Friday, August 26, 2011

Elevator to the Gallows (1958)

Elevator to the Gallows • Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)
Elevator to the Gallows • Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)

Genre: Crime Drama
Director: Louis Malle
Starring: Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet, Georges Poujouly, Yori Bertin
Duration: 88 min.
Rating: 8.1  

Summary:
A self-assured business man conspires to murder his employer, and the husband of his lover, which unintentionally provokes an ill-fated chain of events.



Elevator to the Gallows is the debut feature film from Louis Malle, an adaptation from a novel by Noël Calef.  It was awarded the prestigious Prix Louis-Delluc French film prize in December 1957.

Malle opens the film with an extreme close-up of Jeanne Moreau's striking visage, we see her character Florence Carala conspiring over the phone with her illicit lover.  A brash and stylish introduction that draws us into the beauty of her entrancing eyes, and within seconds establishes how someone could be convinced to murder for her.  Said lover is Julien Tavernier (Maurice Ronet) a former paratrooper currently working for her husband a rich arms dealer.  Their plan is for Julien to kill her husband, his boss, make it look like a suicide and live happily ever after.  Though as is the case with every film noir, things don't exactly go quite as planned.

What works well here is the film's exceedingly cool style.  Henri Decaë's remarkable black and white cinematography captures the action and characters in a perfect mix of light and shadows.  Highlighted by the elegant icon making sequences of Florence walking through Paris streets at night.  We watch her hopelessly and fruitlessly searching for Julien in every hotel, bar, and cafe window, while wearing a forlorn and anguished look upon her face.  These scenes are backed by a glorious jazz score from Miles Davis, whose sad trumpet melodies flawlessly echo and emphasize the heartbreaking emotional state delicately and for the most part wordlessly expressed by the stunning Moreau.  I could easily watch an entire film with nothing but Jeanne Moreau wandering through Paris at night.

Where the film falters is in the storyline.  Malle fractures the narrative into three separate threads, one of Julien trapped in an elevator between floors while going to retrieve a piece of evidence he left behind, the second of Florence looking for him when he fails to show up at their rendezvous, and the third of a young couple who steal Julien's car that he left running and unattended to go back into the building.  The idea in itself is inventive but the execution played out rather predictably, lacking any real suspense; and without revealing too much of the details, there were several logical and character flaws that were not adequately explained and thus not entirely believable. 

Still this was an amazing first effort from Louis Malle, who was only 26 when this was released.  Delivering one of the first recognized films of the New Wave, and one that clearly displays the immense talent of this eclectic filmmaker.

Bonjour Tristesse

Elevator to the Gallows • Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)

Elevator to the Gallows • Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)

Elevator to the Gallows • Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)

Elevator to the Gallows • Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)

Elevator to the Gallows • Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)

Elevator to the Gallows • Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)

Elevator to the Gallows • Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)

Elevator to the Gallows • Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)

Elevator to the Gallows • Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)

Elevator to the Gallows • Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (1958)

20 comments:

The Lady Eve said...

This film has so much to recommend it, is such an intriguing mix of elements (not the least of which is Miles Davis' iconic score) that I can easily forgive  minro flaws. I, too, could "watch an entire film with nothing but Jeanne Moreau wandering through Paris at night" - especially if her wanderings were accompanied by Davis on trumpet...

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yes I think the good parts far outweigh the flaws, and my rating for this is bound to go up when I watch this again in the future.  Thanks for stopping by Lady Eve.

Max Covill said...

I watched this film a while ago when it made its debut on the Criterion line. The score originally drew me to the film, the brillant Miles Davis, and then the fact that it was Film Noir was the icing on the cake. I have to watch this one again. 

jswarner319 said...

I love this film. It's a brilliant post-noir, and a great vehicle for the beautiful Jeanne Moreau in one of her best performances and I could watch her do anything for 2 hours and be happy. I actually find it very suspenseful and my favorite Louis Malle film, with The Lovers being a close second.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

True that.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thank you.  I'm glad you enjoyed reading it. 

I haven't Sweet Smell of Success yet, but it is on my radar for the coming months.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah the score is so freaking cool. 

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Definitely worth buying and seeing, and including in your marathon.  But I'd stop short of calling it a masterpiece.

Hoi-Ming Ng said...

Not just film noir, that plan sounds like it just has to go wrong.

Hermann Rorschach said...

This actually looks pretty spooky (even with Miles Davis-soundtracks)

Jack Deth said...

Bonjour, Bonjour and company:

Wow!

Your finding a gorgeous looking New Wave film by Malle that had slipped my attention has brightened an otherwise mediocre Friday.

Excellent review and awesome trailer!

d-4 mentions the silky flow of the film. Which this film has in spades. Perfectly enhanced by Miles Davis' melancholy soundtrack. I'll up that with Malle's glorious use of lighting and contrasts. Something seen only briefly in James Wong Howe's  'Sweet Smell Of Success' that Malle runs with and exploits to create nearly an unseen chorus.

Kudos on another great find.

d_4 said...

Listening to that trailer, seeing that wonderful silky black and white beauty, finding out Miles provided the score and that the movie is worth a watch. I will see this.

blahblahblahtoby said...

i can't believe it. at no point in my many hours of reading on the subject did this movie turn up yet the poster and the trailer call it a masterpiece of noir. this makes me look ridiculous!

yet another review of yours that is going to make go and buy another dvd. you are an expensive read it seems. those are some good looking images too.

Msmariah said...

Looks great.  I really need to see this one.  I love classic movies.  

The Angry Lurker said...

Never seen this one I'm afraid, will have to rectify that.

FrontRoomCinema said...

WOW this looks amazing. I would love the chance to sit down and watch it.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I didn't like The Lovers nearly as much as this one, but I agree I could also watch Jeanne Moreau do anything.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yes the score is incredible, I think I'm going to have to pick up the official soundtrack album soon.

blahblahblahtoby said...

i've finally seen it and fully agree with your review.
as you said not quite a masterpiece.
thank you for the recommendation

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Wow, thanks for reporting back. Glad you got around to seeing it.

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