Danton (1983)

88% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
79% of users liked it
(1,619 ratings)

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,… More 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.

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 16 min.
Directed By: Andrzej Wajda
Written By: Jean-Claude Carriere, Jacek Gasiorowski
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1983 Wide
On DVD: Mar 31, 2009

Critic Reviews

Mark Bourne, Film.com
...uncompromising and impassioned. [Depardieu's] throat-scraping, rage-against-the-machine speech in court -- "the Revolution is devouring its children!" -- makes Jimmy Stewart's in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington look like a monk's benediction.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Wajda's intelligent and complex drama could be appreciated as a period piece about the french Revolution as well as a parable of modern politics in Poland and elsewhere.
Christopher Long, Movie Metropolis
The film lacks the vitality and excitement of Wajdas earlier work.
Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com
In its own way, Danton makes a hell of an argument for dictatorships and fascism. At least they're up front about it.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
does not give us easy grounding, but instead constantly challenges us to see each character within the context of both his convictions and the necessities of his political position
Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine
Wajda's Danton suggests that while blood is thicker than wine, the latter might be a preferable vice for our political leaders.
Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine
Danton's true achievement is as elaborate period pageantry.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A richly suggestive French film about power, liberty, and bureacracy

Read all 8 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

An enlightening, unflattering exercise in French history highlighted by betrayal, corruption and Depardieu.
hawk l

Gérard Depardieu's finest performance, Igor Luther's cinematography giving the settings an authentic feel, as do Yvonne Sassinot de Nesle's costume designs.

Cast

            Gérard Depardieu as Danton

            Wojciech Pszoniak as Robespierre

            Patrice Chéreau as Camille Desmoulins

            Angela Winkler as Lucile Desmoulins

            Boguslaw Linda as Saint-Just

            Roland Blanche (II) as Lacroix

            Anne Alvaro as Eleonore Duplay

            Roger Planchon as Fouquier Tinville

            Serge Merlin as Philippeaux

            Lucien Melki as Fabre d'Eglantine

            Andrzej Seweryn as Bourdon

            Franciszek Starowieyski as David

            Emmanuelle Debever as Louison Danton

            Jerzy Trela as Billaud-Varenne

            Tadeusz Huk as Couthon

            Jacques Villeret as Westermann

            Ronald Guttman as Herman

            Marian Kociniak as Lindet

            Marek Kondrat as Barere De Vieuzad

            Alain Macé as Heron

            Jean-Loup Wolff as Herault de Seychelles

            Vladimir Yordanoff as Chef des gardes

            Krzysztof Globisz as Amar

            Stéphane Jobert  as Panis

            Leonard Pietraszak as Carnot

            Angel Sedgwick as Frere d'Eleonore

            Malgorzata Zajaczkowska as Servante des Duplay

            Czeslaw Wollejko as Vadier

            Gerard Hardy as Tallien
See full cast