Rent Lift to the Scaffold (1958)
3.9 of 5 from 159 ratings
1h 27min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Malle's a debut feature, made when he was only 25 is a tense thriller starring Jeanne Moreau as Florence and Julian Tavernier as Maurice, a pair of lovers who conspire to murder Florence's husband in the most ingenious manner. However, not everything goes quite as planned. Lift to the Scaffold is arguably the first film of the French New Wave with its arresting camerawork by cinematographer Henri Decae, who also shot the debut film of Truffaut and Chabrol. With its sultry black and white palate, Paris locations and an improvised jazz score by the legendary Miles Davis, Lift to the Scaffold is an unforgettable slice of 50s French cool.
- Actors:
- Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet, Georges Poujouly, Yori Bertin, Jean Wall, Elga Andersen, Sylviane Aisenstein, Micheline Bona, Gisèle Grandpré, Jacqueline Staup, Marcel Cuvelier, Gérard Darrieu, Charles Denner, Hubert Deschamps, Jacques Hilling
- Directors:
- Louis Malle
- Producers:
- Jean Thuillier
- Writers:
- Roger Nimier, Louis Malle, Noël Calef
- Aka:
- Ascenseur pour l'échafaud / Elevator to the Gallows
- Studio:
- Optimum
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama, Thrillers
- Collections:
- 100 Years of German Expressionism, A Brief History of French Poetic Realism, A Brief History of the Tradition of Quality, Film History, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to François Truffaut
- Countries:
- France
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 16/10/2017
- Run Time:
- 91 minutes
- Languages:
- English LPCM Stereo, French LPCM Stereo
- Subtitles:
- English
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
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Reviews (2) of Lift to the Scaffold
French Thriller. - Lift to the Scaffold review by Steve
Louise Malle’s debut as director is an unconventional and ultra-stylish crime thriller which borrows from film noir but also trials methods later associated with the French New Wave. While the suspense is unreliable, it looks amazing and made an international star of the photogenic Jeanne Moreau.
Maurice Ronet plays an ex-soldier who murders the rich husband of his lover (Moreau) but gets trapped in a lift on returning for incriminating evidence. Which leaves her to wander around Paris trying to find him. Meanwhile a couple of teenagers (Georges Poujouly and Yori Bertin) steal Ronet’s car and kill some tourists.
The weakness is the amount of time spent watching Moreau search for her accomplice. Though that is hardly a chore! Filmed with handheld cameras in natural light on the streets of Paris accompanied by Miles Davis’ improvised jazz score; what could be more Nouvelle Vague?
There’s a cute ending, but as a thriller this is uneven. Yet, as a vehicle for a fresh cinematic approach, it’s stunning. Malle is a quality film maker who always engages the eye. There’s some politics and reflections on Americanisation, but it’s really all about the bebop soundtrack, and the novelty of the look.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Filme Noire - Lift to the Scaffold review by NO
Excellent plot with twists ,well photgographed in B&W with superb Miles Davis music score.Could not understand why Jeanne Moreau
would get more years than the actual murderer.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.