Diabolique (1955) Les diaboliques (original title)

Director:

Henri-Georges Clouzot

Writers:

Pierre Boileau (novel) and
Thomas Narcejac (novel) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 November 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

See it, be amazed at it, but... BE QUIET ABOUT IT! (original Finnish poster tagline)

Plot:

The wife of a cruel headmaster and his mistress conspire to kill him, but after the murder is committed, his body disappears, and strange events begin to plague the two women.

Plot Keywords:

Headmaster | Mistress | Swimming Pool | Lodging House | Teacher

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Simone Signoret	...	Nicole Horner
Véra Clouzot	...	Christina Delassalle (as Vera Clouzot)
Paul Meurisse	...	Michel Delassalle
Charles Vanel	...	Alfred Fichet, le commissaire
Jean Brochard	...	Plantiveau, le concierge
Thérèse Dorny	...	Mme. Herboux
Michel Serrault	...	M. Raymond, le surveillant
Georges Chamarat	...	Dr. Loisy
Robert Dalban	...	Le garagiste
Camille Guérini	...	Le photographe (as Camille Guerini)
Jacques Hilling	...	L'employé de la morgue
Jean Lefebvre	...	Le soldat
Aminda Montserrat	...	Madame Plantiveau
Jean Témerson	...	Le garçon d'hôtel (as Jean Temerson)
Jacques Varennes	...	M. Bridoux, professeur
Georges Poujouly	...	Soudieu, un élève
Yves-Marie Maurin	...	Moinet, une jeune Moynet
Noël Roquevert	...	M. Herboux
Pierre Larquey	...	M.Drain, professeur
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean-Pierre Bonnefous	...	Le jeune De Gascuel (uncredited)
Christian Brocard	...	Un homme à la morgue (uncredited)
Jean Clarieux	...	Le chauffeur (uncredited)
Henri Coutet	...	L'employé de la morgue (uncredited)
Michel Dumur	...	Le jeune Ritberger (uncredited)
Johnny Hallyday	...	Un élève (uncredited)
Henri Humbert	...	Patard, le jeune Patard (uncredited)
Roberto Rodrigo	...	Le petit Jose (uncredited)
Madeleine Suffel	...	La dégraisseuse (uncredited)
Jimmy Urbain	...	Un élève (uncredited)

Directed by
Henri-Georges Clouzot		(as H.G. Clouzot)

Writing credits
Pierre Boileau		(novel "Celle qui n'était plus") (as Boileau) and
Thomas Narcejac		(novel "Celle qui n'était plus") (as Narcejac)
Henri-Georges Clouzot		(scenario and dialogue) (as H.G. Clouzot) and
Jérôme Géronimi		(scenario and dialogue) (as Jérôme Geronimi)
René Masson		(collaboration) &
Frédéric Grendel		(collaboration)

Produced by
Henri-Georges Clouzot	....	producer (as H.G. Clouzot)
Georges Lourau	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Georges Van Parys

Cinematography by
Armand Thirard		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Madeleine Gug

Art Direction by
Léon Barsacq

Costume Design by
Carven		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Anatole Paris	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Jeanne Witta	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Louis de Masure	....	production manager
Georges Testard	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michel Romanoff	....	assistant director

Sound Department
William Robert Sivel	....	sound (as William-Robert Sivel)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean Dicop	....	assistant camera
Daniel Diot	....	assistant camera
Robert Juillard	....	camera operator
Jean Lallier	....	camera operator
Louis Née	....	camera operator (as Louis Nee)
Jacques Robin	....	camera operator
Robert Joffres	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Léo Mirkine	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Other crew
Richard Heinz	....	English version
Jeanne Witta-Montrobert	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Filmsonor
• Vera Films (associate)

Distributors

• Cinédis (1955) (France) (theatrical)
• United Motion Pictures Organization (UMPO) (1955) (USA) (theatrical) (English subtitles)
• Ariane Distribution (1993) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
• British Film Institute (BFI) (2011) (UK) (theatrical)
• Ciné Vog Films (1955) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Dear Film (1955) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Gala Film Distributors (1955) (UK) (theatrical)
• Kino International (????) (USA) (theatrical)
• Les Acacias (1996) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
• TF1 International (????) (USA) (theatrical)
• Tamasa Distribution (????) (France) (theatrical)
• Union Film Wien (1955) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Arrow Film Distributors (2007) (UK) (video)
• Atlantic Film (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (1999) (USA) (video)
• Criterion Collection, The (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Pictures Corp. (1988) (USA) (TV) (new English subtitles)
• Crown Video (video)
• Dolmen Home Video (????) (Italy) (DVD)
• Foothill Video (video)
• Home Vision Cinema (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Homescreen (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Madacy Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Nostalgia Video (video)
• Public Media (????) (USA) (VHS)
• René Chateau Video (2000) (France) (DVD)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (video) (VOD)

Special Effects

• LAX Lab.

Other Companies

• Éditions Denoël  novel publisher
• Son Artec  sound recording system (as A.R.T.E.C.)
• Éditions Choudens  music edition
• Franstudio  studios (as Franstudio-Saint-Maurice)

Also Known As:

"Les diaboliques" - France (original title)
"The Devils" - USA (TV title)

Runtime:

114 min | UK:92 min | USA:116 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (A.R.T.E.C.)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated | Norway:16 | Italy:VM14 | UK:X (original rating) (1955) | UK:15 (re-rating) (1985) | Finland:(Banned) (1966) | Finland:K-18 (1956) | Finland:K-18 (1968) | South Korea:15 | France:U (Visa #14131) | UK:12A | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:16 (2012) (DVD) | West Germany:18 (nf) | France:-16 (original rating) | Italy:16+ (original rating) | Netherlands:18 (orginal rating)

Filming Locations:

Rue Jean Mermoz, L'Étang-la-Ville, Yvelines, France.

Company:

Filmsonor

Trivia:

Johnny Hallyday's film debut.

Goofs:

Continuity: After MIchel has drunk the sedative and lies on the bed, Christina pulls his shoes off and drops them on the floor. When Nicole is filling the bathtub, she tells Christina to "take his shoes off." When the two women carry Michel from the bed to the bathroom, he is wearing his shoes.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Plantiveau, le concierge:Headmaster!
Michel Delassalle:Yes.
Plantiveau, le concierge:Isn't it time I rang the bell?
Michel Delassalle:It's okay. I'll unload the car myself.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hollywood Mouth (2008)

A Great Thriller - See It As Soon As You Can

"Les Diaboliques" has one of the best plots you will ever find in any mystery or suspense thriller. The excellent directing, acting, and writing combine with the story itself to make it a memorable experience.

If you enjoy quality mysteries or thrillers, you will almost certainly enjoy this one - and if you have not seen it yet, you might just want to buy or rent it now, before you read any more reviews. This comment will avoid any discussion at all of the actual plot itself, because the less you know in advance, the more you will enjoy it. The few implausible elements in the story do not detract at all from the enjoyment.

A great plot does not all by itself make a good movie, and everything works especially well here because of the expert pacing by director Henri-Georges Clouzot and good, mostly understated acting by the main actors. We are drawn into their world very nicely. Everything about the characters and events is built up perfectly, to give the brilliant climax its full effect. Once again, see it before you find out any more.

Even if you do not normally watch black-and-white films or foreign movies (this is in French), if you enjoy thrillers, watch "Les Diaboliques" as soon as you have the chance.