La Bete Humaine [DVD]

I bought this a long time ago and don't know if it is still available. I am a big fan of Jean Gabin and quite interested in railways so to have some amazing photography of locomotives in action is a bonus. It is a rather bleak tale beautifully directed and acted and my review could not do it justice. Region 1 player needed when I bought it.

This film works on two levels. Firstly it is an extraordinary film noir of the period, and very well worth watching just for that reason. Secondly, it is a powerful and historically important film of a French railway "Senator" or top link pacific locomotive driver and his fireman at work. The cinematography is superb, and very, very atmospheric. The portrait of loco crews with the inevitable cigarette permanently affixed to the lips speaks volumes of the period.Even if you cannot understand the language, the sense of drama, life, pain and (perhaps inevitable) tragedy is palpable.

This is a review of the Region 2 DVD from Studiocanal. Whilst this is not, apparently, a restored copy of this 1938 French film, the picture quality is superb ~ clear, sharp and fresh, even in the night scenes. The sound is occasionally less good, but the English subtitles are beautifully clear.This celebrated film, loosely based on a novel by Emile Zola, was directed by the great Jean Renoir (who also appears in a minor but significant role). The title role is played by Jean Gabin, probably the finest French cinema star of the pre-War era. He is Jacques Lantier, who drives an inter-city steam train for SNCF. He is reliable and motivated, loves his locomotive, even names it, but suffers from some sort of long-term mental instability, that leaves him prone to uncontrollable and coldly murderous fits. He is well supported by a colourful cast of French character actors, particularly Fernand Ledoux as the brutish Le Havre Stationmaster, Roubaud, and Julien Carette as Lantier’s world-weary stoker and friend, Pecqueux. Simone Simon is Robaud’s beautiful, ill-used but calculating and manipulative wife, Séverine.The film is essentially a tale of ill-fated love triangles, acted out largely within the Le Havre to Gare St-Lazare (Paris) rail network. The filming of the rail journeys (much of it on or from the footplate), the locomotives and the Le Havre station and train yards is superb. As with other French films of the era (eg 'Le Jour se Lève’ from 1939, involving a foundry), you get to see and savour the day-to-day routines of well-realised working class characters. The settings come over as highly authentic. However, this is quite a strange film. The plot is decidedly melodramatic, and therefore less convincing, but the quality of the acting and settings, and the beautiful steam engines, still make this a hugely watchable and engaging film.

The story of love, infidelity and murder is perhaps a bit melodramatic to my taste, but the story takes place to a large extent in a railway setting. Please step into the authentic French railway environment of 1938 - it's all filmed on location like a documentary. The film is worth having even if it were only for the opening three minutes or so.

For me, this is Renoir's finest film and this blu-ray transfer really does it justice. The only setback if you're not reasonably fluent in French is that this version does not have English subtitles, only French subs and French language soundtrack. The packaging is very good with a booklet included, but again, French language only .If your French is OK then don't hesitate, this is a very worthy release.

This must be one of the greatest films ever produced. It appeals to romantics, railway lovers, and lovers of film versions of written classics. The action, in, on or around French steam engines, railway yards and the wider railway community, is full of drama and passion. A great story beautifully acted and told.

For a budget price, this DVD was worth picking up as it is based on one of Emile Zola's most compelling and thrilling novels. Usually, I am not a fan of old black and white films but this effort comes with a very high reputation. The initial scene with the railway engine is hugely impressive and it is worthwhile pointing out that the steam trains are the true stars of the film. Unfortunately, although Gabin has great presence and the lead actress is particularly striking, Zola's novel is reduced down to the bare basics and a good half of the story regarding the disturbed girl who lives near the railway crossing is hinted at but never properly developed and effectively is allowed to fizzle out. The film was made shortly before WWII but the novel dated from some 40 years earlier. It is fascinating to see just how much the film is sanitised and the more unsavoury elements of the story are ignored as they obviously would not have passed the censorship of the time. In summary, this is not a bad film for it's time and probably something that will appeal to train enthusiasts. Those expecting an accurate representative of the book will be bitterly disappointed whereas film buffs ignorant of Zola's work may be more kind in their assessment.

