This Man Must Die (1969)

A man asserts himself within the life of an actress he believes is somehow responsible for his son's death.

Director:

Claude Chabrol

Writers:

Nicholas Blake (novel), Claude Chabrol (dialogue)

Stars:

Michel Duchaussoy, Caroline Cellier, Jean Yanne

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michel Duchaussoy	...	Charles Thénier
Caroline Cellier	...	Hélène Lanson
Jean Yanne	...	Paul Decourt
Anouk Ferjac	...	Jeanne Decourt
Marc Di Napoli	...	Philippe Decourt
Louise Chevalier	...	Madame Levenes
Guy Marly	...	Jacques Ferrand
Lorraine Rainer	...	Anna Ferrand
Dominique Zardi	...	Le premier inspecteur de police
Stéphane Di Napoli	...	Michel Thénier
Raymone	...	La mère de Paul
Michel Charrel	...	Le ferrailleur
France Girard
Bernard Papineau	...	Le policier
Robert Rondo	...	Le garagiste

Storyline

Single father obsessed with murdering the hit&run driver who killed his only child, poses as a screenwriter to get close to an actress who was in the death car. He feels fully prepared to kill the pretty young woman if she was the driver, but as his knowledge of her family grows, so does his empathy for them.

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Plot Keywords:

driver | actress | revenge | death of son | based on novel | 

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Taglines:

I don't know who he is or what he looks like or where he lives. But I am going to find him...and kill him.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

20 October 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

This Man Must Die

Filming Locations:

Argol, Finistère, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films de la Boétie, Rizzoli Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The role of Paul Decourt was first proposed to Philippe Noiret , but he refused , especially because he dreaded the boat scenes. When Claude Chabrol proposed the role to Jean Yanne, the latter answered him: "I do not see any abjection".

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Connections

Referenced in The Beast Must Die (1974)

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Soundtracks

La terre
By Dominique Zardi

User Reviews

the French bourgeoisie at their worst

A particularly difficult film to comment upon without giving away vital plot elements but it has to be one of the director's finest. It has the suspense he can work so well, it has the the French bourgeoisie at their worst, it has gentle eroticism and sudden brutality.

We also have here superb story telling combined with high emotional content and a continuous switchback ride of twist and turns, even though we, seemingly,have the whole plot of the film placed openly before us within minutes of the opening credits.

Meticulously directed, there is not a superfluous scene, nor even a superfluous gesture. It is pure riveting cinema from start to finish

Great performances, great camera-work, great Chabrol.