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{{Short description|1931 film}}
{{Infobox_Film
{{About|the 1931 film|similar titles|Chien (disambiguation){{!}}Chien}}
| name = La Chienne
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
| image = La chienne.jpg
{{Infobox film
| caption = Film poster
| name = La Chienne
| writer = ] (based on the novel by ])
| image = La chienne.jpg
| starring = ]<br />]<br />]<br />{{link-interwiki|en=Roger Gaillard (actor)|en_text=Roger Gaillard|lang=fr|lang_title=Roger Gaillard (acteur)}}
| caption = Film poster
| director = ]
| writer = ]
| producer = ] & ] (for Les Etablissement Branuberger-Richebé), ] (production manager)
| based_on = {{based on|''La Chienne''|<br /> |] (novel) and ]}} (play)
| production = Les Etablissement Branuberger-Richebé
| starring = ]<br />]<br />]<br />{{Interlanguage link|Magdeleine Bérubet|fr|3=Magdeleine Bérubet|lt=Magdeleine Bérubet|vertical-align=sup}}
| distributor = ]
| director = ]
| released = November 19, 1931
| producer = ]<br />]<br />Charles David (production manager)
| runtime = 91 min.
| language = ] | cinematography = ]
| editing = ]
| country = {{FRA}}
| studio = Les Etablissement Braunberger-Richebé
| budget =
| distributor = ]
|}}
| released = {{Film date|1931|11|19|df=yes}}
'''''La Chienne''''' (]) is a ] film by director ]. It is the second ] by the director and the twelfth of his career.
| runtime = 96 minutes
| language = French
| country = France
| budget =
}}


The literal ] translation of the film's title is "The Bitch", although the movie was never released under this title. It is often referred to in English as ''Isn't Life a Bitch?'' '''''La Chienne''''' ({{langx|en|italic=yes|The Bitch}}) is a 1931 ] film by director ]. It is the second ] by the director and the twelfth film of his career. The film is based on the eponymous story "La Chienne" by ].<ref name=NYT-19750927>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1975/09/27/archives/la-chienne-is-story-of-degradation.html |title='La Chienne' Is Story of Degradation |date= 27 September 1975 |newspaper= The New York Times }}</ref> The literal ] translation of the film's title is "The Bitch", although the film was never released under this title. It is often referred to in English as ''Isn't Life a Bitch?'' The film was remade by ] in the United States as '']'' (1945).


''La Chienne'' was released by ] on both Blu-ray and DVD, newly restored in ], on 14 June 2016.
It was remade by ] in the United States as '']'' (1945).


==Plot== ==Plot==
Maurice Legrand, a meek cashier and aspirant painter, is married to Adèle, an abusive woman whose former husband Alexis Godard had died during ]. Maurice attends a company celebration, and as he leaves, he sees a man named André "Dédé" Jauguin hitting Lucienne "Lulu" Pelletier, a prostitute, on the street. Lulu hits him back in defense as Maurice approaches them. He learns they are waiting a taxi ride, and accompanies them. After Dédé is dropped at his residence, Maurice walks Lulu home. Along the way, she reveals that Dédé is actually her pimp, having known him for three years.
Maurice (]) is a married cashier who meets Lulu (]), a streetwalker. Their chance meeting results in Maurice falling in love with Lulu. She, however, is in love with her boyfriend-pimp, Dédé (Georges Flamant). Together, Dédé and Lulu plot ways to get Maurice to give cash to Lulu, mostly at the urging of Dédé.


Maurice returns home and is questioned by Adèle why he has arrived late; she also degrades his paintings, as she complains they are cluttering their apartment. One month later, Maurice has rented an apartment for Lulu, whom he takes as his mistress, and decorates the apartment with his paintings since Adèle intends to throw them away. One night, Maurice and Lulu are alone together until he sees her apartment lights are on. Lulu returns to her apartment, where Dédé has arrived. He takes the paintings and schemes to sell them claiming they were painted by Lulu using an American alias "Clara Wood".
==Cast (in credits order)==
*] as Maurice Legrand
*] as Lucienne 'Lulu' Pelletier
*Georges Flamant as Andre 'Dede' Govain
*Magdeleine Berubet as Adele Legrand
*Roger Gaillard as Alexis Godard
*] as Dugodet
*Alexandre Rignault as Langelard
*Lucien Mancini as Wallstein
*Marcel Courmes as Colonel
*Max Dalban as Bonnard
*Henri Guisol as Amedee
*Romain Bouquet as Henriot
*Pierre Desty as Gustave
*Jane Pierson as Concierge
*Christian Argentin as Examining Judge
*Sylvain Itkine as Dede's Lawyer
*Colette Borelli as Lily
*Mademoiselle Doryans as Yvonne


