''Gervaise'' is a 1956 French film directed by René Clément based on the 1877 novel '' L'Assommoir'' by

Émile Zola Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola (, also , ; 2 April 184029 September 1902) was a French novelist, journalist, playwright, the best-known practitioner of the literary school of naturalism, and an important contributor to the development of ...

. It depicts a working-class woman in the mid-nineteenth century (played by

Maria Schell Maria Margarethe Anna Schell (15 January 1926 – 26 April 2005) was an Austrian-Swiss actress. She was one of the leading stars of German cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1954, she was awarded the Cannes Best Actress Award for her performance ...

) trying to cope with the descent of her husband (played by

François Périer François Périer (born François Pillu; 10 November 1919 – 29 June 2002), was a French actor renowned for his expressiveness and diversity of roles. He made over 110 film and TV appearances between 1938 and 1996, with notable excursion into ...

) into

alcoholism Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomi ...

. The film was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 29th Academy Awards. Schell won the

Volpi Cup The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival he ...

for Best Actress at the 1956

Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival h ...

for her performance. It won the 1957 BAFTA for Best Film and Best Actor.

Cast

: Gervaise Macquart Coupeau, a patient and courageous

laundrywoman Laundry refers to the washing of clothing and other textiles, and, more broadly, their drying and ironing as well. Laundry has been part of history since humans began to wear clothes, so the methods by which different cultures have dealt with t ...

: Coupeau, Gervaise's husband, a roofer * Suzy Delair: Virginie Poisson, an old rival who hates Gervaise *

Armand Mestral Armand Mestral (born ''Armand Serge Zelikson''; 25 November 1917 - 17 September 2000) was a French actor and singer. He appeared in more than seventy films from 1945 to 1992. Filmography References External links * 1917 births 2000 d ...

: Lantier, Gervaise's former lover * Jany Holt: Mme Lorilleux, Coupeau's ill-tempered sister * Mathilde Casadesus: Mme Boche, the concierge *

Florelle Florelle (born Odette Élisa Joséphine Marguerite Rousseau, 9 August 1898 – 28 September 1974) was a French soprano singer and actress. She gained fame as Polly Peachum in the French film ''The Threepenny Opera'', after which she had numerou ...

: Maman Coupeau, Coupeau's aged mother * Micheline Luccioni: Clémence, a laundrywoman who works with Gervaise *

Lucien Hubert Lucien is a male given name. It is the French form of Luciano or Latin ''Lucianus'', patronymic of Lucius. Lucien, Saint Lucien, or Saint-Lucien may also refer to: People Given name * Lucien of Beauvais, Christian saint *Lucien, a band member ...

: Monsieur Poisson, a policeman and Virginie's husband * Jacques Harden: Goujet, a smith, a friend of Coupeau and Gervaise's * Jacques Hilling: Monsieur Boche, the concierge's husband *

Hélène Tossy Helene or Hélène may refer to: People *Helene (given name), a Greek feminine given name *Helen of Troy, the daughter of Zeus and Leda *Helene, a figure in Greek mythology who was a friend of Aphrodite and helped her seduce Adonis *Helene (Ama ...

: Mme Bijard * Amédée: Mes Bottes, Coupeau's drinking buddy * Hubert de Lapparent (as Hubert Lapparent): Monsieur Lorilleux, a chainmaker, Mme Lorilleux' long-suffering husband *

Rachel Devirys Rachel Devirys (28 February 1890 - 16 May 1983) was a French film actress born in the Crimea, Russian Empire (now Ukraine). She starred in some 50 films between 1916 and 1956. Born Rachel Itzkovitz, in 1916 she played "Madelon", the name role ...

: Mme Fauconnier * Jacqueline Morane: Mme Gaudron *

Yvonne Claudie Yvonne is a female given name. It is the feminine form of Yvon, which is derived from the French name Yves and Yvette. It is from the French word ''iv'', meaning "yew" (or tree). Since yew wood was used for bows, Ivo may have been an occupatio ...

: Mme Putois *

Georges Paulais Georges Paulais (16 September 1884 – 12 December 1967) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 140 films between 1910 and 1956. He was born in Guimps, Charente, France and died in Chabanais, Charente, France. Selected filmograp ...

: Father Bru * Gérard Darrieu: Charles, laundry worker * Pierre Duverger: Monsieur Gaudron * Marcelle Féry: Laundry owner *

Denise Péronne Denise may refer to: * Denise (given name), people with the given name ''Denise'' * Denise (computer chip), a video graphics chip from the Amiga computer * "Denise" (song), a 1963 song by Randy & the Rainbows * Denise, Mato Grosso, a municipalit ...

: a laundrywoman * Simone Duhart: a fishmonger * André Wasley: Father Colombe * Ariane Lancell: Adèle * Aram Stéphan: the mayor * Georges Peignot: Monsieur Madinier * Max Elbèze: Zidore *

Jean Relet Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * Jea ...

: ''Sergent de ville'' (policeman) *

Roger Dalphin Roger is a given name, usually masculine, and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names ' and '. These names are of Germanic origin, derived from the elements ', ''χrōþi'' ("fame", "renown", "honour") and ', ' ( ...

: worker * Armand Lurville: presiding officer at hearing *

Jean Gautrat Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * Jea ...

: Bec Salé *

Christian Denhez Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρισ ...

: Étienne, Gervaise and Lantier's younger son, at the age of 8 * Christian Férez: Étienne at the age of 13 * Patrice Catineaud: Claude, Gervaise and Lantier's elder son, at the age of 6 *

Chantal Gozzi Chantal () is a feminine given name of France, French origin. The name Chantal can be traced back to the Old Occitan word ''cantal'', meaning "Rock (geology), stone." It came into popular use as a given name in honor of the Catholic Saint, Catholi ...

: Nana, Gervaise and Coupeau's daughter, at the age of 5 * Michèle Caillaud: Lalie * Gilbert Sanjakian: the Boches' son at the age of 6 * Yvette Cuvelier: Augustine, apprentice at the laundry, at the age of 13 *

Paul Préboist Paul Préboist (21 February 1927 – 4 March 1997) was a French actor. He appeared in more than hundred films, mostly in supporting roles, and is best known as a comic actor. Filmography Theater References External links *Paul Préboista ...

: member of the audience at the cabaret * Jacques Bertrand: factory foreman

References

External links

* * 1956 films 1950s historical drama films French historical drama films Films set in the 19th century 1950s French-language films French black-and-white films Films directed by René Clément Films based on works by Émile Zola Films based on French novels Films scored by Georges Auric Best Film BAFTA Award winners Films with screenplays by Jean Aurenche Films with screenplays by Pierre Bost Films about alcoholism 1956 drama films 1950s French films {{1950s-France-film-stub

Cast

See also

References

External links