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Diabolique

8.0

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Diabolique

Original title: Les diaboliques
Year: 1955
Running time: 114 min.
Country: France
Director: H.G. Clouzot
Screenwriter: H.G. Clouzot, Jérome Géronimi, René Masson, Frédéric Grendel (Novel: Pierre Boileau, Thomas Narcejac)
Music: Georges Van Parys
Cinematography: Armand Thirard (B&W)
Cast: Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse, Charles Vanel, Jean Brochard, Thérèse Dorny, Georges Chamarat, Michel Serrault, Georges Poujouly
Producer: Vera Films
Genre: Mystery. Thriller. Horror | Crime. Psychological Thriller. Cult Movie
Synopsis / Plot: Michel Delasalle (Paul Meurisse), the headmaster of a provincial boarding school, becomes the target of a murder plot concocted by his wife Christina (Véra Clouzot) and his mistress (Simone Signoret).

Awards: 1955: New York Film Critics Circle: Best Foreign Language Film

1955: National Board of Review: Top Best Foreign Language Films

Critics' reviews

"[It creates] a diabolical double-reverse plot that keeps the audience guessing right up to the thoroughly implausible final scene (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: rogerebert.com
"The writing and the visual construction are superb, and the performance by top - notch French actors on the highest level of sureness and finesse."

Bosley Crowther: The New York Times
"Clouzot’s interest in terror and human dreariness for its own sake has robbed this of intrinsic honesty. He has gotten a fine, if spotty performance from his real wife, Vera"

Variety
"It conjures an atmosphere of suffocating rot that’s so palpable, in fact, that the murder plot is in many ways its least disturbing element (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"

Chuck Bowen: Slant
"'Diabolique's study of murder and deception is masterfully controlled by Clouzot (...) Clouzot's black-and-white images are marvelously crafted"

Marjorie Baumgarten: Austin Chronicle
"The film is cruel, sour, and—unfortunately—very effective."

Dave Kehr: Chicago Reader
"A powerful performance by Simone Signoret (...) Satisfying, elegant and nasty (…) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"

Peter Bradshaw: The Guardian
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Ranking Lists Position

20 My Favorite French Movies (79)

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