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Historical drama

Danton (1983): Cast & Plot

Danton (1983) movie poster

Danton is a 1983 historical drama directed by Andrzej Wajda, starring Gérard Depardieu as Georges Danton, Emmanuelle Debever and Wojciech Pszoniak. It runs 2 hours 16 minutes.

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Danton (1983) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 16m (136 min)
Director
Andrzej Wajda
Genres
Drama , History
Original language
French
Studio
Gaumont
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Danton About?

The premise of Danton without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

By 1793, former revolutionary allies Danton and Robespierre stand opposed: Robespierre now rules France, imposing the Reign of Terror through mass executions. Danton, a beloved spokesman of the people, returns from the countryside to Paris to challenge the brutality and demand citizens’ rights. In response, Robespierre orders Danton and his allies’ arrest and execution.

Danton Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • beheading
  • danton character
  • 1790s
  • french politician
  • first french republic
  • french politics
  • power struggle
  • robespierre
  • terror
  • revolutionary
  • guillotine
  • execution
+38 more
  • 18th century
  • french revolution
  • period drama
  • man killed
  • foreigner playing french character
  • polish actor playing french character
  • polish actor playing foreign character
  • tribunal
  • idealist
  • sentenced to death
  • death row
  • loss of voice
  • miscarriage of justice
  • public prosecutor
  • la marseillaise
  • political purge
  • political turmoil
  • political execution
  • political trial
  • political uprising
  • counter revolution
  • wig
  • wheelchair
  • terrorism
  • starvation
  • speech
  • revolution
  • reign of terror
  • reference to machiavelli
  • propaganda
  • french soldier
  • french history
  • french army
  • dictator
  • dictatorship
  • despot
  • paris france
  • decapitation
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Cast & crew

Danton Cast & Characters

Gérard Depardieu leads the cast as Georges Danton, with Emmanuelle Debever as Louison Danton and Wojciech Pszoniak as Maximilien Robespierre. Directed by Andrzej Wajda; 32 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Danton

· 28 more
Show all 32 cast members
Plot

Danton Plot Summary

What happens in Danton from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Paris, spring 1794, and the Reign of Terror has the city under the watchful eye of fear, with scarce bread and rain-soaked queues that slow the daily grind. Robespierre, Wojciech Pszoniak, lies ill in a dim flat but remains deeply tuned to the currents of power outside his door. He watches Danton, Gérard Depardieu, ride back into the capital to thunderous public acclaim, his return feeding the hope of ordinary people who hunger not just for bread but for a voice they can trust. The pair occupy opposite ends of a widening political chasm, even as Robespierre’s own grip on the revolutionary project tightens around him.

Full summary

The whole story of Danton, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Danton?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
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  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor portrays the revolutionary leader Georges Danton?

Details

Danton Also Known As

7 alternative titles, including “丹东” and “O Caso Danton”.

Also known as
  • 丹东
  • O Caso Danton
  • 당통
  • Дантон
  • Danton - O Processo da Revolução
  • دانتون
  • ダントン

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FAQ

Danton FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Danton, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Danton?

Danton runs 2 hours 16 minutes (136 minutes).

When was Danton released?

Danton was released on January 12, 1983.

Who directed Danton?

Danton was directed by Andrzej Wajda.

More films by Andrzej Wajda

Who is in the cast of Danton?

Danton stars Gérard Depardieu as Georges Danton, Emmanuelle Debever as Louison Danton and Wojciech Pszoniak as Maximilien Robespierre, among 32 credited actors.

Does Danton have a post-credit scene?

No. Danton has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Danton in?

The original language of Danton is French.

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