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Diabolique

Original title: Les diaboliques
  • 19551955
  • GG
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
64K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Véra Clouzot in Les diaboliques (1955)
Three Reasons Criterion Trailer for Diabolique
Play trailer1:15
1 Video
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaHorror

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

IMDb RATING
8.1/10
64K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Henri-Georges Clouzot
  • Writers
    • Pierre Boileau(novel "Celle qui n'était plus")
    • Thomas Narcejac(novel "Celle qui n'était plus")
    • Henri-Georges Clouzot(scenario and dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Simone Signoret
    • Véra Clouzot
    • Paul Meurisse
Top credits
  • Director
    • Henri-Georges Clouzot
  • Writers
    • Pierre Boileau(novel "Celle qui n'était plus")
    • Thomas Narcejac(novel "Celle qui n'était plus")
    • Henri-Georges Clouzot(scenario and dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Simone Signoret
    • Véra Clouzot
    • Paul Meurisse
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 202User reviews
    • 152Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins

    Videos1

    Diabolique: The Criterion Collection
    Trailer 1:15
    Diabolique: The Criterion Collection

    Photos110

    Véra Clouzot in Les diaboliques (1955)
    Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse, and Simone Signoret in Les diaboliques (1955)
    Véra Clouzot and Simone Signoret in Les diaboliques (1955)
    Véra Clouzot and Simone Signoret in Les diaboliques (1955)
    Véra Clouzot and Simone Signoret in Les diaboliques (1955)
    Véra Clouzot in Les diaboliques (1955)
    Véra Clouzot and Paul Meurisse in Les diaboliques (1955)
    Véra Clouzot in Les diaboliques (1955)
    Véra Clouzot, Henri Humbert, and Simone Signoret in Les diaboliques (1955)
    Véra Clouzot and Paul Meurisse in Les diaboliques (1955)
    Véra Clouzot and Simone Signoret in Les diaboliques (1955)
    Véra Clouzot and Simone Signoret in Les diaboliques (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Simone Signoret
    Simone Signoret
    • Nicole Horneras Nicole Horner
    Véra Clouzot
    Véra Clouzot
    • Christina Delassalleas Christina Delassalle
    Paul Meurisse
    Paul Meurisse
    • Michel Delassalleas Michel Delassalle
    Charles Vanel
    Charles Vanel
    • Alfred Fichet, le commissaireas Alfred Fichet, le commissaire
    Jean Brochard
    Jean Brochard
    • Plantiveau, le conciergeas Plantiveau, le concierge
    Thérèse Dorny
    • Mme. Herbouxas Mme. Herboux
    Michel Serrault
    Michel Serrault
    • M. Raymond, le surveillantas M. Raymond, le surveillant
    Georges Chamarat
    Georges Chamarat
    • Dr. Loisyas Dr. Loisy
    Robert Dalban
    Robert Dalban
    • Le garagisteas Le garagiste
    Camille Guérini
    • Le photographeas Le photographe
    • (as Camille Guerini)
    Jacques Hilling
    Jacques Hilling
    • L'employé de la morgueas L'employé de la morgue
    Jean Lefebvre
    Jean Lefebvre
    • Le soldatas Le soldat
    Aminda Montserrat
    • Madame Plantiveauas Madame Plantiveau
    Jean Témerson
    • Le garçon d'hôtelas Le garçon d'hôtel
    • (as Jean Temerson)
    Jacques Varennes
    Jacques Varennes
    • M. Bridoux, professeuras M. Bridoux, professeur
    Georges Poujouly
    Georges Poujouly
    • Soudieu, un élèveas Soudieu, un élève
    Yves-Marie Maurin
    • Moinet, une jeune Moynetas Moinet, une jeune Moynet
    Noël Roquevert
    Noël Roquevert
    • M. Herbouxas M. Herboux
    • Director
      • Henri-Georges Clouzot
    • Writers
      • Pierre Boileau(novel "Celle qui n'était plus")
      • Thomas Narcejac(novel "Celle qui n'était plus")
      • Henri-Georges Clouzot(scenario and dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    Christina Delassalle 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. She and Nicole Horner, one of the teachers and Michel's former lover, decide to kill him. Christina, who has a serious condition, is terrified when, by chance, she meets a retired police inspector who decides to look into the case. —garykmcd
    drowning in a bathtubboarding schooldisappearance of a dead bodysurprise endingmurder88 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • See it, be amazed at it, but... BE QUIET ABOUT IT! (original Finnish poster tagline)
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Horror
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • G
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When director Henri-Georges Clouzot bought the film rights to the original novel, he reportedly beat Alfred Hitchcock by only a matter of hours.
    • Goofs
      When Christina is watching the caretaker from her class as he inspects the swimming pool, she is calling out English irregular verbs for her pupils to recite the forms. As the caretaker turns to the pool, she calls out 'turn' and then as he looks in the water she calls out 'find'. 'Turn' is not an irregular verb.
    • Quotes

      Plantiveau, le concierge: Watch out, ma'am. That's the deep part where you are.

      Christina Delassalle: There is no danger. I can swim.

      Plantiveau, le concierge: That don't mean a thing. It's always the ones who know how that get drowned. The ones who can't, don't go near the pool.

    • 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.
    • Alternate versions
      USA release in 1955 ran 107 minutes rather than 116 minutes.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: What's Wrong with Home Video (1988)

    User reviews202

    Review
    Top review
    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
    helpful•34
    21
    • writers_reign
    • Mar 10, 2004

    FAQ10

    • What is 'Les Diaboliques' about?
    • Is 'Les Diaboliques' based on a book?
    • What does "Diaboliques" mean?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 29, 1955 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Languages
      • French
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Les diaboliques
    • Filming locations
      • Château de L'Étang-la-Ville, 8 Rue de Fonton, L'Étang-la-Ville, Yvelines, France
    • Production companies
      • Filmsonor
      • Vera Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $12,498
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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