Le Jour se lève (Daybreak) (1939)

88% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
86% of users liked it
(893 ratings)

Marcel Carne and Jacques Prevert's classic of French poetic realism stars Jean Gabin in one of his most famous roles as Francois, a rough, barrel-chested loner who hides out in his apartment awaiting for the police to arrive. Francois has killed a man in a crime of passion, the slimy lothario… More Marcel Carne and Jacques Prevert's classic of French poetic realism stars Jean Gabin in one of his most famous roles as Francois, a rough, barrel-chested loner who hides out in his apartment awaiting for the police to arrive. Francois has killed a man in a crime of passion, the slimy lothario Valentin (Jules Berry). As he listens in the darkness of his Normandy apartment to the police sirens closing in and getting louder, he recalls the two women that he loved -- Francoise (Jacqueline Laurent) and Clara (Arletty) -- and the evil Valentin, who stole both their hearts and forced Francois into this melancholy plight. The film was later re-made in Hollywood as The Long Night. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Marcel Carné
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Classics

On DVD: Sep 15, 2009

Critic Reviews

Bosley Crowther, New York Times
The pity of it all seems slightly forced, the melodramatics too obvious.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The screenplay is by Jacques Prevert, the most accomplished dialogist of the period, and the famous sets, with their overtones of German expressionism, are by Alexander Trauner.
Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com
Set convincingly on the streets and in the tenements, every frame here feels lived in.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A superb example of French poetic realism.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
What brings this film into greatness is the absolutely pitch-perfect lucid performance by Gabin.
Tom Milne, Time Out
Possibly the best of the Carné-Prévert films, certainly their collaboration at its most classically pure.
, Film4
This is the best of the fatalistic dramas scripted by Prévert and directed by Carné, a doom-laden romance, heavier on atmosphere than tension, and made memorable by the performances.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bob S

awesome, i saw this a long time ago
Stella D

one of the great doomed romantic epics of poetic realism, with director marcel carné, his writing partner, the poet jacques prévert, and the fatalistic hero of so many films of the era, jean gabin, all at the height of their powers. wonderful atmosphere
Tim S

Great film! Jean Gabin puts on a clinic.
Eric B

A somber, suspenseful tale -- mostly told in flashback -- about a good man (Jean Gabin) who is driven to murder. As he barricades himself in his upstairs apartment, avoiding the police and a voyeuristic crowd, the events leading to the killing are recounted. The story involves a… More
A somber, suspenseful tale -- mostly told in flashback -- about a good man (Jean Gabin) who is driven to murder. As he barricades himself in his upstairs apartment, avoiding the police and a voyeuristic crowd, the events leading to the killing are recounted. The story involves a choice between two lovers, along with a smooth-talking dog trainer who becomes an obstacle. The direction and cinematography are wonderful, but some aspects about the climax were unsatisfying for me. And did the police really make no effort to negotiate in those days?
Walter M

"Le Jour Se Leve" starts with Valentin(Jules Berry) making so theatrical a departure from the mortal coil that even a blind man could not miss it. A lot of the neighbors do not either, as the police are called. Arriving at the door of the culprit, Francois(Jean Gabin), a… More
"Le Jour Se Leve" starts with Valentin(Jules Berry) making so theatrical a departure from the mortal coil that even a blind man could not miss it. A lot of the neighbors do not either, as the police are called. Arriving at the door of the culprit, Francois(Jean Gabin), a factory worker who everybody swears is just the swellest of guys, they look to arrest him peacefully. But he does not feel like talking to anybody, especially the police, who he fires shots at, preferring instead to think of happier days when he met Francoise(Jacqueline Laurent) on their mutual name day. They date but, suspicious, he follows her one night to a music hall. "Le Jour Se Leve" gets off to an excellent start with some exquisite camerawork and Jean Gabin again proving how good an actor he was, bringing out the light and darkness in his character. But the movie eventually gets bogged down in a convoluted soap opera. While some might not think there is much reasoning behind Francois' pulling the trigger, I think this goes to the tragedy of the movie that nothing good can ever come from taking a life, no matter the intentions.