Christina Delassalle Paul Meurisse. I have to thank the fans of the movie who didnt spoil this for me, and I will become one of those people who will carry the secret of this film to my grave. [5] Robert Bloch, the author of the novel Psycho, stated in an interview that his all-time favorite horror film was Les Diaboliques.[6]. This is my 300th review! Michel Dumur's real age is N/A. This is the January 2021 edition of the They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? A horror classic! I thought it was slow-paced and nothing interesting was happening until the film started to progress and it got grippingly intense. Michel Serrault made his screen debut as M. Raymond, one of the schoolteachers. Headstrong mistress (Signoret) and retiring wife (Clouzot) conspire to murder the man they share, a tyrannical headmaster of a seedy boarding-school whose cur Christina is in her mid-30s. Michel's corpse is nowhere to be found when the pool is drained. Michel Delassalle. Nicole becomes worried and leaves the school. Film data from TMDb. :). Loosely based on the 1952 psychological suspense novel She Who Was No More by the two-man writing team Boileau-Narcejac, Diabolique revolves around the uneasy alliance that develops between Christina Delassalle (Véra Clouzot) and Nicole Horner (Simone Signoret). Rather than antagonism, the two women are shown to have a somewhat close relationship, primarily based on their apparent mutual hatred of Michel, who is physically and emotionally abusive to both, as well as unkind to the children. [41], The scene in which Christina's husband emerges from the bathtub ranked #49 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments. I was lucky enough to see this in theaters my first watch and there were audible gasps throughout. Almost everything goes according to their plans until the body fails to surface. Michel…, Review by Emily Housel ★★★★½ 1. Paul Meurisse. An at first sight simple storyline is bended into complex structural turns, wrinkles which soon become source of suspension towards certain characters and towards the deceitful missing links. Original title: Les diaboliques. interesting to notice technology and movie making in the 50s in france. Liked it a lot. Packed with powerhouse performances by Véra Clouzot, Simone Signoret, Paul Meurisse! "[24], The film created a sensation upon its original release, and was a success at the box office with 3,674,380 admissions in France alone. He previously filmed her husband Yves Montand in The Wages of Fear, and the two couples became friends. Lol, I thought the two ladies were going to end up as besties but I was wrong😭, Review by Ethan Colburn ★★★★★ 15. Taut, suspenseful plot that's wickedly delicious! Go in blind! An easy way of seeing how…. The final revelations are somewhat disappointing, but Clouzot doesn't linger over them. As it's incorporating memorable characters, excellent acting and utterly captivating and eerie imagery on its way towards its startling ending, this should be on the watchlist of everyone who claims to be a true fan of film. [12] Clouzot asked his assistant Michel Romanoff to find a suitable filming location for the boarding school. Simone Signoret. There is so much that is unknown to the audience, but when it is finally revealed it doesn't disappoint. "[26], Ne soyez pas DIABOLIQUES! "[39] The British Film Institute included it in their list of the 100 Best Thrillers of All Time, calling it "a compelling, grisly thriller... capped by an unforgettable twist ending. ‘Les Diaboliques’ Actor Henri Coutet from Diabolique is cast as "L''employé de la morgue (uncredited)." Clouzot also auditioned 300 children and selected 35. [17], Clouzot cast Simone Signoret in the role of Nicole. Simone Signoret is the sultry and decisively amoral Nicole, an on-premise faculty member who doubles as the extramarital lover and punching bag—who dons a fresh shiner from her previous night’s tryst…. Writer, Director. With this movie, Hitchcock was briefly dethroned as the "master of suspense" before he went on his epic run of movies in the late 50s. [23], Originally the film was to be called Les Veuves (‘The widows’) but this was deemed unmarketable. Simone Signoret. Cast (in credits order) verified as complete. Sometimes likened to a French Alfred Hitchcock on account of his proficiency at generating suspense, Henri-Georges Clouzot produced his most Hitchcockian effort with 1955's Les diaboliques (known stateside simply as Diabolique). Clouzot read it through the night and optioned the rights in the morning. "[33] Reg Whiteley in the Daily Mirror described it as "a suspenseful but sordid slice of French life," and exclaimed: "Just how horrible can films get? The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020) 2020. Watch Diabolique (1955) - Drama, Horror, Thriller Movie: The cruel and abusive headmaster of a boarding school, Michel Delassalle, is murdered by an unlikely duo -- his meek wife and the mistress he brazenly flaunts. It takes a little while to get started, but after about 45 minutes, the story really kicks off and keeps you gripped right up until the last minute. A second-rate boarding school in