Boudu Saved From Drowning

Boudu Saved From Drowning
1932 - France
Directed By Jean Renoir

SYNOPSIS

Despondent over the disappearance of his beloved dog, homeless man Boudu (Michel Simon) jumps off a bridge. He's saved by a book dealer who takes him in and introduces him to upper-middle class life.



MY THOUGHTS

Director Jean Renoir (son of the legendary impressionist painter) is considered one of the most important French directors of all time, this is far from a masterpiece.

The film is clearly satire on class differences. This is clear from the start. Boudu asks police for help in finding his dog. They shun him and threaten to lock him up. Then a woman who lost her 10,000 franc Pekingese approaches and officers rush to help the rich woman.
Like most satires, Boudu completely lacks any likable characters. The Boudu character is completely ignorant of upper classes (beyond believability,) not even knowing what a necktie is, and seems nearly virtuous, until he was saved. Once that happens, he becomes corrupt and seduces/rapes his benefactor's wife and the two fall in love. In the end, Boudu finds that he was happier as a bum.
The book dealer is also corrupt, sleeping with the maid and lamenting ever saving Boudu because the poor man gets in the way of his affair.

Boudu Saved From Drowning lacks much of a sense of humor which causes the satire to fall flat.
Also a problem, is the film's slow, plodding pace. It takes any and all bite out of the satire. Rather than marveling at the story, I was busy checking my watch. This may be a result from the period it was made (just coming into the sound era.) Many silent films I've seen also share this trait.
The performances are also not very memorable.

Overall, the potentially strong concept is destroyed by bland execution.

The film was later remade by Hollywood in the 1980's as "Down and Out in Beverly Hills."