The Possessors (1958): Cast & Plot
The Possessors is a 1958 drama directed by Denys de La Patellière, starring Bernard Blier as Simon Lachaume, bras droit de Noël, Jean Gabin and Emmanuelle Riva. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 34m (94 min)
- Director
- Denys de La Patellière
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
French - Studio
- Filmsonor
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Possessors About?
The premise of The Possessors without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Noël Schoudler has built a vast empire on three pillars—sugar, banking and the press—and governs his enterprises and household with absolute authority. As the patriarch’s grip tightens, his own son François begins to question and confront his father’s rule, setting the stage for a fierce family power struggle.
The Possessors Themes & Keywords
· 27 tags- france
- voice over narration
- voice over
- funeral
- priest
- adultery
- newspaper
- gas station
- stock exchange
- suicide by gunshot
- loss of son
- cousin
+15 more Show fewer
- family conflict
- photograph
- uncle nephew relationship
- capitalism
- deception
- cigarette smoking
- brother brother relationship
- pregnancy
- sugar refinery
- family relationships
- suicide
- money
- father son relationship
- death of son
- based on novel
The Possessors Cast & Characters
Bernard Blier leads the cast as Simon Lachaume, bras droit de Noël, with Jean Gabin as Noël Schoudler, le patriarche financier and Emmanuelle Riva as la secrétaire de Noël. Directed by Denys de La Patellière; 23 actors are credited in all.
- Director Denys de La Patellière
-
Bernard Blier as Simon Lachaume, bras droit de Noël - Jean Gabin as Noël Schoudler, le patriarche financier
- Emmanuelle Riva as la secrétaire de Noël
- Annie Ducaux as Adèle Schoudler, femme de Noël
Also Starring in The Possessors
· 19 more- Jean Desailly François Schoudler, le fils
- Françoise Christophe Jacqueline Schoudler, la bru
- Nadine Tallier Sylvaine Dual, l'amie de Maublanc
- Pierre Brasseur Lucien Maublanc, le cousin oisif
- Jean Wall Pierre Leroy
- Pierre Leproux L'impresario de Sylvaine Dual
- Dominique Rozan Un courtier à la bourse
- Louis Seigner Raoul Leroy
- Jacques Monod Anatole Rousseau, ministre des finances
- Jean Ozenne le professeur Émile Lartois
- Aimé Clariond Gérard, marquis de La Monnerie
- Jean Murat Le général Robert de La Monnerie
- Julien Bertheau Le père de Lesquendieu
- Pascal Mazzotti Le chauffeur
- Daniel Lecourtois Albéric Canet
- Jean Lanier Voisart, l'agent de change de Lucien
Show all 23 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Michèle Nadal La sténo du journal
- Patrick Millow Jean-Noël Schoulder, le petit fils
- Françoise Delbart Isabelle de la Monnerie
More from Denys de La Patellière
More films directed by Denys de La Patellière: Killer, The Tattoo, Dear Caroline and Father’s Trip.
The Possessors Plot Summary
What happens in The Possessors from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Noël Schoudler, Jean Gabin, stands as the autocratic patriarch at the helm of a sprawling family network that includes a bank, a newspaper, and a sugar refinery, all tightly woven under his stern, centralized control. While he is away on a business trip to the US, his son François Schoudler, Jean Desailly, grows restless with the old, staid order and begins to inject the newspaper with a new pulse, pushing for modernization and expansion. On Noël’s return, the clash is immediate and intense: the father reacts with fury and resolves to teach his son a hard, unmistakable lesson.
Full summary
The whole story of The Possessors, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Possessors?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the autocratic patriarch who heads the Schoudler family empire?
The Possessors Also Known As
6 alternative titles, including “Die großen Familien” and “Le grande famiglie”.
- Also known as
-
- Die großen Familien
- Le grande famiglie
- Vi, de rikaste
- Сильные мира сего
- 大家庭
- Vi de rikaste
Seen The Possessors?
Movies Like The Possessors
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Possession, The Inheritor and The Proprietor.
The Possessors FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of The Possessors, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Possessors?
The Possessors runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).
When was The Possessors released?
The Possessors was released on November 19, 1958.
Who directed The Possessors?
The Possessors was directed by Denys de La Patellière.
More films by Denys de La Patellière Who is in the cast of The Possessors?
The Possessors stars Bernard Blier as Simon Lachaume, bras droit de Noël, Jean Gabin as Noël Schoudler, le patriarche financier and Emmanuelle Riva as la secrétaire de Noël, among 23 credited actors.
Does The Possessors have a post-credit scene?
No. The Possessors has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The Possessors in?
The original language of The Possessors is French.
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