Several weeks pass, and Maurice is directed by his employer to an art store where he sees his paintings on display. At her apartment, Lulu deceives Maurice into claiming that she and her fictious brother had sold the paintings to Wallstein. The paintings become a success with the art critics, and Dédé and Lulu become affluent. Sometime later, Maurice stumbles upon Adèle's former husband Alexis, who had supposedly died. Alexis explains at a café that during the war, he was falsely reported as dead after he had switched identification cards with another soldier to escape his marriage to Adèle. He was then captured by the Germans as a prisoner of war and served time in prison before he was released. Now penniless, Alexis asks Maurice for one thousand francs, which Maurice knows Adele has hidden in her wardrobe.
==Notes==

In the film Michel Simon falls in love with Janie Marèse, and he did off-screen as well, while Marèze fell for Georges Flamant, who plays the pimp. Renoir and producer ] had encouraged the relationship between Flamant and Marèze in order to get the fullest conviction into their performances - (Flamant was a professional criminal but an amateur actor). After the film had been completed Flamant, who could barely drive, took Marèse for a drive, crashed the car and she was killed. At the funeral Michel Simon fainted and had to be supported as he walked past the grave. He threatened Renoir with a gun, saying that the death of Marèze was all his fault. "Kill me if you like", responded Renoir, "but I have made the film".<ref>Richard Boston ''Boudu Saved from Drowning'', 1994, London: BFI (FIlm Classics series), p.37-38</ref>
Maurice arranges to have Alexis steal the money as he falsely claims he and Adèle will attend a theatre tomorrow night. The scheme succeeds in Maurice's favor as Adèle calls the police, whom Maurice informs that Alexis is indeed alive. As a free man, Maurice goes to Lulu's apartment, but discovers she and Dédé are in bed together. He leaves in shock, but returns in the morning to talk to Lulu. She confesses that she loves Dédé and humiliates Maurice, saying that the only reason she stayed with him was his money. Maurice stabs her with a knife and leaves the apartment with no witnesses.

Lulu is later found dead, and Maurice and Dédé are questioned. The interrogator releases Maurice due to his lack of a criminal history. Dédé is charged with Lulu's murder owing to his reputation, and is found guilty and executed. Maurice is accused of mishandling 2500 francs by his employer, and is fired under the guise for having health problems. Maurice roams the street as a vagrant, and reencounters Alexis who informs him that Adèle had died. As a car transports Maurice's self portrait, Maurice and Alexis obtain 20 francs off the street and walk off.

==Cast==
* ] as Maurice Legrand
* ] as Lucienne 'Lulu' Pelletier
* ] as André 'Dédé' Jauguin
* ] as Adèle Legrand
* ] as Sergeant Alexis Godard
* ] as Dugodet
* Alexandre Rignault as Langelarde
* Lucien Mancini as Wallstein
* ] as Colonel
* Max Dalban as Bernard
* ] as Amédée
* Romain Bouquet as Henriot
* Pierre Desty as Gustave
* Jane Pierson as the Concierge
* ] as Examining judge
* Sylvain Itkine as Dédé's lawyer
* Colette Borelli as Lily
* Marthe Doryans as Yvonne

==Production and aftermath==
In the film Michel Simon falls in love with Janie Marèse, and he did off-screen as well, while Marèse fell for Georges Flamant, who plays the pimp. Renoir and producer ] had encouraged the relationship between Flamant and Marèse in order to get the fullest conviction into their performances (''La Chienne'' was Flamant's first acting experience). After the film had been completed Flamant, who could barely drive, took Marèse for a drive, crashed the car and she was killed. At the funeral Michel Simon fainted and had to be supported as he walked past the grave. He threatened Renoir with a gun, saying that the death of Marèse was all his fault. "Kill me if you like", responded Renoir, "but I have made the film".<ref>Richard Boston ''Boudu Saved from Drowning'', 1994, London: BFI (Film Classics series), p.37-38</ref>

