Diabolique (1955)

The wife and mistress of a loathed school principal hatch a plan to murder him while having the perfect alibi. They carry out the plan...but then his body disappears.

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

Top Rated Movies #229 | 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

The wife and mistress of a sadistic boarding school headmaster plot to kill him. They drown him in the bathtub and dump the body in the school's filthy swimming pool... but when the pool is drained, the body has disappeared - and subsequent reported sightings of the headmaster slowly drive his 'killers' (and the audience) up the wall with almost unbearable suspense...

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Plot Keywords:

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

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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

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

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

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Goofs

When Michel is unconscious on the bed, his shoes are off. A few minutes later when Nicole and Christina pick him up and put him in the bathtub, his shoes are suddenly back on.

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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

Featured in The 100 Greatest Scary Moments (2003)

User Reviews

The Devil You Say

The odds against writing and directing two all-time classic thrillers/suspensers back to back must be fairly remote, featuring your wife in both remoter still, and starring Yves Montand in the first (The Wages Of Fear, in case there are any first-time buyers out there) and his wife, Simone Signoret in the second, astronomical. Say hello - and tip your hat while you're about it - to Henri-George Clouzot who pulled off this double whammy with ease. Clouzot made only a handful of films but those he did make were worth seeing, from Le Corbeau thru L'Assassin habite du 21 thru Quai des Orfevres and up to Wages and this one. Again many previous commenters have set the scene and described the plot and most of them are more than positive in their praise. I can only endorse their opinions and raise a glass to all involved especially Paul Meurisse and Charles Vanel who tend to get lost in the shuffle. 9/10