He's named his train La Lison.
Anyone else love the train scenes (especially the train station sounds and moving train sounds)? Jean Gabin really nailed down a tough locomotive engineer.
"Without mercy, a man is not a human being." Sansho the Bailiff, 1954
Gorbo,I agree. Jean Gabin, a.k.a. The World's Movie Star, absorbed that role. I have seen this movie so many times that I've lost count. He did with every movie that I have seen him in. What a natural he was. I am in awe of the opening scene. It was amazing direction.
shareSure, the train scenes were good, though I was more interested in the visuals than the sounds. If you like trains, I recommend La Roue, one of the best films I've ever seen. Some of Buster Keaton's films have trains too and everything he ever did is worth seeing.
This post brought to you by The Yoyodyne Corporation
The train scenes were a key punctuation of the film's overall pacing. They really swept you along, and established the powerful role (and self-image) of the locomotive engineer at the height of steam technology.
Just as fascinating were the trainyard scenes, from a variety of perspectives such as the yardmaster's overhead views. I could not help thinking that within just a few years (from 1938) all this would be under frequent bombing attacks by Allied planes in efforts to paralyze the German occupiers' logistics.
Indeed Jean Gabin is a sublime actor. But damn... that opening scene made me feel like I was riding the locomotive myself! Absolutely stellar filmmaking, even if not being Renoir's best, which says much about his talent!
-
-You won't forget me now?share
-No. I've got nobody else to remember.
Lison was a beauty,
shareI love the train scenes too, more than the visuals than the sounds though, but great scenes.
Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Criedshare