The wife and mistress of a loathed school principal plan to murder him with what they believe is the perfect alibi.The wife and mistress of a loathed school principal plan to murder him with what they believe is the perfect alibi.The wife and mistress of a loathed school principal plan to murder him with what they believe is the perfect alibi.
- Awards
- 5 wins
Véra Clouzot
- Christina Delassalle
- (as Vera Clouzot)
Camille Guérini
- Le photographe
- (as Camille Guerini)
Jean Témerson
- Le garçon d'hôtel
- (as Jean Temerson)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAfter director Henri-Georges Clouzot bought the film rights to the original novel, he reportedly beat Alfred Hitchcock by only a matter of hours.
- GoofsWhen Christina is watching the caretaker from her class as he inspects the swimming pool, she is calling out English irregular verbs for her pupils to recite the forms. As the caretaker turns to the pool, she calls out 'turn' and then as he looks in the water, she calls out 'find'. 'Turn' is not an irregular verb.
- Quotes
Plantiveau, le concierge: Watch out, ma'am. That's the deep part where you are.
Christina Delassalle: There is no danger. I can swim.
Plantiveau, le concierge: That don't mean a thing. It's always the ones who know how that get drowned. The ones who can't, don't go near the pool.
- Crazy creditsThe movie ends with a text screen commenting on what the viewer has witnessed, and a request not to spoil the ending for those who are planning to see the movie.
- Alternate versionsUSA release in 1955 ran 107 minutes rather than 116 minutes.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: What's Wrong with Home Video (1988)
Featured review
The odds against writing and directing two all-time classic thrillers/suspensers back to back must be fairly remote, featuring your wife in both remoter still, and starring Yves Montand in the first (The Wages Of Fear, in case there are any first-time buyers out there) and his wife, Simone Signoret in the second, astronomical. Say hello - and tip your hat while you're about it - to Henri-George Clouzot who pulled off this double whammy with ease. Clouzot made only a handful of films but those he did make were worth seeing, from Le Corbeau thru L'Assassin habite du 21 thru Quai des Orfevres and up to Wages and this one. Again many previous commenters have set the scene and described the plot and most of them are more than positive in their praise. I can only endorse their opinions and raise a glass to all involved especially Paul Meurisse and Charles Vanel who tend to get lost in the shuffle. 9/10
- writers_reign
- Mar 9, 2004
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- The Fiends
- Filming locations
- Château de L'Étang-la-Ville, 8 Rue de Fonton, L'Étang-la-Ville, Yvelines, France(doubling for the Delasalle private school)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $12,498
- Runtime1 hour 57 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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