The Bride Wore Black (1968)
"La mariée était en noir" (original title)

Julie Kohler is prevented from suicide by her mother. She leaves the town. She will track down, charm and kill five men who do not know her. What is her goal ? What is her purpose ?

Director:

François Truffaut

Writers:

Cornell Woolrich (novel), François Truffaut (adaptation),

Stars:

Jeanne Moreau, Michel Bouquet, Jean-Claude Brialy

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeanne Moreau	...	Julie Kohler
Michel Bouquet	...	Coral
Jean-Claude Brialy	...	Corey
Charles Denner	...	Fergus
Claude Rich	...	Bliss
Michael Lonsdale	...	Rene Morane (as Michel Lonsdale)
Daniel Boulanger	...	Delvaux
Alexandra Stewart	...	Mlle Becker
Sylvine Delannoy	...	Mme Morane
Luce Fabiole	...	Julie's mother
Michèle Montfort	...	Fergus's model
Jacqueline Rouillard
Paul Pavel	...	Mechanic
Gilles Quéant	...	Examining judge (as Gilles Queant)
Serge Rousseau	...	David

Storyline

Julie Kohler is prevented from suicide by her mother. She leaves the town. She will track down, charm and kill five men who do not know her. What is her goal ? What is her purpose ?

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Plot Keywords:

wedding | serial killer | multiple murder | mural | scarf | 

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Taglines:

She was a bride when the violence happened... Now she's a widow and it's going to happen again

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

25 June 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bride Wore Black

Filming Locations:

Alpes-Maritimes, France

Box Office

Budget:

$747,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$6,463 (USA) (4 November 2011)

Gross:

$37,508 (USA) (14 December 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Carrosse, Les Productions Artistes Associés, Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is François Truffaut's homage to Alfred Hitchcock, made shortly after Truffaut had published a book of extensive interviews with Hitchcock. As part of his homage, Truffaut chose a novel written by Cornell Woolrich, on who's story Hitchcock's Rear Window was based, and even chose long-time Hitchcock collaborator Bernard Herrmann to compose the score.

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Goofs

When the Bride is looking at herself in the bathroom mirror after she changes into her Diana costume, she is wearing a bracelet; the bracelet is given to her by Fergus only after she is wearing the costume.

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Quotes

Coral: Permit me to make an impossible wish?
Julie Kohler: Why impossible?
Coral: Because I'm a rather pessimist.
Julie Kohler: I've heard it said: "There are no optimists or pessimists. There are only happy idiots or unhappy ones".
Coral: [smiling] Yes, well. I'm an unhappy idiot then.

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Connections

Referenced in The Family Stone (2005)

User Reviews

Truffaut's best!

The Bride Wore Black is, for my money, Truffaut's best film! Jeanne Moreau is pitch perfect as the shattered bride, who will stop at nothing to punish the men responsible for her husband's death. She is fully authentic, as she tracks down and dispenses justice to those responsible, with a cold and icy single mindedness, that would make a shark shudder!! This is a must see for all Truffaut fans, one that still remains vivid to me! 9 out of 10!