The Lower Depths

"From the world-famous play by MAXIM GORKI"

1936 1h 32m FR

👍

7.2

SOLID

★7.2TMDB · 83

DramaRomanceCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Inhabitants of a flophouse struggle to survive under the harsh treatment imposed by the landlord, Kostyleva. One resident, young thief Wasska Pepel, ends his affair with the landlord's wife, Vassilissa, and takes up with her sister, Natacha. Pepel also befriends the baron, a former nobleman fallen on hard times, but Pepel's attempts at happiness are complicated when he's accused of murder by a spiteful Vassilissa.

“From the world-famous play by MAXIM GORKI”

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Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

France Channel Amazon ChannelSubscription

Cast

Jean Gabin
Pepel Wasska
Suzy Prim
Vassilissa Kostyleva
Louis Jouvet
Le baron
Jany Holt
Nastia, la prostituée
Junie Astor
Natacha, la sœur de Vassilissa
Nathalie Alexeief-Darsène
Anna
Vladimir Sokoloff
le vieux Kostileff
Robert Le Vigan
l'acteur alcoolique

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jean Renoir
Writers: Jean Renoir, Evgeny Zamyatin, Jacques Companéez
Languages: French
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

90 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jean Renoir, shot by Jean Bachelet. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Marguerite Renoir shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Jean Gabin and Suzy Prim and Louis Jouvet carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "From the world-famous play by MAXIM GORKI".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0027336 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 83 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jean Renoir directs. Jean Bachelet behind the camera. Marguerite Renoir cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Jean Renoir, shot by Jean Bachelet. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Editor Marguerite Renoir shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Jean Gabin and Suzy Prim and Louis Jouvet carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "From the world-famous play by MAXIM GORKI".
7IMDB entry: tt0027336 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 83 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.