==Home media==
On 23 October 2003 ''La Chienne'' was released on ] in France by ], along with Renoir's '']'' (1931), ''Tire-au-flanc'' (1928), and ''Catherine'' (1924), as part of a box set.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coffret Jean Renoir 3 DVD : La Chienne / Tire au flanc / On purge bébé / Catherine|url=https://www.amazon.fr/Coffret-Jean-Renoir-DVD-Catherine/dp/B0000AKQJR/|website=]|publisher=Amazon.com, Inc.|accessdate=15 June 2016}}</ref> The film was later released together with Renoir's '']'' (''A Day in the Country'') by ] on both ] and DVD in France on 10 November 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coffret Renoir : Partie de Campagne & La Chienne|url=https://www.snd-m6video.fr/coffret-renoir-partie-de-campagne-la-chienne|website=M6 Vidéo|publisher=SND-Video|accessdate=15 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Coffret Partie de Campagne and La Chienne Blu-ray (France)|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Coffret-Partie-de-Campagne-and-La-Chienne-Blu-ray/137686/|website=Blu-ray.com|accessdate=15 June 2016}}</ref>

''La Chienne'' was released in North America on ] in 1989 by ] as part of the "CinemaDisc Collection".<ref>{{cite web|title=The CinemaDisc Collection, LA CHIENNE Laser Disc|url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-CinemaDisc-Collection-LA-CHIENNE-Laser-Disc-/221402166059|website=]|publisher=eBay, Inc.|accessdate=15 June 2016}}</ref> The film was also released on VHS by ] on 5 February 2002, which includes ''Partie de campagne'' as an extra.<ref>{{cite web|title=Amazon.com: La Chienne |url=https://www.amazon.com/Chienne-VHS-Michel-Simon/dp/B00005UWBL|website=]|publisher=Amazon.com, Inc.|accessdate=15 June 2016}}</ref> On 14 June 2016 American video-distribution company ] released ''La Chienne'', newly restored through a 4K digital transfer, on Blu-ray and DVD. Both editions include a 1961 introduction to the film by director Jean Renoir, a new interview with a Renoir scholar, a new restoration of Renoir's ''On purge bébé'', a 95-minute conversation between Renoir and actor Michel Simon directed by ], new English subtitles for the film, and an essay by film scholar ]. The new Blu-ray and DVD cover as well as interior poster was illustrated by ].<ref>{{cite web|title=La Chienne (1931)|url=https://www.criterion.com/films/28393-la-chienne|website=The Criterion Collection|publisher=]|accessdate=15 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=La Chienne Blu-ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/La-Chienne-Blu-ray/152608/|website=Blu-ray.com|accessdate=15 June 2016}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
* {{imdb title|0021739|La Chienne}} * {{IMDb title|0021739}}
* {{TCMDb title|id=503063}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|chienne}}
* an essay by ] at the ]


{{Jean Renoir}} {{Jean Renoir}}
{{Authority control}}
{{CinemaofFrance}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Chienne}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Chienne}}
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Latest revision as of 03:16, 26 December 2024

1931 film This article is about the 1931 film. For similar titles, see Chien.

La Chienne
Film poster
Directed byJean Renoir
Written byJean Renoir
Based onLa Chienne
by (play)
Produced byPierre Braunberger
Roger Richebé
Charles David (production manager)
StarringMichel Simon
Janie Marèse
Georges Flamant
Magdeleine Bérubet
CinematographyTheodor Sparkuhl
Edited byMarguerite Renoir
Production
company		Les Etablissement Braunberger-Richebé
Distributed byGaumont
Release date
  • 19 November 1931 (1931-11-19)
Running time96 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench

La Chienne (English: The Bitch) is a 1931 French film by director Jean Renoir. It is the second sound film by the director and the twelfth film of his career. The film is based on the eponymous story "La Chienne" by Georges de La Fouchardière. The literal English translation of the film's title is "The Bitch", although the film was never released under this title. It is often referred to in English as Isn't Life a Bitch? The film was remade by Fritz Lang in the United States as Scarlet Street (1945).

La Chienne was released by The Criterion Collection on both Blu-ray and DVD, newly restored in 4K, on 14 June 2016.

Plot

Maurice Legrand, a meek cashier and aspirant painter, is married to Adèle, an abusive woman whose former husband Alexis Godard had died during World War I. Maurice attends a company celebration, and as he leaves, he sees a man named André "Dédé" Jauguin hitting Lucienne "Lulu" Pelletier, a prostitute, on the street. Lulu hits him back in defense as Maurice approaches them. He learns they are waiting a taxi ride, and accompanies them. After Dédé is dropped at his residence, Maurice walks Lulu home. Along the way, she reveals that Dédé is actually her pimp, having known him for three years.

Maurice returns home and is questioned by Adèle why he has arrived late; she also degrades his paintings, as she complains they are cluttering their apartment. One month later, Maurice has rented an apartment for Lulu, whom he takes as his mistress, and decorates the apartment with his paintings since Adèle intends to throw them away. One night, Maurice and Lulu are alone together until he sees her apartment lights are on. Lulu returns to her apartment, where Dédé has arrived. He takes the paintings and schemes to sell them claiming they were painted by Lulu using an American alias "Clara Wood".

