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Bookmark this pageAscenseur pour l'Echafaud (1957)
Director: Louis Malle
Movie review
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
User reviews of this film
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- Ricky said...
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Posted on Dec 07 2011 14:18
The plot is still gripping despite being unbelievable.
The acting by Jeanne Moreau and Maurce Ronet is excellent but makes the others and the characters they play poor cliches in comoarison.
Why its worth 5 stars is that this movie is a piece of cinema history because of the Miles Davis epic jazz score reflectng and enhancing the changing moods of the action so brilliantly. A classic. - Report as inappropriate
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
Rated: PG
Duration: 89 mins
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