Summary
Etienne Lantier is a railway worker who loses his job as a result of
his union activities. He finds work at the mines in Voreux and
lodges with the Maheu family. The work is hard, dangerous and
badly paid. Like many other families in the area, the Maheus are
in debt. Fortunately, Maigrat, the grocer, offers them credit
from time to time. The mine manager Hennebeau always wants more
from his workers for less pay. There is an on-going feud between
Hennebeau and his engineer Negrel, who is Madame Hennebeau’s
lover. Lantier is in love with his landlord’s daughter Catherine,
but he has a rival in Chaval, an old friend of Catherine who believes
he has a stronger claim to her. Things come to a head when
Hennebeau refuses to negotiate with the miners. The latter have
no choice but to go on strike. The situation soon gets out of
hand. Maigrat’s shop is destroyed and several strikers are shot
dead...
© Willems Henri (Brussels, Belgium)
© Willems Henri (Brussels, Belgium)
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Related links
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Credits
- Director: Yves Allégret
- Script: Émile Zola, Charles Spaak
- Photo: Jean Bourgoin
- Music: Michel Magne
- Cast: Jean Sorel (Étienne Lantier), Berthe Granval (Catherine Maheu), Claude Brasseur (Martin Chaval), Claude Cerval (Victor Maigrat), Bernard Blier (Hennebeau), Philippe Lemaire (Henri Negrel), Jacqueline Porel (Madame Maigrat), Simone Valère (Madame Hennebau), Sándor Pécsi (Maheu), Zoltán Makláry (Bonnemort), Michèle Cordoue (La veuve Désir), Marianne Krencsey (La Mouquette), Gabrielle Dorziat (La grand-mère de Catherine)
- Country: France / Italy / Hungary
- Language: French
- Runtime: 110 min; B&W
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