Jeanne
Moreau, Maurice Ronet, Georges Poujouly, Lino Ventura, Felix Marten,
Jean Wall .
The feature-film debut
of famed director Louis Malle is an interesting, modern film noir
with the classic theme of lovers plotting to kill the husband and
make it look like suicide (reminiscent of The
Postman Always Rings Twice). Jean Moreau, as Florence Carala,
gives an astonishing performance, perverse but naive as she leads
her young lover down a path that can only lead to doom for both
of them. Malle and his cinematographer Henri Decae make extensive
use of Paris at night, giving the film the feel of claustrophobia
and desperation reminiscent of the classic noir films. The excellent
score by Miles Davis adds to the entire effect of this mystery thriller.
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