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IMDb > Gervaise (1956)
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Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   246 votes
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Down 9% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
René Clément
Writers:
Émile Zola (novel) and
Jean Aurenche (writer)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Gervaise on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 November 1957 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
A Most Unusual Love Story in a Most Unusual Motion Picture! more
Plot:
Gervaise Macquart, a young lame laundress, is left by her lover Auguste Lantier with two boys... She manages to make it... more | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 7 wins & 2 nominations more
User Comments:
Maria Schell shines in a tragic story more

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
Maria Schell ... Gervaise Macquart
François Périer ... Henri Coupeau
Jany Holt ... Mme Lorilleaux
Mathilde Casadesus ... Mme Boche
Florelle ... Maman Coupeau
Micheline Luccioni ... Clémence
Lucien Hubert ... M. Poisson
Jacques Harden ... Goujet
Jacques Hilling ... M. Boche
Amédée ... Mes Bottes
Hubert de Lapparent ... M. Lorilleux (as Hubert Lapparent)
Hélène Tossy ... Mme Bijard
Rachel Devirys ... Mme Fauconnier (as Rachel Devyris)
Jacqueline Morane ... Mme Gaudron
Yvonne Claudie ... Mme Putois
Georges Paulais ... Le miséreux (as Paulais)
Gérard Darrieu ... Charles
Pierre Duverger ... M. Gaudron
Marcelle Féry ... La patronne du lavoir
Armand Mestral ... Lantier
Suzy Delair ... Virginie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michel Caillaud ... (uncredited)
Patrice Catineau ... Claude at 6 (uncredited)
Yvette Cuvelier ... Augustine (uncredited)
Roger Dalphin ... Un ouvrier (uncredited)
Yvonne Dany ... (uncredited)
Jean Daurand ... Un ouvrier (uncredited)
Christian Denhez ... Etienne at 8 (uncredited)
Simone Duhart ... La marchande de poissons (uncredited)
Max Elbeze ... Zidore (uncredited)
Christian Férez ... Etienne at 13 (uncredited)
Jean Gautrat ... Bec Salé (uncredited)
Chantal Gozzi ... Nana (uncredited)
Francoise Hery ... Nana at 5 (uncredited)
Ariane Lancell ... Adèle (uncredited)
Armand Lurville ... Le président du tribunal (uncredited)
Jo Peignot ... M. Madinier (uncredited)
Denise Péronne ... Une laveuse (uncredited)
Paul Préboist ... Un spectateur au cabaret (uncredited)
Jean Reiet ... (uncredited)
Gilbert Sanjakian ... Le fils Boche (uncredited)
Aram Stephan ... Le maire (uncredited)
André Wasley ... Père Colombe (uncredited)
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Directed by
René Clément 
 
Writing credits
Émile Zola (novel "L'Assomoir")

Jean Aurenche  writer
Pierre Bost  writer

Produced by
Agnès Delahaie .... producer (as Annie Dorfmann)
 
Original Music by
Georges Auric 
 
Cinematography by
Robert Juillard 
 
Film Editing by
Henri Rust 
 
Production Design by
Paul Bertrand 
 
Costume Design by
Mayo 
Lucilla Mussini (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Jean Darvey .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Claude Clément .... assistant director
Léonard Keigel .... assistant director
 
Sound Department
Antoine Archimbaud .... sound
 
Special Effects by
Gérard Cogan .... special effects
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Jacques Robin .... camera operator
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Gervaise (USA)
Gervaise (Austria) (East Germany) (West Germany) [de]
Ansa (Finland) [fi]
Gervaise (Sweden) [sv]
I taverna (Greece) [el]
Sen bir melektin (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
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Parents Guide:
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Runtime:
112 min | USA:116 min | West Germany:122 min
Country:
France | Italy
Language:
French
Color:
Black and White
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Finland:K-16 | West Germany:16 | Sweden:15
Company:
Agnes Delahaie Productions more

Fun Stuff

Movie Connections:
Edited into Meine Schwester Maria (2002) more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful:-
Maria Schell shines in a tragic story, 1 March 2009
8/10
Author: LCShackley from United States

This is a beautifully made, but terribly sad film, based on one of Emile Zola's most depressing stories of French life in the 1800s.

Gervaise is a poor woman with a poorer choice of men. She is loving, smart, and industrious, but falls for superficial, lazy drunks who take advantage of her. While she tries to provide for her family by following her dream of owning her own shop, her husband drinks away the profits and complicates her life by inviting her former lover to live in their house.

I can't say enough good things about Maria Schell's glowing performance as a tragic heroine. Her beautiful, expressive face is impossible to forget, and her emotional range is impressive. The rest of the cast is also pitch-perfect, from her various neighbors and clients, down to the lovely little girl who plays daughter Nana with touching sadness.

Surgeon general's warning: don't watch this film while under the influence of alcohol or mood- depressing drugs. It might push you over your limit.

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