The Truth (1960)
"La vérité" (original title)

Dominique Marceau is on trial for the murder of Gilbert Tellier. The counsels duel relentlessly, elaborating explanations for why the pretty, idle and fickle girl killed the talented and ... See full summary »

Director:

Henri-Georges Clouzot

Writers:

Henri-Georges Clouzot (scenario), Simone Drieu (scenario),

Stars:

Brigitte Bardot, Paul Meurisse, Charles Vanel

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brigitte Bardot	...	Dominique Marceau
Paul Meurisse	...	Maître Éparvier
Charles Vanel	...	Maître Guérin
Sami Frey	...	Gilbert Tellier
Marie-José Nat	...	Annie Marceau
Jean-Loup Reynold	...	Michel
André Oumansky	...	Ludovic
Claude Berri	...	Georges
Jacques Perrin	...	Jérôme
Barbara Sommers	...	Daisy (as Barbara Sohmers)
Louis Seigner	...	Le président des assises
Raymond Meunier	...	Le cuistot du 'Spoutnik'
René Blancard	...	L'avocat général
Paul Bonifas	...	Un greffier
Hubert de Lapparent	...	Un avocat

Storyline

Dominique Marceau is on trial for the murder of Gilbert Tellier. The counsels duel relentlessly, elaborating explanations for why the pretty, idle and fickle girl killed the talented and ambitious conductor freshly graduated from the conservatory. Was it passion, vengeance, desperation, an accident? The acquaintances of Gilbert testify, as well as Dominique's former lovers, and her sister, Annie, the studious violin player engaged to Gilbert. The evidence they give progressively paints a more finely-shaded picture of the personalities of Dominique and Gilbert, and of their relationship, than the eloquent and convincing justifications of the counsels.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | trial | conductor | violinist | lawyer | 

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Taglines:

Suppose I'm a tramp... why can't I be in love?

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

2 November 1960 (France)

Also Known As:

The Truth

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Han Productions, C.E.I.A.P., Iéna Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Quotes

The Prosecuting Attorney: You spent weeks seducing him, didn't you? Weeks!
Dominique's Attorney: Objection! What length of time should she have spent? Is there any legal limit on how long a seduction ought to take?

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Soundtracks

"Colombine"
Written by René-Louis Lafforgue

User Reviews

Brigitte Bardot's finest performance.

Here Brigitte Bardot strips bare and the precedent writer was completely right;it's not Dominique who's judged ,but Bardot herself.Never a character had been closer to the actress -I'm obviously speaking of the public figure- than this victim.Because she's primarily a victim : of a family who was dreaming of a good girl,respectful of family values -see Marie -José Nat 's Annie ,the perfect sister ,the "good" ,the earnest musician :she's so "straight"so "holier-than-thou,that she's almost frightening-;of a society ,not prepared to accept this new way of life,which predates the events of MAY 1968 and woman's lib;and finally,and mainly ,of men:they,too, are not prepared to accept the fact that a woman wants to live like .. a man:Samy Frey,the well-respected and well-meaning young man is actually a macho as well as a future mean bourgeois.

The man who worked this miracle ( turning Bardot into a first -class thespian) is none other than Henri-Georges Clouzot,one of the most daring clever gifted directors France has ever known.It was probably a hard time for him:he was about to become ill ,and that would prevent him from making another movie before 1968 ("the prisoner" ,his final achievement);besides the nouvelle vague on the rise dismissed Clouzot as a man of of the past,one of those creeps who "did not live what he was filming" (sic).Clouzot ,at his best, was better than 10 Chabrol ,20 Truffaut and 100 Godard ,but there's no accounting for tastes.Suffice to say that Clouzot,during his relatively short career (20 years ,and 11 films) ,took more chances single-handedly than the three artists mentioned above ,and his best works ("l'assassin habite au 21","le corbeau","quai des orfèvres","Manon","les diaboliques" -which got more praise abroad than in its native country- and "wages of fear" )are all classics.

"la vérité" is a long flashback ,a giant jig-saw the pieces of which will not completely put together at the end.The lovers of "les diaboliques" will appreciate the duel Paul Meurisse /Charles Vanel.They say HG Clouzot was very hard on his actors:but what filmography!