(Diabolique)
Country: FR
Technical: bw 114m
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot
Cast: Simone Signoret, Vera Clouzot, Paul Meurisse, Charles Vanel
Synopsis:
The headmaster of a seedy private school is murdered by his wife and mistress in concert, but returns to haunt them.
Review:
Excellent suspense chiller, incidentally capturing French provincial life at the time, as well as a heartless school régime. Much imitated, first by Hitchcock (for whom authors Boileau and Narcejac practically composed Vertigo) then by Hammer several times and finally in Dominique, it had a true sense of the macabre and is the epitome of its maker's legendary cynicism. Remade (badly) with Sharon Stone and Isabelle Adjani in the leading roles.
(Diabolique)
Country: FR
Technical: bw 114m
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot
Cast: Simone Signoret, Vera Clouzot, Paul Meurisse, Charles Vanel
Synopsis:
The headmaster of a seedy private school is murdered by his wife and mistress in concert, but returns to haunt them.
Review:
Excellent suspense chiller, incidentally capturing French provincial life at the time, as well as a heartless school régime. Much imitated, first by Hitchcock (for whom authors Boileau and Narcejac practically composed Vertigo) then by Hammer several times and finally in Dominique, it had a true sense of the macabre and is the epitome of its maker's legendary cynicism. Remade (badly) with Sharon Stone and Isabelle Adjani in the leading roles.
