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IMDbPro

Elevator to the Gallows

Original title: Ascenseur pour l'échafaud
  • 19581958
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
25K
YOUR RATING
Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
The new restoration of Louis Malle's ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS, starring Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet, and Lino Ventura, and featuring music by Miles Davis, opens Wednesday August 3 at New York's Film Forum.
Play trailer1:49
1 Video
77 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller
A self-assured businessman murders his employer, the husband of his mistress, which unintentionally provokes an ill-fated chain of events.A self-assured businessman murders his employer, the husband of his mistress, which unintentionally provokes an ill-fated chain of events.A self-assured businessman murders his employer, the husband of his mistress, which unintentionally provokes an ill-fated chain of events.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
25K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Louis Malle
  • Writers
    • Roger Nimier(adaptation)
    • Louis Malle(adaptation)
    • Noël Calef(novel)
  • Stars
    • Jeanne Moreau
    • Maurice Ronet
    • Georges Poujouly
Top credits
  • Director
    • Louis Malle
  • Writers
    • Roger Nimier(adaptation)
    • Louis Malle(adaptation)
    • Noël Calef(novel)
  • Stars
    • Jeanne Moreau
    • Maurice Ronet
    • Georges Poujouly
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 119User reviews
    • 132Critic reviews
    • 94Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos1

    Elevator to the Gallows Trailer - Digital Restoration
    Trailer 1:49
    Elevator to the Gallows Trailer - Digital Restoration

    Photos77

    Maurice Ronet in Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
    Maurice Ronet in Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
    Maurice Ronet in Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
    Charles Denner, Jeanne Moreau, and Lino Ventura in Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
    Yori Bertin and Jeanne Moreau in Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
    Maurice Ronet in Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
    Maurice Ronet and Lino Ventura in Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
    Charles Denner and Jeanne Moreau in Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
    Maurice Ronet and Jean Wall in Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
    Miles Davis and Jeanne Moreau in Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
    Louis Malle and Jeanne Moreau in Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
    Jeanne Moreau in Elevator to the Gallows (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeanne Moreau
    Jeanne Moreau
    • Florence Caralaas Florence Carala
    Maurice Ronet
    Maurice Ronet
    • Julien Tavernieras Julien Tavernier
    Georges Poujouly
    Georges Poujouly
    • Louisas Louis
    Yori Bertin
    Yori Bertin
    • Véroniqueas Véronique
    Jean Wall
    Jean Wall
    • Simon Caralaas Simon Carala
    Elga Andersen
    Elga Andersen
    • Frieda Benckeras Frieda Bencker
    Sylviane Aisenstein
    • Yvonne, La fille du baras Yvonne, La fille du bar
    Micheline Bona
    • Genevièveas Geneviève
    Gisèle Grandpré
    • Jacqueline Mauclairas Jacqueline Mauclair
    Jacqueline Staup
    • Annaas Anna
    Marcel Cuvelier
    • Le réceptionniste du motelas Le réceptionniste du motel
    Gérard Darrieu
    Gérard Darrieu
    • Mauriceas Maurice
    Charles Denner
    Charles Denner
    • L'adjoint du commissaire Cherrieras L'adjoint du commissaire Cherrier
    Hubert Deschamps
    Hubert Deschamps
    • Le substitut du procureuras Le substitut du procureur
    Jacques Hilling
    Jacques Hilling
    • Le garagisteas Le garagiste
    Marcel Journet
    • Le président du conseil d'administrationas Le président du conseil d'administration
    François Joux
    • Commissaire de policeas Commissaire de police
    Iván Petrovich
    Iván Petrovich
    • Horst Benckeras Horst Bencker
    • Director
      • Louis Malle
    • Writers
      • Roger Nimier(adaptation) (dialogue)
      • Louis Malle(adaptation)
      • Noël Calef(novel) (pre-adaptation)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Miles Davis composed and recorded the music in a single recording session while he watched a screening. He took notes while watching a rough cut and then invited a quartet of French and US musicians in a for few hours (from 11pm to 5am one night), improvising each number and allegedly sipping champagne with Jeanne Moreau and Louis Malle.
    • Goofs
      When Florence arrives at the motel, the photos are just being developed - with the lights on! Exposing the prints to light before fixation would make them turn black. By the way, it's not recommended to put your hands into developer.
    • Quotes

      Julien Tavernier: Don't sneer at war. It's your bread and butter. Indochina netted you how much? And now Algeria. Have some respect for war. It's your family heirloom.

    • Connections
      Featured in Arcana, connaissance de la musique: Musique et cinéma: 1 La musique de films (1969)
    • Soundtracks
      Ascenseur Pour L'Échafaud (Générique)
      Composed by Miles Davis

      Performed by Miles Davis (Trumpet), Barney Wilen (Tenor Saxophone), Emilhenco (as René Urtreger) (Piano), Pierre Michelot (Bass) and Kenny Clarke (Drums)

    User reviews119

    Review
    Top review
    My Friend before Dinner
    I never physically met the man, but I consider Malle an old friend.

    He made two films that I think are among the most perfect and intellectually adventurous I know. He also made some good films that aren't life-changing but that show insight. This is one of them.

    There are no new ideas here. It unfolds as one expects. The drama is muted to the point of homeopathy.

    And yet we like it because it is so economical. Its bare, honest, true. So we like it, just like we gravitate to an open person regardless of whether she is dumb. I appreciate Bresson for this, his economy which blesses the viewer with a mind that necessarily filters what we see. But Bresson goes too far and presses into the impress of abstraction. Malle is real because it is overtly untheatrical.

    Its worth seeing because it is seamless bamboo and because it informs "Vanya" and "Dinner." But in terms of its effect; its callow post-noir noir. And it has that hint at the end of a "film" within that condemns the couple.

    Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.
    helpful•13
    10
    • tedg
    • Jun 18, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 29, 1958 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Official site
      • Rialto Pictures
    • Languages
      • French
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Frantic
    • Filming locations
      • 26 Rue de Courcelles, Paris 8, Paris, France
    • Production company
      • Nouvelles Éditions de Films (NEF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $374,671
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,354
      • Jun 26, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $431,784
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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