La Chienne (1931) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

An aspiring painter's affair, exploited artwork, and violent response lead to wrongful punishment and a destitute ending.

Story Structure — 6 Plot Phases

A Chance Encounter

Maurice sees Dédé strike Lulu and accompanies her after Dédé is dropped off. At home, Adèle further demeans Maurice and his paintings.

Key Events

• Company Celebration — Maurice attends a company celebration and leaves. Characters: Maurice Legrand Location: Company celebration
• Dédé Hits Lulu — Maurice sees Dédé hitting Lulu; she hits him back in defense. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Lucienne 'Lulu' Pelletier, Andre 'Dédé' Govain Location: Street
• Maurice Walks Lulu Home — After Dédé is dropped at his residence, Maurice walks Lulu home and learns Dédé is her pimp. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Lucienne 'Lulu' Pelletier, Andre 'Dédé' Govain Location: Street and Lulu's route home
• Adèle Scorns His Art — Adèle questions Maurice's late return and belittles his paintings. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Adèle Legrand Location: Maurice and Adèle's apartment

Paintings Under a False Name

Maurice becomes Lulu's lover and rents an apartment for her, placing his paintings there. Dédé takes the paintings, and he and Lulu arrange to sell them under a false attribution.

Key Events

• Lulu Gets an Apartment — Maurice rents an apartment for Lulu and decorates it with his paintings. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Lucienne 'Lulu' Pelletier Location: Lulu's apartment
• Dédé Takes the Paintings — Dédé arrives while Maurice is away, takes the paintings, and plans their false sale. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Lucienne 'Lulu' Pelletier, Andre 'Dédé' Govain Location: Lulu's apartment
• Paintings on Display — Maurice sees his paintings displayed at an art store. Characters: Maurice Legrand Location: Art store
• Lulu's False Account — Lulu claims that she and her fictitious brother sold the paintings to Wallstein. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Lucienne 'Lulu' Pelletier Location: Lulu's apartment
• False Attribution Succeeds — The paintings succeed with critics under the false attribution Clara Wood, enriching Lulu and Dédé. Characters: Lucienne 'Lulu' Pelletier, Andre 'Dédé' Govain Location: Art market

Alexis Returns

Maurice discovers that his paintings are being displayed, while Lulu misleads him about their sale. Alexis reappears, recounts his past, and asks Maurice for money.

Key Events

• Alexis Returns — Alexis tells Maurice how he escaped his marriage and was later captured and imprisoned. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Adjutant Alexis Godard Location: Café
• Alexis Asks for Money — Penniless Alexis asks Maurice for one thousand francs. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Adjutant Alexis Godard Location: Café
• Theft Is Arranged — Maurice tells Alexis where Adèle's money is and falsely says he and Adèle will attend the theatre. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Adjutant Alexis Godard, Adèle Legrand Location: Maurice and Adèle's apartment

The Theft and the Betrayal

Maurice arranges for Alexis to steal Adèle's hidden money, and Adèle calls the police. Maurice then finds Lulu with Dédé and hears Lulu confess that she loves Dédé and used Maurice for money.

Key Events

• Theft Is Arranged — Maurice tells Alexis where Adèle's money is and falsely says he and Adèle will attend the theatre. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Adjutant Alexis Godard, Adèle Legrand Location: Maurice and Adèle's apartment
• Adèle Calls the Police — Alexis steals the money; Adèle calls the police, and Maurice tells them Alexis is alive. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Adèle Legrand, Adjutant Alexis Godard Location: Maurice and Adèle's apartment
• Maurice Finds Them Together — Maurice goes to Lulu's apartment and finds her in bed with Dédé. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Lucienne 'Lulu' Pelletier, Andre 'Dédé' Govain Location: Lulu's apartment
• Lulu Rejects Maurice — Lulu says she loves Dédé and stayed with Maurice only for his money. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Lucienne 'Lulu' Pelletier Location: Lulu's apartment

Murder and Misjudgment

Maurice kills Lulu, but Dédé is convicted and executed for the murder. Maurice loses his job and becomes a vagrant.

Key Events

• Maurice Kills Lulu — Maurice stabs Lulu and leaves the apartment without witnesses. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Lucienne 'Lulu' Pelletier Location: Lulu's apartment
• Dédé Is Convicted — After Lulu is found dead, Maurice is released and Dédé is convicted and executed. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Andre 'Dédé' Govain Location: Police questioning and trial
• Maurice Loses His Job — Maurice is accused of mishandling money and is fired under the pretext of health problems. Characters: Maurice Legrand Location: Maurice's workplace

A Vagrant's Ending

Maurice meets Alexis again and learns that Adèle has died. The two obtain twenty francs and walk away as Maurice's self-portrait is transported by car.

Key Events

• Maurice Becomes a Vagrant — Maurice roams as a vagrant and meets Alexis, who tells him Adèle has died. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Adjutant Alexis Godard Location: Street
• Twenty Francs on the Street — As a car carries Maurice's self-portrait, Maurice and Alexis obtain twenty francs and walk away. Characters: Maurice Legrand, Adjutant Alexis Godard Location: Street

Story Breakdown

• Maurice's Marriage — Maurice's home life is marked by Adèle's contempt for him and his paintings.
  • Adèle's Rebuke — Adèle questions Maurice's late return and belittles his art.
  • Discarded Paintings — Adèle intends to throw away Maurice's paintings.
• Meeting Lulu — Maurice encounters Lulu during a confrontation with Dédé and learns that Dédé is her pimp.
  • Street Encounter — Maurice sees Dédé hitting Lulu, who hits him back.
  • Walk Home — Maurice accompanies Lulu and hears about her relationship with Dédé.
• The Secret Affair — Maurice becomes Lulu's lover and provides her with an apartment.
  • Rented Apartment — Maurice rents a place for Lulu and decorates it with his paintings.
  • Lulu's Deception — Lulu hides Dédé's role in the paintings' sale from Maurice.
• Art Sale Scheme — Dédé and Lulu exploit Maurice's paintings by claiming Lulu made them under a false name.
  • Dédé Takes Paintings — Dédé removes the paintings from Lulu's apartment.
  • False Attribution — The paintings are sold as the work of Clara Wood and attract critical success.
• Alexis and Adèle — Alexis's return leads Maurice to arrange a theft from Adèle.
  • Alexis Explains — Alexis tells Maurice how he escaped his marriage and was imprisoned.
  • Wardrobe Theft — Maurice directs Alexis to Adèle's hidden money and misleads her about their plans.
• Lulu's Rejection — Maurice discovers Lulu with Dédé and learns that she does not love him.
  • Caught Together — Maurice finds Lulu and Dédé in bed together.
  • Confession — Lulu says she loves Dédé and stayed with Maurice for his money.
• Murder and Conviction — Maurice kills Lulu, while suspicion and punishment fall on Dédé.
  • Maurice Stabs Lulu — Maurice kills Lulu with a knife and leaves without witnesses.
  • Dédé Executed — Dédé is convicted of Lulu's murder despite Maurice being the killer.
• Vagrant's Ending — Maurice loses his job and meets Alexis again after becoming a vagrant.
  • Dismissed from Work — Maurice is accused of mishandling money and is fired.
  • Twenty Francs — Alexis tells Maurice that Adèle has died, and they walk away with twenty francs.

Directed by

Jean Renoir

Key Cast

• Michel Simon — Maurice Legrand
• Janie Marèse — Lucienne 'Lulu' Pelletier
• Georges Flamant — Andre 'Dédé' Govain
• Magdeleine Bérubet — Adèle Legrand
• Roger Gaillard — Adjutant Alexis Godard