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(France) Directed by Andrzej Wadja
Cast: Gérard Depardieu, Wojciech Pszoniak, Anne Alvaro, Roland Blanche, Patrice Chéreau
Plot: (from imdb.com) Action opens in November of 1793, with Danton returning to Paris from his country retreat upon learning that the Committee for Public Safety, under Robespierre's incitement, has begun a series of massive executions, The Terror. Confident in the peoples' support, Danton clashes with his former ally, but calculating Robespierre soon rounds up Danton and his followers, tries them before a revolutionary tribunal and dipatches them to the guillotine.
Depardieu: As Danton, Depardieu has a plum and well-suited role of a charismatic 'man of the people' and an ingenious orator. The trial scenes are not to be missed. The 'dinner' scene is a favorite of the folks on our message board.
Critical Consensus: Many critics consider this one of the Polish director's masterpieces and frequently list it among Depardieu's career highlights. Indeed, this film is right up there with The Return of Martin Guerre, which was made in the same year. (Mirroring a later success Depardieu would have with the back-to-back Cyrano and Green Card).
Awards:
- BAFTA (British Academy Awards) '84 Best Foreign Language Film
- César (French Academy Awards) '83 Best Director
- Montreal World Film Festival '83 Best Actor (Depardieu)
- NFSC (National Society of Film Critics, US) '84 Best Actor (Depardieu) (for Danton and Martin Guerre combined)
- Prix Louis Delluc 1982 (Wadja)
US/UK Status: Available on VHS in the US but not in the UK.
Links:
Imdb.com listing
Brian Koller reivew
Rotten Tomatoes page
Fan page with TONS of Danton pics!
More Danton pics from Jackie's site (click on 'Gallery')
Foreignfilms.com page with review
University of Adelaide page
On Brief review
James Traver's review
Cinedestin page (in French)
On Our Site:
The video and poster for this film is available in our Shop
An autographed still from the film is in our Picture gallery
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