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

Director:

François Truffaut

Writers:

Cornell Woolrich (novel)
François Truffaut (adaptation) ...
(more)

Release Date:

25 June 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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...

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Serial Killer | Multiple Murder | Mural | Scarf

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

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
Van Doude	...	Inspector
Christophe Bruno	...	Cookie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frédérique Fontanarosa	...	Musician (uncredited)
Renaud Fontanarosa	...	Musician (uncredited)
Jacqueline Gaillard	...	Chambermaid (uncredited)
Maurice Garrel	...	Le plaignant (uncredited)
Daniel Pommereulle	...	Fergus's friend (uncredited)
Elisabeth Rey	...	Julie child (uncredited)
Jean-Pierre Rey	...	David child (uncredited)
Dominique Robier	...	Sabine, Julie's niece (uncredited)
Jacques Robiolles	...	Charlie (uncredited)
Michèle Viborel	...	Gilberte, Bliss's fiancee (uncredited)

Directed by
François Truffaut

Writing credits
Cornell Woolrich		(novel "The Bride Wore Black") (as William Irish)
François Truffaut		(adaptation and dialogue) and
Jean-Louis Richard		(adaptation and dialogue)

Produced by
Marcel Berbert	....	producer (uncredited)
Oscar Lewenstein	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography by
Raoul Coutard

Film Editing by
Claudine Bouché

Production Design by
Pierre Guffroy

Production Management
Georges Charlot	....	production manager

Art Department
René Ferracci	....	poster designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
René Levert	....	sound

Music Department
André Girard	....	conductor

Other crew
Jean Fouchet	....	titles (as F.L.-Jean Fouchet)

Production Companies

• Les Films du Carrosse
• Les Productions Artistes Associés
• Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica (co-production)

Distributors

• United Artists (1968) (France) (theatrical) (as Les Artistes Associés S.A.)
• Lopert Pictures Corporation (1968) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• United Artists Corporation (1968) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1968) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists Films (1968) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Another World Entertainment (2010) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Future Film (2010) (Finland) (DVD)
• Kinokuniya (2009) (Japan) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1975) (1982) (Finland) (TV)
• Nothing's New Video (2005) (USA) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1997) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

"La mariée était en noir" - France (original title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Canada:G (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:16 (nf) | UK:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Netherlands:12 (2009) (DVD) | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | Italy:VM14 | Germany:16 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Alpes-Maritimes, France

Company:

Les Films du Carrosse

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 (1954) was based, and even chose long-time Hitchcock collaborator Bernard Herrmann to compose the score.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Carol shows his ticket at the theater, he is told that the performance had started three minutes ago, and is immediately shown to his box. When he gets inside the theater, the performers are in the middle of the second movement of the piece (Beethoven's Cello Sonata #3), implying that they had been playing for at least 10 minutes.

Quotes:

Julie Kohler:Je suis Julie Kohler!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Music of 'Fahrenheit 451' (2003) (V)

A Revenge Flick, Truffant Style!

The Bride Wore Black is the penultimate revenge flick. The Bride (Jeanne Moreau) is devested when her husband is murdered on their wedding day. After a failed suicide attempt, The Bride (a couple of charecters in the film refer to her by this moniker) makes a vow to god that she'll find the men that are responsible for his death and avenge him in the only way she know's how. I LOVE this movie. Jeanne Moreau is THE BRIDE and no one else can lay claim to the title. No one, not even Uma Thurman or anybody else.

Jeanne Moreau delivers such a cold and icy performance. The way she carries out her vengence is truly stylish and shocking. Ice floes through THE BRIDE's veins as she stalks her prey.

Truffant is a great director and this film shows off his style of filmmaking. This film was very entertaining from the begining to end. Unlike most directors, Truffant knows what he wants and gets to the point. No distracting sub-plots here folks. This is a revenge flick and Truffant delivers on this promise. After seeing this film you'll never look at any other revenge films the same. I Loved that haunting wedding theme. I haven't seen a truly good film in such a long time. I highly recommend this film.

A++