Belphegor: Phantom of the Louvre (2001)
"Belphégor - Le fantôme du Louvre" (original title)

A collection of artifacts from an archeological dig in Egypt are brought to the famous Louvre museum in Paris, and while experts are using a laser scanning device to determine the age of a ... See full summary »

Director:

Jean-Paul Salomé

Writers:

Arthur Bernède (novel), Jean-Paul Salomé,

Stars:

Sophie Marceau, Michel Serrault, Frédéric Diefenthal

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sophie Marceau	...	Lisa / Belphégor
Michel Serrault	...	Verlac
Frédéric Diefenthal	...	Martin
Julie Christie	...	Glenda Spender
Jean-François Balmer	...	Bertrand Faussier
Patachou	...	Geneviève
Lionel Abelanski	...	Simonnet
Françoise Lépine	...	Suzanne Dupré
François Levantal	...	Mangin
Jacques Martial	...	Félix
Philippe Maymat	...	Bob
Pierre Aussedat	...	Pierre Desfontaines
Matteo Vallon	...	Cemetary employee
Jean-Claude Bolle-Reddat	...	Cemetary warden
Juliette Gréco	...	Woman in the cemetary

Storyline

A collection of artifacts from an archeological dig in Egypt are brought to the famous Louvre museum in Paris, and while experts are using a laser scanning device to determine the age of a sarcophagus, a ghostly spirit escapes and makes its way into the museum's electrical system. Museum curator Faussier (Jean-Francois Balmer) brings in a noted Egyptologist, Glenda Spencer, to examine the findings, and she announces that the mummy inside the coffin was actually the evil spirit Belphegor. Lisa, who lives across the street from the museum, follows her runaway cat into the museum after closing time, where she is accidentally given a shock that sends the stray spirit into her body. Soon, Lisa is disguising herself as Belphegor and making off with the rare Egyptian treasures on display at the museum, convinced that they are rightfully hers. When "Belphegor" proves more than a match for the Louvre's security forces, renowned detective Verlac is brought out of retirement to find out why the ...

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Plot Keywords:

museum | egyptian | evil spirit | louvre museum | sarcophagus | 

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Genres:

Mystery | Fantasy | Horror

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

4 April 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

Belphegor: Phantom of the Louvre

Filming Locations:

Metro Vaneau, Paris 7, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

FRF 105,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films Alain Sarde, TF1 Films Production, Canal+

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A team of 20 artists took four months to complete the film's visual effects.

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Crazy Credits

After the music credits: "This music participates to the endangered pharaonic instrument: EL ARGHOULE." The credits acknowledge an "el arghoule" player.

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Connections

Version of Belphegor (1965)

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Soundtracks

Les Nuits de Belphegor

User Reviews

Better watch the made-for -tv first version!

This is a complete disaster !The cock-and-bull story defies any explanation.The cast is wasted to a fault:I hadn't even recognized Julie Christie until the final cast and credits.Michel Serrault overplays as hell and is almost unbearable.Sophie Marceau is beautiful ,the director does not ask her for more.Jean-François Balmer, a very talented actor is unable to do anything with his empty character.One good line in the whole dialogue:the museum attendant to an old lady :"Mona Lisa?I dunno".One magic moment in a 90 minutes film the screenplay of which could have been written by a ten-year-old: in the graveyard,Marceau bumps into Juliette Gréco who strangely smiles at her:Greco was the first heroine of the miniseries in 1965.This made-for-TV work was first-rate and has worn superbly well today:if you get the chance to see it,please do!Its obsolete charm is inestimable.

NB:both the movie and the series were remakes of a silent movie by Henri Desfontaines.(1926)