David Golder (1931)
A searing French drama about a self-made tycoon whose empire of wealth cannot shield him from loneliness, betrayal, and the cost of a life lived for ambition alone.
David Golder - Movie Information
- Original Title: David Golder
- Release Year: 1931
- Directed by: Julien Duvivier
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 26m
- Original Language: French
- Spoken Languages: French
- Release Date (Theatrical): March 6, 1931 (France)
- Production Companies: Les Films Marcel Vandal et Charles Delac
- Production Countries: France
David Golder - Plot
David is a poor but ambitious Polish Jew who reinvents himself as a powerful New York business magnate. After gaining wealth, he relocates to Paris, only to have his selfish and demanding wife squander his fortune.
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David Golder - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Julien Duvivier
Main Cast
- Harry Baur
- Paule Andral
- Jackie Monnier
- Jean Bradin
- Gaston Jacquet
- Jean Coquelin
- Camille Bert
- Jacques Grétillat
- Paul Franceschi
- Léon Arvel
Writers
- Irène Némirovsky
- Julien Duvivier
Producers
- Charles Delac
- Marcel Vandal
David Golder - FAQs
Is David Golder based on a true story?
David Golder is not based on a true story, but it draws from a 1929 novel by Irène Némirovsky. Némirovsky, a Ukrainian-born Jewish writer living in France, infused the story with her own observations of immigrant ambition, wealth, and family dysfunction in early twentieth-century European society.
Who plays David Golder in the 1931 film?
Harry Baur brings David Golder to life in a towering performance widely considered one of the great acting achievements of early French sound cinema. Baur portrays the aging magnate with remarkable emotional depth, capturing both the man's iron will and his quiet, devastating vulnerability.
What is David Golder about?
David Golder follows a Polish-Jewish immigrant who claws his way to the top of the New York business world, then settles in Paris. As his health fails, his extravagant wife drains his fortune and his beloved daughter remains indifferent, leaving him to confront a life built on ambition but stripped of love.
Where can I stream David Golder?
You can stream David Golder on the Criterion Channel, which offers the film as part of its curated collection of classic and world cinema. It's a great destination for fans of early French sound films and the work of director Julien Duvivier.
Who directed David Golder?
Julien Duvivier directed David Golder, one of his earliest sound films. Duvivier would go on to become one of the most celebrated French filmmakers of the 1930s and 1940s, with classics like Pépé le Moko and Un carnet de bal cementing his international reputation.
How was David Golder received by critics?
David Golder was warmly received upon its release and is now regarded as a landmark of early French sound cinema. Critics consistently praise Harry Baur's commanding central performance and Duvivier's assured direction, which transforms Némirovsky's novel into a gripping, emotionally resonant portrait of ambition and loneliness.
What novel is David Golder adapted from?
The film adapts Irène Némirovsky's debut novel of the same name, published in France in 1929. The book caused a sensation upon release and launched Némirovsky's literary career. Both Némirovsky and Duvivier share screenplay credit, keeping the adaptation close to the novel's bleak, unsentimental vision.
How long is David Golder?
David Golder runs for 86 minutes, making it a lean, focused drama that wastes no time. Duvivier keeps the pacing tight throughout, letting Harry Baur's performance carry the emotional weight without overstaying its welcome.
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