Several weeks pass, and Maurice is directed by his employer to an art store where he sees his paintings on display. At her apartment, Lulu deceives Maurice into claiming that she and her fictious brother had sold the paintings to Wallstein. The paintings become a success with the art critics, and Dédé and Lulu become affluent. Sometime later, Maurice stumbles upon Adèle's former husband Alexis, who had supposedly died. Alexis explains at a café that during the war, he was falsely reported as dead after he had switched identification cards with another soldier to escape his marriage to Adèle. He was then captured by the Germans as a prisoner of war and served time in prison before he was released. Now penniless, Alexis asks Maurice for one thousand francs, which Maurice knows Adele has hidden in her wardrobe.

Maurice arranges to have Alexis steal the money as he falsely claims he and Adèle will attend a theatre tomorrow night. The scheme succeeds in Maurice's favor as Adèle calls the police, whom Maurice informs that Alexis is indeed alive. As a free man, Maurice goes to Lulu's apartment, but discovers she and Dédé are in bed together. He leaves in shock, but returns in the morning to talk to Lulu. She confesses that she loves Dédé and humiliates Maurice, saying that the only reason she stayed with him was his money. Maurice stabs her with a knife and leaves the apartment with no witnesses.

Lulu is later found dead, and Maurice and Dédé are questioned. The interrogator releases Maurice due to his lack of a criminal history. Dédé is charged with Lulu's murder owing to his reputation, and is found guilty and executed. Maurice is accused of mishandling 2500 francs by his employer, and is fired under the guise for having health problems. Maurice roams the street as a vagrant, and reencounters Alexis who informs him that Adèle had died. As a car transports Maurice's self portrait, Maurice and Alexis obtain 20 francs off the street and walk off.

Cast

Production and aftermath

In the film Michel Simon falls in love with Janie Marèse, and he did off-screen as well, while Marèse fell for Georges Flamant, who plays the pimp. Renoir and producer Pierre Braunberger had encouraged the relationship between Flamant and Marèse in order to get the fullest conviction into their performances (La Chienne was Flamant's first acting experience). After the film had been completed Flamant, who could barely drive, took Marèse for a drive, crashed the car and she was killed. At the funeral Michel Simon fainted and had to be supported as he walked past the grave. He threatened Renoir with a gun, saying that the death of Marèse was all his fault. "Kill me if you like", responded Renoir, "but I have made the film".

Home media

On 23 October 2003 La Chienne was released on DVD in France by Opening Distribution, along with Renoir's On purge bébé (1931), Tire-au-flanc (1928), and Catherine (1924), as part of a box set. The film was later released together with Renoir's Partie de campagne (A Day in the Country) by M6 Vidéo on both Blu-ray and DVD in France on 10 November 2015.

La Chienne was released in North America on LaserDisc in 1989 by Image Entertainment as part of the "CinemaDisc Collection". The film was also released on VHS by Kino International on 5 February 2002, which includes Partie de campagne as an extra. On 14 June 2016 American video-distribution company The Criterion Collection released La Chienne, newly restored through a 4K digital transfer, on Blu-ray and DVD. Both editions include a 1961 introduction to the film by director Jean Renoir, a new interview with a Renoir scholar, a new restoration of Renoir's On purge bébé, a 95-minute conversation between Renoir and actor Michel Simon directed by Jacques Rivette, new English subtitles for the film, and an essay by film scholar Ginette Vincendeau. The new Blu-ray and DVD cover as well as interior poster was illustrated by Blutch.

References

  1. "'La Chienne' Is Story of Degradation". The New York Times. 27 September 1975.
  2. Richard Boston Boudu Saved from Drowning, 1994, London: BFI (Film Classics series), p.37-38
  3. "Coffret Jean Renoir 3 DVD : La Chienne / Tire au flanc / On purge bébé / Catherine". Amazon.fr. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  4. "Coffret Renoir : Partie de Campagne & La Chienne". M6 Vidéo. SND-Video. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  5. "Coffret Partie de Campagne and La Chienne Blu-ray (France)". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  6. "The CinemaDisc Collection, LA CHIENNE Laser Disc". eBay. eBay, Inc. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  7. "Amazon.com: La Chienne [VHS]". Amazon.com. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  8. "La Chienne (1931)". The Criterion Collection. The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  9. "La Chienne Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.

External links

Jean Renoir
Silent films
Sound films
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