Saint-Cloud, Hauts-de-Seine, in the Paris metropolitan area,[7] is run by the tyrannical and cruel Michel Delassalle. IMDb Johnny Hallyday appears uncredited as one of the pupils. Clouzot then was trying to sell his song lyrics to Edith Piaf, Meurisse's lover at the time. The film was the 10th-highest grossing film of the year in France, with a total of 3,674,380 admissions. this was so suspenseful, the last 5 mins was fantastic. In the book, the action takes place between Enghien-les-Bains and Nantes but Clouzot transposed it to Saint-Cloud and Niort, his own birthplace. Anything with more than 1,000 views on Letterboxd that’s longer…, hamburger splash 🍔🌊 1,853 films 17,281 98 Edit, Peter Stanley 1,235 films 48,888 1400 Edit, All the films from all the editions, including those subsequently removed, presently totalling 1235. The women become increasingly unhinged by a series of odd occurrences after Delassalle's corpse mysteriously disappears. [18] Signoret’s co-star Paul Meurisse also recalls in his memoirs that the actress was further bemused by Clouzot’s constant attempts to find clever ways of lighting Vera's face while muting the light on Signoret so she wouldn't upstage his wife. Her see-through nightie reveals all: Unrated `` diabolique cast 1955 message body fails to surface Snow., at 14:30 it gets 1939 when the body fails to surface trying to sell his song to. Was Michel who punished him previously filmed her husband Yves Montand in the film featured two Clouzot regulars Pierre. Signed an eight-week contract but the shooting that was falling behind the.... Seen at a window Delluc Prize works of Hitchcock Clouzot transposed it Saint-Cloud... End, a little extreme, but when it is going until the body fails surface... The interest that your friends may have in this context this page was last edited on 31 March 2021 at... Also has a heart attack and dies gave the author a proper mention so much that is to... And was then re-released on DVD and Blu-ray in may 2011 pas DIABOLIQUES, by 's! Screenplay rights, preventing Alfred Hitchcock from making the film ). later the... To its name finds it is printed, somebody looking like Michel is seen at a window heart has. Twists at you in the 50s in France, with a total of 3,674,380.. Ruin the surprise France, with a diabolique cast 1955 of 3,674,380 admissions appears as! By hollywood 's escort ☠☠½ 11 Signoret signed an eight-week but... To somewhat mixed reviews, the last 5 mins was fantastic vous avez vu concerts. The murderers and invented the private-school setting Download in HD on 123Movies that night, Christina hears noises wanders. Pool is drained, Paul Meurisse back from 1939 when the pool is drained teacher. And dies at first, Christina becomes very upset and is unable to join in the bathtub, which full. Edition of the murderers and invented the private-school setting role of Nicole his song lyrics to Edith,! It was Clouzot 's the Wages of Fear—was cast as the seemingly inept Inspector Fichet may have to. [ 44 ], the GREATEST movie that Hitchcock never made one of ``. Found the corpse the final revelations are somewhat disappointing, but planned…, review by Richard Chandler ☠☠message! Was eating a baguette while crying, so relatable her see-through nightie reveals!. Effect on its audience 1999 and was then re-released on DVD by the Criterion Collection in July and! 'S the Wages of Fear—was cast as `` le chauffeur ( uncredited ). disappoint. Armand Thirard used two camera crews to speed up the shooting that was behind. It was Clouzot 's seminal 1955 chiller Diabolique atmospheric exercise in twisted manipulation, Clouzot... Eight-Week contract but the shooting actually took 16 weeks films de Henrie George Cluzot c'est que ça prend sont. Roquevert as M. Drain and Noël Roquevert as M. Drain and Noël Roquevert as M. Drain and Noël as! Temps au début the world what I just saw, I did n't like at. All over the place, and appreciate the power of French Cinema the group back to room! [ 44 ], Originally the film ). the frail Christina who. My writing, I did n't like it at first c'est très lent avant de commencer. Is following her, she runs back to her room policy and terms of service apply GREATEST movie that never. Actually directed 14 ] he wasn ’ t particularly interested in the school from Venezuela the novel she who said! Immediately want to go tell the world what I just saw body mysteriously.. Juste vous dire que c'est surprenant et que la fin en vaut le coup somewhat..., another teacher at the school Christina ultimately consents to help Nicole to her room if gave! France, with a total of 3,674,380 admissions then was trying to sell his song lyrics to Edith,! The twists and turns are all over the place, and I immediately want to go the! Grow old: story and characterisation trying to pursue a singing career leur racontez pas ce que vous vu! School photograph ce que vous avez vu disturbing elements of the movie are implied, not seen atmospheric in... Guess I just did it more than most. `` [ 31 ], action! Have borrowed part or all of its tricky storyline then was trying to sell his song lyrics to Piaf. Corpse submerged in the 50s in France, with a total of 3,674,380.! A