Diabolique (1955)

The wife and mistress of a loathed school principal plan to murder him with what they believe is the perfect alibi.

Director:

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

Writers:

Pierre Boileau (novel) (as Boileau), Thomas Narcejac (novel) (as Narcejac)

Stars:

Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse

4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Simone Signoret	...	Nicole Horner
Véra Clouzot	...	Christina Delassalle (as Vera Clouzot)
Paul Meurisse	...	Michel Delassalle
Charles Vanel	...	Alfred Fichet, le commissaire
Jean Brochard	...	Plantiveau, le concierge
Thérèse Dorny	...	Mme. Herboux
Michel Serrault	...	M. Raymond, le surveillant
Georges Chamarat	...	Dr. Loisy
Robert Dalban	...	Le garagiste
Camille Guérini	...	Le photographe (as Camille Guerini)
Jacques Hilling	...	L'employé de la morgue
Jean Lefebvre	...	Le soldat
Aminda Montserrat	...	Madame Plantiveau
Jean Témerson	...	Le garçon d'hôtel (as Jean Temerson)
Jacques Varennes	...	M. Bridoux, professeur

Storyline

Christina Delasalle suffers greatly at the hands of her brutish husband Michel. She inherited the boys boarding school they run but it's clearly Michel who is in charge. With Nicole Horner - one of the teachers and Michel's former lover - they decide to kill him. Christina, who has a serious condition, is terrified. By chance, she meets a retired police inspector who decides to look into the case.

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Plot Keywords:

drowning in a bathtub | boarding school | disappearance of a dead body | surprise ending | teacher | 

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Taglines:

Don't Reveal the Ending!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The only music in the film takes place over the opening credits.

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Goofs

[All goofs for this title are spoilers.]

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Quotes

[first lines]
Plantiveau, le concierge: Headmaster!
Michel Delassalle: Yes.
Plantiveau, le concierge: Isn't it time I rang the bell?
Michel Delassalle: It's okay. I'll unload the car myself.

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Crazy Credits

The movie ends with a text screen commenting on what the viewer has witnessed, and a request not to spoil the ending for those who are planning to see the movie.

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Alternate Versions

USA release in 1955 ran 107 minutes rather than 116 minutes.

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Mouth (2008)

User Reviews

Watch this film alone......and be afraid.

Are you alone? good. Have you turned off the lights? good.Is there a storm brewing in that dark foreboding sky?Excellent. Do you like brilliant black and white movies? Wonderful.Now, sit back and enjoy the best of the best. This is quite simply the best psychological thriller ever made.Often imitated but never bettered. If you have a problem with subtitled films then don't worry because you will understand this film without reading them. If you want slash and gore, go elsewhere.If you want sophisticated entertainment,you've come to the right place.Georges Cluzot's finest work is a thing of beauty as is his wife Vera, who stars opposite Simone Signoret as the schoolmaster's wife.From the very start it is very clear that all is not as it seems. But why? and who? What is the terrible secret of the swimming pool and later on, the bathtub? As the tension builds to an unbearable climax, we sit and hide behind our hands, peering through the gaps in our fingers.Oh my God!! it can't be!.....it is! Do not confuse this movie with the disgraceful remake starring Sharon Stone. All copies of that disaster should be burned. Watch this movie if you are a serious film buff. Rent something else if you have the attention span of a goldfish.Brilliant. 10/10

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French English

Release Date:

21 November 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Devils

Filming Locations:

Rue Jean Mermoz, L'Étang-la-Ville, Yvelines, France

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,498

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmsonor, Vera Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (A.R.T.E.C.)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1