Diabolique (1996)

The wife and mistress of the sadistic dean of an exclusive prep school conspire to murder him.

Director:

Jeremiah S. Chechik (as Jeremiah Chechik)

Writers:

Pierre Boileau (novel), Thomas Narcejac (novel)

Stars:

Sharon Stone, Isabelle Adjani, Chazz Palminteri

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sharon Stone	...	Nicole Horner
Isabelle Adjani	...	Mia Baran
Chazz Palminteri	...	Guy Baran
Kathy Bates	...	Det. Shirley Vogel
Spalding Gray	...	Simon Veatch
Shirley Knight	...	Edie Danziger
Allen Garfield	...	Leo Katzman
Adam Hann-Byrd	...	Erik Pretzer
Donal Logue	...	Video Photographer #1
Diana Bellamy	...	Ms. Vawze
Clea Lewis	...	Lisa Campos
J.J. Abrams	...	Video Photographer #2 (as Jeffrey Abrams)
O'Neal Compton	...	Irv Danziger
Bingo O'Malley	...	Gannon
Stephen Liska	...	PHP Officer

Storyline

The wife and mistress of a cruel school master collaborate in a carefully planned and executed attempt to murder him. The plan goes well until the body, which has been strategically dumped, disappears. The strain starts to tell on the two women as a retired police investigator who is looking into the disappearance on a whim begins to think that they know more than they are telling, and their mental state is not helped when their victim is seen, apparently alive and well by one of the pupils.

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Plot Keywords:

stockings | woman on top | dead body in a bathtub | dead body in a car | death in a bathtub | 

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Taglines:

Two women. One man. The combination can be murder.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence/terror, sexuality and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gabriel Byrne, Jeremy Irons and Jack Nicholson all turned down the role of Guy Baran, where it ultimately went to Chazz Palminteri.

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Goofs

There are no students or staff who see the final struggle at the school.

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Quotes

Nicole: [to Mia referring to Edie] That woman has enough drugs over there to relax China.

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Connections

Referenced in Dead Man's Curve (1998)

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Soundtracks

In The Arms Of Love
Written by Marco Marinageli and Frank P. Maddlone
Performed by Sherry Williams

User Reviews

DIABOLIQUE a diabolical debacle

Diabolique (1996) Sharon Stone, Isabelle Adjani, Chazz Palminteri, Kathy Bates, Spalding Gray, Shirley Knight, D: Jeremiah S. Chechik. Revamped version of the 1955 French thriller, with Palimenteri as a tyrannical boys-school headmaster done in by the joined forces of his mousy wife (Adjani) and icy blonde mistress (Stone) in a murder plot they wrongfully assume is foolproof. First-rate performers can't serve justice to this diabolical debacle, which doesn't start off too bad, then goes astray. This unspeakably bad rip-off trashes the classic original with too many `oh, come on' moments, ridiculous red herrings and twists of its own, and a finale right out of a slasher flick. Bates is even gone to waste as a retired detective who's investigating the case `for something to do'. Running Time: 107 minutes and rated R for nudity and sexual content, violence, and some language. * ½

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

22 March 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Diabolique

Filming Locations:

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,524,055, 24 March 1996

Gross USA:

$17,100,266

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,100,266

Company Credits

Production Co:

ABC Productions, Marvin Worth Productions, Morgan Creek Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1