Bestie Mensch (1938)

Bestie Mensch: Directed by Jean Renoir. With Jean Gabin, Simone Simon, Fernand Ledoux, Blanchette Brunoy. In this classic adaptation of Emile Zola’s novel, a tortured train engineer falls in love with a troubled married woman who has helped her husband commit a murder.

“Jean Renoiru0026#39;s u0026quot;La Bete Humaineu0026quot; (1938) stars Jean Gabin and Simone Simon in an adaptation of Emile Zolau0026#39;s novel. Renoiru0026#39;s novel is part of a series following a family. Lantier (Gabin) suffers from an inherited illness, possibly a chemical dysfunction. Heu0026#39;s given to violent outbursts. He falls for the beautiful and childlike Sevarin (Simon) who, with her husband, kills her lover. Lantier witnesses this. Sevarin wants him to help kill her husband.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is a beautifully photographed, bleak story with the symbolism of the railroad (Lanier is a railway engineer) running through it. Gabin is terrific as the tragic Lanier, and Simone Simon is effective as the woman.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFritz Langu0026#39;s later film u0026quot;Human Desireu0026quot; is also based on the Zola novel, but the Renoir version has more layers, particularly in the characterizations.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHighly recommended.”