Quai des Orfèvres (1947)

Jenny Lamour wants to succeed in music hall. Her husband and accompanist is Maurice Martineau, a nice but jealous man. When he knew Jenny is making eyes at Brignon, an old businessman, in ... See full summary »

Director:

Henri-Georges Clouzot (as H. G. Clouzot)

Writers:

Stanislas-André Steeman (novel), Henri-Georges Clouzot (dialogue)

Stars:

Louis Jouvet, Simone Renant, Bernard Blier

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Louis Jouvet	...	L'inspecteur adjoint Antoine
Simone Renant	...	Dora Monier
Bernard Blier	...	Maurice Martineau
Suzy Delair	...	Marguerite Chauffournier Martineau, aka Jenny Lamour
Pierre Larquey	...	Emile Lafour, un chauffeur de taxi
Jeanne Fusier-Gir	...	Pâquerette, la dame du vestiaire
Claudine Dupuis	...	Manon
Charles Dullin	...	Georges Brignon
Henri Arius	...	Léopardi, l' éditeur de musique (as Arius)
Charles Blavette	...	Le gendarme Poitevin (as Blavette)
René Blancard	...	Le commissaire principal de la P.J. (as R. Blancard)
Robert Dalban	...	Paulo, un truand (as R. Dalban)
Jean Daurand	...	L'inspecteur Picard (as J. Daurand)
Jean Dunot	...	Nitram - un chanteur comique (as J. Dunot)
Jacques Grétillat	...	Auguste (as J. Grétillat)

Storyline

Jenny Lamour wants to succeed in music hall. Her husband and accompanist is Maurice Martineau, a nice but jealous man. When he knew Jenny is making eyes at Brignon, an old businessman, in order to get some engagements, he looses his temper and threatens Brignon with death. But Jenny went anyway to a rendez-vous at the old man's, who is murdered the same evening. The criminal investigations are lead by Inspector Antoine...

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Plot Keywords:

investigation | photographer | singer | christmas | murder | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Clouzot just before a take slapped violently Blier in order to achieve a panicked stare.

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Goofs

When Antoine is repeating Maurice's deposition to the typist, he says that the confrontation between Maurice and Brignon at the restaurant took place on Wednesday, December 2, 1946. In 1946, December 2 fell on a Monday.

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Quotes

L'inspecteur adjoint Antoine: I have to admit, I've taken a liking to you, Miss Dora Monier.
Dora Monier: Me?
L'inspecteur adjoint Antoine: Because you and I are two of a kind. When it comes to women, we'll never have a chance.

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Connections

Referenced in Heavy Duty (2019)

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Soundtracks

Avec son Tralala
Music by Francis Lopez
Lyrics by André Hornez
Performed by Suzy Delair

User Reviews

Great piece of the French transition cinema

Henri-Georges Clouzot's film is quiet an example of the french transition cinema. A film between the realism of the postwar cinema and the full-of-magic and symbolism nouvelle vague. With some spots of the American classic films (but not imitating it) the director tales us a story about love, crime and the importance of points of view. We can find great actors too (Suzy Delair is impeccable).

Is interesting too, how we can find aspects of this film nowadays. Quai des Orfèvres inheritance is palpable in Woody Allen tradition. Plunging a crime situation in a picturesque environment. The naive ending is also typical in Steven Spielberg's good-ending films. And finally I would like to point out, the deja voo sensation during the photography session between Jenny Lamour (Suzy Delair) and Dora Monier (Simone Renant) in which the first one confess that she thinks her husband is being unfaithful and exactly with the woman who is photographing her. That scene is exactly the one between Natalie Portman and Julia Roberts in Closer (Mike Nichols, 2004).

Details

Official Sites:

distributor's webpage

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

5 March 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Quay of the Goldsmiths

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,632, 27 October 2002

Gross USA:

$180,974

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$180,974

Company Credits

Production Co:

Majestic Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min 97 min (censored)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Variable Density)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1