Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Judd Nelson | ... | David | |
Pierce Brosnan | ... | Garavan | |
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Laurence Treil | ... | Annabelle |
Roy Dupuis | ... | Max | |
Lorenzo Caccialanza | ... | Mark Merylle | |
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Lucie Gagnon | ... | Young Nurse |
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Michael McGill | ... | Doctor |
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Dorian Joe Clark | ... | Male Nurse |
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Bernadette Li | ... | Oriental Girl |
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Christina Chase | ... | First Tourist |
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Claudie Chagnon | ... | Second Tourist |
Danielle Bissonette | ... | Elizabeth | |
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Alexander Chapman | ... | Johnny |
Jean Chevalier | ... | Peter | |
Jacques Herlin | ... | Florent |
A car and lorry collide, the woman in the back seat is probably dead, the driver is severely hurt. In flashbacks we see what led to the tragedy. He is David, a writer living in France, entering his novel anonymously in a contest. She is Annabelle, his lover, a fashion model on the brink of international success. Each keeps a secret from the other. David is a pawn of jealousy. He confronts a wealthy man he thinks is her lover; an accidental tragedy ensues that spirals out of control, resulting in the car crash. While David recovers from injuries, he finds out that another wealthy friend of Annabelle's has claimed the novel as his own. It's time for a final confrontation. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
Yes they did!Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac were second to none when it came to suspense and Hitchcock and Clouzot adapted their books with enthusiasm.
"Les veufs" is an absorbing psychological suspense,which Max Fisher(?)thoroughly butchered ;the novel was linear whereas the film uses too many pointless flashbacks ,and the plot was something like a cobweb where the hero got entangled in.The first hour is completely botched,using a ridiculous character with a Quebec accent and awful songs (the kind of music which passes for rock on made-for-TV movies ). The last third is more interesting,because it focuses on Garavan:unlike the other user,I do think the part was tailor-made for Pierce Brosnan(if he reads the book,he'll know what I mean),who is unsupported by the rest of the cast -the lead gives an abysmal performance-.
The final Garavan/Merkin feud was suspenseful on the paper -for instance never the "true" writer dares claim his work;the conversation between the two men remains full of insinuations ,but a lot of lines in the film were just thoughts in the writer's mind.So why not use a voice over?
One cannot always have a Hitchcock or a Clouzot.