Chienne, La (1931)

Director:

Jean Renoir

Writers:

Georges de La Fouchardière (novel) and
André Girard (writer)

Release Date:

30 April 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Cashier Maurice Legrand is married to Adele, a terror. By chance, he meets Lucienne, "Lulu", and make her his mistress...

Plot Keywords:

Banker | Murder | Painter | Prostitute | Based On Novel

Cast

Michel Simon	...	Maurice Legrand
Janie Marèse	...	Lucienne Pelletier (as Janie Marèze)
Georges Flamant	...	Andre 'Dede' Govain
Roger Gaillard	...	Alexis Godard (as Gaillard)
Romain Bouquet	...	Henriot
Pierre Desty	...	Gustave
Mlle Doryans	...	Yvonne
Lucien Mancini	...	Wallstein (as Mancini)
Jane Pierson	...	Concierge
Christian Argentin	...	Examining judge (as Argentin)
Max Dalban	...	Bernard
Jean Gehret	...	Dugodet
Magdeleine Bérubet	...	Adele

Also Known As:

Isn't Life a Bitch? (International: English title) (promotional title)
The Bitch (International: English title)

Runtime:

91 min | USA:95 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-12 (1965)

Company:

Les Établissements Braunberger-Richebé

Trivia:

Jean Renoir's first sound film.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Jean Renoir: Part One - From La Belle Époque to World War II (1993) (TV)

Jean Renoir examines the tragedy and comedy of life and creates a masterpiece

I do not know what else to add to the previous two reviews before mine. The movie begins as two puppets argue about the theme of the movie we are about to see. One swears it is a comedy. The other avers that it be a tragedy. Both are slapped out of the way by another who says it is neither. Let us be the judge. The tale of a sad sack bank employee who sweats his whole life in a job he hates and falls for a low-life woman has similarities to the Dietrich classic Blue Angel but this movie has bigger themes and issues on its mind. His hilarious deduction and situational comedy as the man tries to outwit his way out of his marriage and the calamity that befalls him diagnoses the gray line that is life. And the bitter sweet ending endorses that in life, we may not get what we want but we might revel in what we need; and true happiness is a figment of mere necessity. A wonderful movie that must be seem. P.S. For those who appreciate the art of movies, you cannot but marvel at the directional technique of Renoir. The man understands cinema. His transitional shots are sublime and ridiculous in a good way propelling the movie along. And a murder scene is so effectively staged, it reminds that it might have been executed by Hitchcock himself. Long live great cinema and great directors who enrich our empathy for it!!!