Ten Days Wonder (1971)
"La décade prodigieuse" (original title)

Anthony Perkins, a young sculptor with a weird penchant for waking up in strange hotels with his memory wiped clean and bloodied hands, invites a former professor (Michel Piccoli) to the ... See full summary »

Director:

Claude Chabrol

Writers:

Frederic Dannay (novel), Manfred Lee (novel),

Stars:

Anthony Perkins, Michel Piccoli, Marlène Jobert

Cast

Cast overview:
Anthony Perkins	...	Charles Van Horn - le fils déséquilibré de Théo
Michel Piccoli	...	Paul Regis - un psychologue, l'ancien professeur de Charles
Marlène Jobert	...	Hélène Van Horn - la jeune épouse de Théo
Orson Welles	...	Théo Van Horn - un multimillionnaire qui vit en despote dans sa maison
Guido Alberti	...	Ludovic Van Horn - le frère et régisseur de Théo
Ermanno Casanova	...	L'employé borgne de l'hôtel
Mathilde Ceccarelli	...	La réceptionniste
Eric Frisdal	...	Charles Van Horn enfant
Aline Mantovani	...	Hélène enfant No.1
Corinne Koeningswarter	...	Helene enfant No.2
Tsilla Chelton	...	Mme Van Horn - la vieille mère alcoolique de Théo
Giovanni Sciuto	...	G. Lefebvre, le prêteur de Colmar
Vittorio Sanipoli	...	Le commisaaire de police
Fabienne Gaugloff	...	La petite fille dans le train

Storyline

Anthony Perkins, a young sculptor with a weird penchant for waking up in strange hotels with his memory wiped clean and bloodied hands, invites a former professor (Michel Piccoli) to the Gatsby-like provincial manor presided over by his powerful tycoon father (Orson Welles). Welcomed by Welles' young wife (Marlene Jobert), Piccoli soon finds a nest of rats beneath the bourgeoisie voluptuousness -- a clan bound in a circle of illicit romance, blackmail, faked burglaries and, of course, murder.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | dead woman | male rear nudity | uxoricide | dead woman on bed | 

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Genres:

Mystery | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 December 1971 (France)

Also Known As:

Ten Days Wonder

Filming Locations:

Colmar, Haut-Rhin, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Euro International Film (EIA), Les Films de la Boétie

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Claude Chabrol announced this project several times in the 1960s, always naming Orson Welles for the role of Theo Van Horn, but at various times mentioning Tom Courtenay and Catherine Deneuve (amongst several others) for the roles finally taken by Anthony Perkins and Marlene Jobert. It was always the unavailability of Welles which led to the several postponements of the filming, and the re-casting of the other leads. When asked why he did not simply hire another actor to play Theo, Chabrol replied, "Only Orson Welles can play God."

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Quotes

Paul Regis: There is no room for gods like you among men.

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Soundtracks

"Pour moi mon chagrin"
Written by Dominique Zardi

User Reviews

The Crime of the Ten Commandments

The tormented and unstable young sculptor Charles Van Horn (Anthony Perkins) summons his old family friend Paul Regis (Michel Piccoli) in Paris and tells him that he has weird nightmares followed by amnesia, and last time he had awaked with his hands full of blood. Paul and Charles travel to the countryside to the manor of Charles' stepfather, the millionaire Théo Van Horn (Orson Welles) that is married with the young Hélène Van Horn (Marlène Jobert). Paul is welcomed by the family and along the days, he learns that Charles and Hélène had a love affair and Charles wrote love letters to Hélène. One day, Théo gave a party for two hundred people and the letters were stole. Now they are blackmailed by the thief that demands a large amount to return the letters and Paul helps Hélène to pay the blackmailer. When the extortionist requests more money, Charles and Hélène forge a burglary, but the plan does not work well ending in a tragedy.

"La Décade Prodigieuse" a.k.a. "Ten Days' Wonder" is a slow-paced dramatic thriller by Claude Chabrol. The story based on the Ten Commandments is very well acted but unfortunately it is not difficult to foresee the twist since the number of characters is only five. This DVD has not been released in Brazil and I have just watched a DVD from Pathfinder Home Entertainment. Unfortunately there are no subtitles and in some moments it is very difficult for a non-native in English understand the pronunciation of Orson Welles. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): Not Available