






A 1913 French epic so brutal it made audiences riot in the streets.
Based on Emile Zola's novel, an uncompromisingly harsh and realistic story of a coalminers' strike in northern France in the 1860s.
Practical Effects
Massive reconstructed mining village with functioning elevators.
Direction
Capellani's crowd control in strike scenes rivals Griffith.
Production
Authentic coal-dirt makeup that actors wore for months.

Director
Albert Capellani
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes