Gervaise

1956 1h 52m FR

👍

6.7

SOLID

★6.7TMDB · 60

RomanceDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Gervaise Macquart is a beautiful Parisian laundress and mother whose lover, Lantier, walks out on her. She eventually marries Henri Coupeau, a roofer who has an unfortunate accident. As her now crippled husband descends into alcoholism, Gervaise tries to make ends meet on her own. Life becomes even more complicated when Lantier returns and befriends Henri. Meanwhile, the man she really loves is sent to prison.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Maria Schell
Gervaise Macquart Coupeau, une blanchisseuse douce et courageuse
François Périer
Henri Coupeau - le second compagnon de Gervaise, un ouvrier zingueur
Jany Holt
Mme Lorilleux - la soeur revêche de Coupeau
Mathilde Casadesus
Mme Boche - la concierge curieuse
Suzy Delair
Virginie Poisson, une rivale de Gervaise
Armand Mestral
Lantier, l'amant de Gervaise
Florelle
Maman Coupeau
Micheline Luccioni
Clémence

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: René Clément
Writers: Jean Aurenche, Pierre Bost
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 / 7

ERA

Did you know

70 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by René Clément, shot by Robert Juillard. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Georges Auric. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Maria Schell and François Périer and Jany Holt carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0049259 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 60 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

René Clément directs. Robert Juillard behind the camera. Georges Auric scores. Henri Rust cuts. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

170 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by René Clément, shot by Robert Juillard. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Georges Auric. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Henri Rust shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Maria Schell and François Périer and Jany Holt carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0049259 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 60 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.