The Lower Depths

The Lower Depths

"The Lower Depths" ( _ru. На дне) is perhaps Maxim Gorky's best-known play. It was written during the winter of 1901 and the spring of 1902. Subtitled "Scenes from Russian Life," it depicted a group of lower-class Russians in a lodging house in Volga. Produced by the Moscow Arts Theatre on December 18, 1902, Konstantin Stanislavski directed and starred. It became his first major success, and a hallmark of Russian socialist realism.

When it first appeared, "The Lower Depths" was criticized for its pessimism and ambiguous ethical message. The presentation of the lower classes was viewed as overly dark and unredemptive, and Gorky was clearly more interested in creating memorable characters than in advancing a formal plot. However, in this respect, the play is generally regarded as a masterwork.

The theme of harsh truth versus the comforting lie pervades the play from start to finish, as most of the characters choose to deceive themselves from the bleak reality of their condition.

Film versions

* 1936: Jean Renoir (son of the Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir) made a 1936 film of the same name adapting the story to a French setting.

* 1946: Famous Indian Producer & Director, Chetan Anand began his career as a film director with Neecha Nagar ("Lowly City"), in 1946, which was an adaptation of this short story in Hindi. Neecha Nagar won the Palme d'Or (Best Film Award - then known as the 'Grand Prix'), at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946, becoming the first Indian film to get international recognition [ [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palme_d%27Or#Grand_Prix_du_Festival_International_du_Film_.281939-54.29 Grand Prix du Festival International du Film (1939-54)] ] [ [http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/features/chetan-anand-140607.html History will never forget Chetan Anand] June 13, 2007.] [ [http://www.thehindu.com/fr/2007/06/15/stories/2007061551020100.htm Maker of innovative, meaningful movies] The Hindu, June 15, 2007.] .

* 1957: Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, adapted "The Lower Depths" into a film of the same name starring Toshiro Mifune, in which the characters have been moved to Edo-period Japan. It is often regarded as one of Kurosawa's greatest ensemble films, featuring a large cast of classic Kurosawa actors. The Japanese title of the film is "Donzoko".

Pop Culture References

The afghan dog in the pound scene of Lady and the Tramp mentions The Lower Depths when giving advice to Lady.

References

External links

* [http://ilibrary.ru/text/505/ Full text of "Lower Depths" in the original Russian]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • The Lower Depths (1957 film) — The Lower Depths Directed by Akira Kurosawa Produced by Akira Kurosawa Sojiro Motoki Tomoyuki Tanaka …   Wikipedia

  • The Lower Depths (1936 film) — The Lower Depths is the English title of Les bas fonds , a 1936 film by French film director Jean Renoir.The story is based on a play, a play by Maxim Gorky. Akira Kurosawa also made a version of Gorky s play. Both are available on one DVD from… …   Wikipedia

  • The Sanctuary Lamp — is a play by Irish playwright Tom Murphy written in 1975 but revised for subsequent productions. When premiered at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin its anti Catholic stance caused enormous controversy with its author denounced in pulpits up and down… …   Wikipedia

  • The Phantom of the Opera (1925 film) — Infobox Film name = The Phantom of the Opera caption = director = Rupert Julian Lon Chaney Ernst Laemmle Edward Sedgwick producer = Carl Laemmle writer = Gaston Leroux Elliott J. Clawson Raymond L. Schrock Bernard McConville Jasper Spearing… …   Wikipedia

  • Lower Depths, The — /loh euhr/ a play (1902) by Maxim Gorki. * * * …   Universalium

  • Lower Depths, The — /loh euhr/ a play (1902) by Maxim Gorki …   Useful english dictionary

  • Lower Lake, Bhopal — Lower Lake Location Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India Coordinates 23°16′0″N 77°25′0″E …   Wikipedia

  • The Books of Abarat — Abarat Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War Absolute Midnight The Dynasty of Dreamers The Eternal Author Clive Barker Illustrator Clive Barker Cover artist …   Wikipedia

  • The Seven Liberal Arts —     The Seven Liberal Arts     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► The Seven Liberal Arts     The expression artes liberales, chiefly used during the Middle Ages, does not mean arts as we understand the word at this present day, but those branches of… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • The Wardstone Chronicles — 200px The Spook s Apprentice The Spook s Curse The Spook s Secret The Spook s Battle The Spook s Mistake The Spook s Sacrifice The Spook s Nightmare The Spook s Destiny The Spook s Blood Author …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”