Thérèse Raquin (1953)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Marcel Carné

Writers:

Émile Zola (novel) &
Marcel Carné (adaptation) ...

Release Date:

6 November 1953 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Plot:

A truckdriver kills the husband of the woman he loves, and becomes the object of blackmail.

Plot Keywords:

Blackmail | Train | Truck | Passion | Truck Driver

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Simone Signoret	...	Thérèse Raquin
Raf Vallone	...	Laurent
Jacques Duby	...	Camille Raquin
Maria-Pia Casilio	...	Georgette, la bonne (as Maria Pia Casilio)
Marcel André	...	Michaud
Martial Rèbe	...	Grivet (as Martial Rebe)
Paul Frankeur	...	Le contrôleur
Alain Terrane	...	Un camioneur
Bernard Véron	...	Le postier
Jean Sylvère		(as Jean Sylvere)
Francette Vernillat	...	Françoise, la bossue
Lucien Hubert	...	Le chef de gare de Dijon
Jacques Hilling		(as Jacques Hiling)
Jean Rozenberg
Madeleine Barbulée	...	Madame Noblet, une cliente (as Madeleine Barbulé)

Also Known As:

Teresa Raquin (Italy)
The Adultress (USA)

Runtime:

102 min | Canada:105 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System PM51)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 (f)

Company:

Paris Film Productions

Trivia:

Raf Vallone refused to be dubbed in the French version and had his contract amended accordingly. The scenario was also slightly changed to "Italianize" the character of Laurent.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in La mala educación (2004)

Don't throw this one off the train.

I'll have to disagree with some of the more negative comments about this film. Marcel Carne has succeeded beautifully in capturing the mood and major themes of Zola's novel in THERESE RAQUIN. It's nice to see a film from the period dealing with common working class people caught up in the turmoil of love and everyday life. The main romantic leads initially seem a little mismatched but by film's end the ice has more than melted between them. How many times have we seen the female lead fall too quickly for her suitor. Here it takes its sweet time and plays the better for it. Signoret's titular character seems almost a bit too stoic but considering her numbingly bland and lenghty marital situation, it may well be authentic. As many women are in reality, Therese is fiercely loyal to her husband, whether he deserves it or not. The ruggedly handsome Raf Vallone is ideally cast as the trucker who steals her attention and makes a good contrast to her dishrag of a husband. A blackmailing sailor who appears in the middle of the film before making a menacing reappearance near the end is very effectively played by Rolland leSaffre. He is as creepy as Robert Mitchum in CAPE FEAR. Do seek this one out and enjoy the ride!