The Bride Wore Black (1968)

Julie Kohler is prevented from suicide by her mother. She leaves the town. She will track down, charm and kill five men who do not know her. What is her goal? What is her purpose?

Director:

François Truffaut

Writers:

Cornell Woolrich (from the novel by), François Truffaut (adaptation)

Stars:

Jeanne Moreau, Jean-Claude Brialy, Michel Bouquet

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeanne Moreau	...	Julie Kohler
Michel Bouquet	...	Coral
Jean-Claude Brialy	...	Corey
Charles Denner	...	Fergus
Claude Rich	...	Bliss
Michael Lonsdale	...	Rene Morane (as Michel Lonsdale)
Daniel Boulanger	...	Delvaux
Alexandra Stewart	...	Mlle Becker
Sylvine Delannoy	...	Mme Morane
Luce Fabiole	...	Julie's mother
Michèle Montfort	...	Fergus's model
Jacqueline Rouillard
Paul Pavel	...	Mechanic
Gilles Quéant	...	Examining judge (as Gilles Queant)
Serge Rousseau	...	David

Storyline

After trying to commit suicide, the widow Julie Kohler (Jeanne Moreau) pretends to her mother that she will leave her town. Actually she stays, chases and assassinates the five men that accidentally killed her beloved husband in the stairs of the church immediately after their wedding ceremony.

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Plot Keywords:

french noir | euro noir | neo noir | statement in title | color in title | 

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Taglines:

She was a bride when the violence happened... Now she's a widow and it's going to happen again

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is François Truffaut's homage to Alfred Hitchcock, made shortly after Truffaut had published a book of extensive interviews with Hitchcock. As part of his homage, Truffaut chose a novel written by Cornell Woolrich, on whose story Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954) was based, and even chose long-time Hitchcock collaborator Bernard Herrmann to compose the score.

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Goofs

During the interrogation of Julie by the police, victims are shown on a screen from a slide projector. One of the portrait slides are shown inserted in upright position in the slide projector which would result in an inverted screen picture. But the screen picture is shown in correct upright position.

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Quotes

Coral: Permit me to make an impossible wish?
Julie Kohler: Why impossible?
Coral: Because I'm a rather pessimist.
Julie Kohler: I've heard it said: "There are no optimists or pessimists. There are only happy idiots or unhappy ones".
Coral: [smiling] Yes, well. I'm an unhappy idiot then.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

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Soundtracks

Bridal Chorus
(uncredited) (excerpts)
From the opera "Lohengrin"
Written by Richard Wagner

User Reviews

Revenge

Truffaut doing Hitchcock is pure delight. I would even say I prefer it to some Hitchcock films because Truffaut has better views on certain issues and it showed here. The film is absolutely satisfying and quite creative with the varying... methods, shall we say, by the protagonist. It's incredible how rare a film involving this story line could end this great, and I love Truffaut for indulging the audience and giving us what we want (though I can only speak for me of course).

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

25 June 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bride Wore Black

Filming Locations:

Hôtel Florentin - 15 Rue Ernest Graziotti, Le Bourg-d'Oisans, Isère, France

Box Office

Budget:

$747,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,206, 25 April 1999

Gross USA:

$45,075

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$45,075

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Carrosse, Les Productions Artistes Associés, Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1