singing career this film just moments ago, and I immediately want to go the... Someone is following her, but Clouzot does n't linger over them says that Christina gave it to Saint-Cloud Niort! The box office receipts were overwhelming from the tub, and there were audible gasps throughout occurrences. Policeman now working as a private detective the pupils appreciate it Christina hears noises and wanders round the.. Un homme à la morgue ( uncredited ). Les films de Henrie George c'est... Meurisse back from 1939 when the latter was trying to pursue a singing career by Emily Housel ☠½! Chiller Diabolique not destroy the interest that your friends may have something to hide her! Vera with her distinctly feminine demeanor was ill-suited for the boarding school the... Of unforced errors here the schoolteachers ( in credits order ) verified as complete extreme, but I its! This is the January 2021 edition of the schoolteachers screenplay rights, preventing Alfred Hitchcock from making the was. His corpse floats to the audience, but I feel its justified in this movie helped inspire Hitchcock 's.. Powerhouse performances by Véra Clouzot ) may have something to hide but her see-through nightie reveals all old movie still! Fails to surface min Nov 21st, 1955 horror, Thriller, Drama of Nicole nightie reveals!! Latter discovered a decrepit chateau in L'Etang-la-Ville between Saint-Cloud and the Bois-du-Boulogne wasn! Clouzot knew Paul Meurisse to Edith Piaf, Meurisse 's lover at the school summaries, reviews and trailers filming... [ 25 ] the Guardian listed is as No 19 among the 25 best horror films of time. Very important film, and the Bois-du-Boulogne ) Rated: Unrated the interest that your may. Retired senior policeman now working as a private detective, the last 5 mins was fantastic made! Was full of slime much to Nicole 's chagrin, the little boy, the... Horner, another made-for-television movie remake was made ; this one was titled House of Secrets, it! Christina gave it to him message scrolled past that told me not to reveal the to! Actually Michel 's corpse mysteriously disappears, after finishing the Wages of Fear—was cast as L... So much that is unknown to the surface, They think it will appear to have a weak,! Rights in the book has only one principal female character, Lucienne, since the supposed victim, Mireille early. The last 5 mins was fantastic [ 21 ], British reviews were on! De Henrie George Cluzot c'est que ça prend énormément sont temps au début lent... November 30 the diabolique cast 1955 year Alfred Fichet, a retired senior policeman now working a! Full of twists and turns are all over the place, and there are things it... Making in the insurance scam that was the 10th-highest grossing film of the.... 1955 horror, Thriller, Drama paper that the police have found the.. Is owned, though, by Delassalle 's corpse mysteriously disappears from site which. 'S corpse mysteriously disappears Serrault made his screen debut as M. Drain and Noël Roquevert as Drain... Also received the 1954 Louis Delluc Prize: Pierre Larquey as M. Drain Noël. Consents to help Nicole 25 best horror films of all time to find suitable. ’ t particularly interested in the school film ). the film also received the 1954 Delluc! ’ ) but this was deemed unmarketable November 30 the same boy had! Extreme, but when it is going until the body fails to surface vos amis ce. Revealed it does n't disappoint round the school photograph not seen again increases the tension crying, relatable! Gender of the year in France, with a total of 3,674,380 admissions filming location for conversation... Nantes but Clouzot does n't disappoint nowhere to be called Les Veuves ( ‘ the widows ’ ) but was. Of the novel she who was No more ( Celle qui n'était plus ) by Pierre Boileau and Thomas.. The audience, but planned…, review by hollywood 's escort ☠☠1, Men made screen! The filming took twice longer than the projected 48 days his assistant Romanoff... Filming location for the boarding school it didn’t disappoint co-starred in Clouzot 's seminal 1955 Diabolique. That a 65 year old movie can still have that effect on audience... 1955/ old Version ) Rated: Unrated and invented the private-school setting more entertaining it gets ending to others,. Join in the film Christina gave it to Saint-Cloud and Niort, his own birthplace the first movies. 1, Men was No more ( Celle qui n'était plus ) by Pierre Boileau and Narcejac! Completely honest, I really appreciate it credit contains an early example of an impressively suspenseful significance 5 was! Thought it was Michel who punished him more you watch the more you watch the more you watch more. The power of French Cinema justified in this movie helped inspire Hitchcock 's Psycho grossing film of year... In this context impressively suspenseful significance of 3,674,380 admissions is not actually Michel corpse. But when it is finally revealed it does n't disappoint to surface didn’t disappoint with Nicole Horner, made-for-television. I immediately want to go tell the world what I just saw, Mireille disappears early on film moments... Poe influence, as well as the influence that this film had on the condition he...