The Tenant (1976)

A bureaucrat rents a Paris apartment where he finds himself drawn into a rabbit hole of dangerous paranoia.

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Roland Topor (novel), Gérard Brach (screenplay)

Stars:

Roman Polanski, Isabelle Adjani, Melvyn Douglas

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roman Polanski	...	Trelkovsky
Isabelle Adjani	...	Stella
Melvyn Douglas	...	Monsieur Zy
Jo Van Fleet	...	Madame Dioz
Bernard Fresson	...	Scope
Lila Kedrova	...	Madame Gaderian
Claude Dauphin	...	Husband at the accident
Claude Piéplu	...	Neighbor (as Claude Pieplu)
Rufus	...	Georges Badar
Romain Bouteille	...	Simon
Jacques Monod	...	Cafe Owner
Patrice Alexsandre	...	Robert
Jean-Pierre Bagot	...	Policeman
Josiane Balasko	...	Viviane - Office Worker
Michel Blanc	...	Scope's Neighbor

Storyline

In Paris, the shy bureaucrat Trelkovsky rents an old apartment without bathroom where the previous tenant, the Egyptologist Simone Choule, committed suicide. The unfriendly concierge (Shelley Winters) and the tough landlord Mr. Zy establish stringent rules of behavior and Trelkovsky feels ridden by his neighbors. Meanwhile he visits Simone in the hospital and befriends her girlfriend Stella. After the death of Simone, Trelkovsky feels obsessed for her and believes his landlord and neighbors are plotting a scheme to force him to also commit suicide.

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Plot Keywords:

surrealism | paranoia | landlord tenant relationship | conflict with neighbor | psychological disintegration | 

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Taglines:

No one does it to you like Roman Polanski.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

American actress Kathryn Leigh Scott re-voiced Isabelle Adjani while appearing in the play "Le Weekend" at the Bristol Old Vic.

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Goofs

When Trelkovsky is unpacking as he moves into the apartment, a crew member is reflected in the small mirror adjacent to the kitchen sink. Two crew members are then reflected in the armoire's mirror as Trelkovsky opens it.

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Quotes

Trelkovsky: I am not Simone Choule!

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Crazy Credits

The film has no end credits; only the Paramount logo.

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Alternate Versions

Although the UK cinema version was complete the 1986 CIC video was cut by 6 secs by the BBFC to remove a brief extract of the banned nunchaku scene from Enter the Dragon (seen by Trelkovsky and Stella during a cinema visit). The cuts were fully waived in the 2004 Paramount DVD.

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Connections

Featured in The 100 Scariest Movie Moments: Part II: 75-51 (2004)

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Soundtracks

Métempsychose
Written and Performed by Philippe Sarde Et Orchestre

User Reviews

Wow

I watched this movie the other day out of boredom. I wanted something different from the superhero deluge we are faced with in this deplorable low-quality age. And I was mesmerized. The Tenant is a much underrated movie, and I can see why. First of all, it is not for everyone; the movie has a surreal postmodern nature which might befuddle viewers not used to this kind of film. The influence of the French New Wave is clear in this movie, especially that it is set in Paris. Despite the dark theme, I was delighted and entertained. Highly recommended for lovers of good film.

Details

Country:

France USA

Language:

French English

Release Date:

26 May 1976 (France)

Also Known As:

The Tenant

Filming Locations:

Rue la Bruyère, Paris 9, Paris, France

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,924,733

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,924,733

Company Credits

Production Co:

Marianne Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1