Maria Chapdelaine is a 1934 French drama film directed by Julien Duvivier and starring Madeleine Renaud, Jean Gabin and Jean-Pierre Aumont.[1] It is an adaptation of the 1913 novel of the same title by Louis Hémon set in rural Quebec about a young woman who becomes involved with a farmer, trapper and an immigrant drifter from Paris. The story was adapted again for a 1950 film directed by Marc Allégret.
Cast
- Madeleine Renaud as Maria Chapdelaine
- Jean Gabin as François Paradis
- Jean-Pierre Aumont as Lorenzo Surprenant
- Suzanne Desprès as Laura Chapdelaine
- Gaby Triquet as Alma-Rose Chapdelaine
- Maximilienne as Azelma Larouche
- André Bacqué as Samuel Chapdelaine
- Alexandre Rignault as Eutrope Gagnon
- Daniel Mendaille as Le curé
- Robert Le Vigan as Tit-Sèbe, le rebouteux
- Thomy Bourdelle as Esdras Chapdelaine
- Edmond Van Daële as Le docteur
- Émile Genevois as Tit-Bé Chapdelaine
- Fred Barry as Nazaire Larouche
- Pierre Laurel as Ephrem Surprenant
- Gustave Hamilton as Le vieux français
- Julien Clément as Le marchand Bédard
- Jacques Langevin as Edwige Légaré
Production
The film's sets were designed by art director Jacques Krauss. Location shooting took place in Canada around Lake Mistassini. Some post-production work was also done at the Neuilly Studios in Paris.
Reception
The film was a box office success on its release, ending a run of financial failures for Duvivier.[2] The film was seen by 70,000 people in one week in Quebec.[3] It was awarded the French Grand Prix, and was screened at the Venice Film Festival where it was given a Special Mention. A review in The New York Times praised it as "stirring, full-bodied and tremulously beautiful".[4]
References
- ^ McCann p.71-72
- ^ McCann p.72
- ^ Marshall 2001, p. 95.
- ^ McCann p.72
Works cited
- Marshall, Bill (2001). Quebec National Cinema. McGill–Queen's University Press. ISBN 0-7735-2103-8.
Bibliography
- McCann, Ben. Julien Duvivier. Oxford University Press, 2017.
External links
