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Ascenseur pour l'Echafaud (1957)

Director: Louis Malle

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From Time Out Film Guide

Malle's first feature, a straightforward but classy thriller about an ex-paratrooper's attempt to dispose of his mistress' tycoon husband in a perfect murder. It became associated with the early excitements of the nouvelle vague mainly through the performances of Ronet (playing a prototype of the disgruntled Vietnam veteran) and Moreau (who does some moody solo wandering in the streets searching for her missing lover). The ingenious plot, using a malfunctioning lift as its deus-ex-machina, has one carefully plotted murder conjure another as its shadow image. But the cement holding the film together is really the splendid jazz score improvised by Miles Davis.

Author: TM 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Louis Malle

Producer: Jean Thuillier

Cast: Maurice Ronet, Jeanne Moreau, Georges Poujouly, Lino Ventura, Yori Bertin, Ivan Petrovich, Elga Andersen full cast

Genre(s): Thrillers

Duration: 89 mins


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