L'Assommoir
About L'Assommoir
In front of the Hôtel Bon Cœur, Lantier flirts with Virginie. Gervaise follows him upstairs, they fight, and Coupeau walks in. Lantier leaves her a note by a boy and goes off with Virginie in a cab. Gervaise beats Virginie in the wash house. Months later Coupeau, who has sworn off drink, marries her. Four years on, Virginie loosens the scaffolding at his job and he falls. After he heals he drinks himself into delirium and is carried to the hospital. Two years later he comes out on a warning that a glass of spirits will kill him. Virginie swaps the wine for spirits. He dies on the floor. Goujet throws her out and stays with Gervaise.
Cast & crew
More about L'Assommoir
Albert Capellani directed and wrote it for SCAGL. Pathé distributed it. A gala screening was held at the Cirque d'Hiver on 21 December 1908. The French release was 19 March 1909. It runs 36 minutes, 740 meters. The opening credits name Zola's novel. The picture follows the 1879 play by William Busnach and Octave Gastineau, which makes Virginie a main engine of the plot. Eugénie Nau plays Gervaise. Alexandre Arquillière plays Coupeau. Jacques Grétillat plays Lantier. Catherine Fonteney plays Virginie.
Themes
Making
Capellani shot the wash-house fight, the scaffolding drop, and the last glass as the spine of the Busnach play, not the whole of Zola's novel.
Preservation
A print survives.
Notes
- Lantier's note says he has had enough of her jealous outbursts and has found consolation.
- The wedding party is at a guinguette, with a barrel organ.
- Goujet throws Lantier out of the laundry when Lantier tries to kiss Gervaise, and later throws Virginie out after Coupeau dies.
- Nana, Gervaise's daughter, brings Coupeau his lunch on the day of the fall.
- The English title used for the novel is The Drinking Den.
Scenes
- Gervaise beats Virginie in the public wash house.
- The boards give way and Coupeau falls from the building.
- Virginie pours spirits into his glass. He dies on the floor.
Influenced by
- Émile Zola's L'Assommoir
- William Busnach and Octave Gastineau's play
Also available
- Internet Archive (silent-lassommoir-aka-drink)
Quotes
I have had enough of your jealous outbursts, and have decided to leave you.
