Le Trou

1960 132 min ★ 8.3 Drama, Thriller, Crime

Four prison inmates have been hatching a plan to literally dig out of jail when another prisoner, Claude Gaspard, is moved into their cell. They take a risk and share their plan with the newcomer. Over the course of three days, the prisoners and friends break through the concrete floor using a bed post and begin to make their way through the sewer system – yet their escape is anything but assured.

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Cast

Michel Constantin

Geo Cassine

Jean Keraudy

Roland Darban

Philippe Leroy

Manu Borelli

Raymond Meunier

Vossellin / Monseigneur

Marc Michel

Claude Gaspard

Jean-Paul Coquelin

Le lieutenant Grinval

André Bervil

Le directeur de la prison

Eddy Rasimi

Bouboule

Philippe Dumat

Un gardien

Albert Augier

Un gardien

Details

Director

Jacques Becker

Screenplay

Jacques Becker

Tagline

"Poor Gaspard..."

Status

Released

Original Language

FR

Revenue

$33,187

Production

Filmsonor, Play Art, Titanus

Reviews

J

John Chard

April 21, 2014

★ 9/10

The 1947 Escape Attempt At La Sante Prison. Le Trou (The Hole) is directed by Jacques Becker and adapted to screenplay by Becker, Jose Giovani and Jean Aurel from Giovani’s own novel. It stars Michel Constantin, Jean Keraudy, Philippe Leroy, Raymond Meunier, Marc Michel and Jean-Paul Coquelin. Jacques Becker’s last film before he would pass away shortly after the film’s completion, is a tig...

S

Steve

July 1, 2016

★ 8/10

This week's Noir of the Week is Le Trou (1960) directed by Jacques Becker. The film was called The Night Watch when released in the US in 1960. The 2 ½ hour prison escape film, like Rififi, utilizes long, unbroken, often dialogue-free shots to dramatize the simple story of a group of prisoners attempting an ambitious escape from prison. Le Trou is shot in black and white and is totally without ...