Tastes vary, so I can only give my own impressions.I did like the railway scenes, with some beautiful shots of express passenger locos at work and at rest, and the beautifully portrayed railway itself. Worth buying for this alone. The actions of the loco crew seemed credible and realistic. Also the snatches of conversation involving other railway workers seemed realistic.I can't say I found the film's portrayal of events very convincing, with some irritating scenes - like in the rail yard where the would-be happy couple make no serious attempt at concealment, and the dropping of the iron bar does not result in any reaction from the patrolling person. From a psychological perspective, the out-of-character sudden turns of the Gabin character look rather corny by modern standards and don't lend the story any coherence.This is recommended for lovers of railways and cinema of the 1930s. But I would hardly think it is one of the greatest films ever made.

Le film est tiré du roman de Zola dont il est assez proche même si le scénario a simplifié les nombreux détails de l'intrigue du livre.2 héros dans ce film : Jacques Lantier (Gabin) et la Lison, superbe locomotive à vapeur omniprésente.Comme souvent chez Zola, le film traite de l'hérédité qui submerge Lantier et le transforme en bête due à un lourd passé familial alcoolique.La mise en scène de Renoir est efficace et intègre le spectateur dans ce monde fermé des cheminots. Les nombreuses scènes de trains (machines qui se croisent, qui manœuvrent, paysage qui défilent) renforcent cette impression.Simone Simon (Séverine) est vénéneuse à souhait ; et Renoir cisèle finement certains portraits la rendant irrésistible, fatale.Oui vraiment un grand film

"La Bete Humaine" is one of my favourites of all Emile Zola's novels. This famous film version, directed by Jean Renoir in 1938, is a clever adaption of the main characters in the book, the unfortunate Lantier (Jean Gabin), the kittenish and deadly Severin (Simone Simon) and her dour husband Roubaud (Fernand Ledoux). The book is more complex with many more sub-plots but it would have been impossible to incorporate it all so the changes are just fine, particularly as the mood has been recreated cleverly. There are many enlightening reviews on Amazon so I simply summarise as follows:- this is a Criterion package so the print has been restored from the best possible sources and is very good, preserving the stunning composition which was integral to Renoir's skill.- the extras include some very important interviews which assist the novice enormously to understand the gravity of the film, particularly if the viewer is unfamiliar with the source material. Peter Bogdanovich is entertaining and to the point as always but more importantly, there are two interviews/segments with Renoir himself, one in which he introduces the film for a screening on TV in the late 50s and the other when he recreates directing Simone Simon.- best of all, the package contains a booklet with 3 really excellent essays about the film, the novel and the production itself. These are invaluable.As usual, Criterion have made a significant contribution to the preservation and reincarnation of an important classic film.

Film très puissant et bien fait, beaucoup de tension

Gabin est plus que parfait,il fait corps avec sa belle machine et ceux qui l'accompagnent sont excellents aussi.Tous ceux qui admirent les locos à vapeur ( dont je fais partie )se réjouiront donc deux fois !Une très bonne soirée en perspective .Les premières images du film vous donnent le frisson : nous sommes dans et sur la machine qui roule et siffle c'ets magique !

I'm not a great fan of Renoir, but here his style works well. He's good at photography, and usually weak on story flow - too loaded with sentiment. This heavy theme works well under his control. The print is generally good, and the extras are copius and very interesting. The psychological depictions feel authentic. Gabin's character is difficult to understand. This is not a flaw, because he is like so many real people I've encountered, difficult to understand because of their internal conflicts. His conflicts have been controlled and muted by limiting his life's focus to the train. Although his sidekick sometimes border on the "straight man", he never quite goes over the line. It contrasts well with the deep darkness of Gabin's character.In summary: A great movie, a good repro, and a fine disc set.