Leda (1959)
"À double tour" (original title)

A wealthy wine grower has trouble with his wife, his children, his best friend, and his mistress across the way, who is murdered.

Director:

Claude Chabrol

Writers:

Claude Chabrol (dialogue), Stanley Ellin (novel),

Stars:

Madeleine Robinson, Antonella Lualdi, Jean-Paul Belmondo

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Madeleine Robinson	...	Thérèse Marcoux
Antonella Lualdi	...	Léda
Jean-Paul Belmondo	...	Laszlo Kovacs
Jacques Dacqmine	...	Henri Marcoux
Jeanne Valérie	...	Elisabeth
Bernadette Lafont	...	Julie, the maid
André Jocelyn	...	Richard Marcoux
Mario David	...	Roger, the milkman
László Szabó	...	Laszlo's friend
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
André Dino	...	The police inspector
Raymond Pélissier	...	The gardener

Storyline

Leda, the flirt of Monsieur Marcoux is murdered. His wife and the police think, that the murderer was the milk-man, the friend of the maid, but Marcoux' daughter's fiance Lazo, who is aware of the corrupt situation in that family doesn't agree with them.

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Plot Keywords:

maid | vineyard | milkman | bourgeoisie | murder | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

4 December 1959 (France)

Also Known As:

Leda

Filming Locations:

Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Panitalia, Paris Film, Titanus

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Chabrol originally intended on casting Suzy Parker and Charles Boyer in the roles eventually played by Antonella Lualdi and Jacques Dacqmine, but neither decision worked out.

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Connections

Referenced in Breathless (1960)

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Soundtracks

"Serenade in B-flat Major"
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

User Reviews

Curiouser and curiouser

Chabrol always could turn on the new-wave schizophrenia. Overly hyper at times, inspired at others.

Based on the novel "La Cle de la Rue Saint-Nicolas," a wine grower of not some little means, finds himself beset with problems on all sides, from his wife, his children, his best friend.....even his lover! Well, truth be known, SHE has problems herself - she is murdered!

Chabrol does a fair Hitchcockian impression, filming the demise of the mistress as he does, entirely with mirrors. Arguably the highlight of the movie.

To appreciate this film it would definitely assist to have had some exposure to French Cinema in the past. You may otherwise find the Chabrolian experience a rude and possibly confusing awakening. Be that as it may, this example of new-wave French artistry is understandably held in high esteem in many places.