Bijard
Credit
Mayo - Costume Designer, René Clément - Director, Henri Rust - Editor, Mai Harris - Editor, Georges Auric - Composer (Music Score), Jacques Robin - Camera Operator, Paul Bertrand - Production Designer, Robert Juillard - Cinematographer, Annie Dorfmann - Producer, Antoine Archimbaud - Sound/Sound Designer, Jean Aurenche - Screenwriter, Pierre Bost - Screenwriter, Emile Zola - Book Author
Gervaise is a 1956 French film directed by René Clément based on the novel L'Assommoir by Émile Zola. It depicts a woman in the nineteenth century trying to cope with the pressure of dealing with her alcoholic husband.
