Die großen Familien

1958 was a busy year for Jean Gabin, even by his standards, with five films released, one of which is the film under review. He is on top form here as Noel Schoudler, the patriarch of a wealthy family and head of a powerful business empire.The conflicting demands of father and businessman prove to have a devastating outcome however. Director Denys de la Patelliere has the benefit of an immaculate ensemble, notably Jean Desailly as his son and Bernard Blier, making the most of a pretty thankless part as his future son-in-law. Supporting roles are taken by Annie Ducaux, Louis Seigner. Aimee Clariond and Julien Bertheau. all of whom were luminaries of the Comedie Francaise. The character that stands out is that of Maurice, the black sheep of the family, played with relish by the superlative Pierre Brasseur. How we all love a rogue! The production values are, as expected, superb. Excellent cinematography by Louis Page and sumptuous production design by Rene Renoux, Michel Audiard has adapted the novel of Maurice Druon and written marvellous dialogue that is a gift to actors. The eagle-eyed might spot Emmanuelle Riva in a miniscular, uncredited role as Soudler's secretary. Incredible to think that barely a year later she was to take the film world by storm as Elle in 'Hiroshima, mon Amour'. This is the first of six films that Gabin made with this director, notably 'Le Tonnere de Dieu' in 1965. This first collaboration is an excellent, well-paced and beautifully shot film with a literate script and actors out of the top drawer. What more could one ask?

A good overview of what is an influent french family in the fifties. Money and power are ruling everything by these kind of people. The cast is excellent with a great tandem Gabin-Blier. There are also some personal troubles with other members of the family.

Jean Gabin (Noël Schoudler) is like a family-president in this movie by Denys de La Patellière based on a novel by Maurice Druon. His son François (Jean Desailly) is not competent to direct the family-business (a sugar factory), the banks, the press-company, or is he? At his opposite Simon, his future son-in-law (Bernard Blier) is the right hand of Schoudler and acts as Schoudler supposes an intelligent man does. At the end of the movie Lucien Maublanc, the nephew of Schoudler and driven by 20-years hate of him (Lucien is played by a magnificent Pierre Brasseur) shouts at his brokers in the Stock Exchange: "C'est bien la famille!". Schoudler will make a mistake of judgment about his son with fatal consequences... This family-tragedy is told with the skill of a director who knows how to bring a novel into a movie.

Denys De La Patellière was never much of a director but ,who could be wrong with a cast including Gabin,Pierre Brasseur,Jean Dessailly,Bernard Blier and many more? The cast and credits introduce the characters,à la Sacha Guitry:these persons are VIPS,proud of their Legion D'Honneur or of being part of high society,academies and the whole shebang.Then we attend the funeral of the old "poet" of the family (who wrote sonnets for Sainte Blandine but did enjoy saucy games),during which the priest insists that the Lord moves in mysterious ways and fortunately he did give the money to people who were good Christians (meaning :not to the riffraff).

With the exception of the son (and his wife) all the characters are hateful ;even the right-wing anarchist is a selfish false rebel and a despicable two-faced person.The boss,played by Gabin,is a self made man-though,in the only scene when he shows some humanity,he reveals his parents had five servants!-,who pushes people out of his way and cannot stand getting old: he lets his son manage one of his factories only to see him fail! Audiard's lines are full of bite;a propos of a general:"I'd never seen him in such a despair since June 1940,...when he lost his tin trunk!")

Like this? try these.....

"Les Affaires Sont Les Affaires" Jean Dreville (1942)

"La Vie De Plaisir" Albert Valentin (1943)

"La Rupture" Claude Chabrol (1970)