Rent Quai des Orfèvres (1947)
3.8 of 5 from 107 ratings
1h 42min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
A marriage that has fallen on hard times is further tested by the couple's implication in a murder. Jenny Lamour (Suzy Delair) is a music hall chanteuse married to her pianist husband Maurice (Bernard Blier). Keen to get ahead, Jenny leaps at the chance when an ageing wealthy businessman (Charles Dullin) offers her the chance of some gigs. However, when she agrees to a meeting at his home and he is found dead later in the evening - Maurice's untamed jealousy is in the frame. A Maigret-esque detective, Antoine, played by Louis Jouvet leaves no stone unturned in his exceedingly private investigations of the down-at-heel showbiz couple's sad, tempestuous life. 'Quai des Orfevres' was Henri-Georges Clouzot's first film in four years. He had been banned from film making following the controversy surrounding the release Le Corbeau. - Actors:
- Louis Jouvet, Simone Renant, Bernard Blier, Suzy Delair, Pierre Larquey, Jeanne Fusier-Gir, Claudine Dupuis, Charles Dullin, Henri Arius, Charles Blavette, René Blancard, Robert Dalban, Jean Daurand, Jean Dunot, Jacques Grétillat, Gilberte Géniat, Gabriel Gobin, François Joux, Léo Lapara, Henri Niel
- Directors:
- Henri-Georges Clouzot
- Producers:
- Roger De Venloo, Louis Wipf
- Writers:
- Stanislas-André Steeman, Henri-Georges Clouzot, Jean Ferry
- Others:
- Henri-Georges Clouzet
- Aka:
- Jenny Lamour / Quay of the Goldsmiths
- Studio:
- Optimum
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- A Brief History of French Poetic Realism, A Brief History of the Tradition of Quality, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Claude Chabrol, The Instant Expert's Guide to Wes Anderson
- Countries:
- France
- Awards:
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 05/03/2018
- Run Time:
- 107 minutes
- Languages:
- French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
- Subtitles:
- English
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- The Criminal Apogee Of Henri Georges Clouzot
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Reviews (3) of Quai des Orfèvres
Crime thriller [restored black & white subtitled French film] - Quai des Orfèvres review by Mr Aquarium
Jealousy, music halls, murder, feverish police interrogations, Hitchcockian twists and turns; apparently amoral at first glance, yet very contemporary in its nods towards a sympathetic lesbian and a policeman unashamedly proud of his mixed-race child.
Wonderfully restored Blu-ray version.
The director's other films are worth pursuing, especially the nail-biter of all nail-biters - "The Wages of Fear".
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Terrific, very enjoyable - Quai des Orfèvres review by MR
Agree with the other reviewer, super actors, music hall, police procedural, everyone smoking all the time - what more could you want. Very sharp and very enjoyable. I also agree about the other films, and would suggest 'Les Diaboliques', extremely good.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Parisian Noir. - Quai des Orfèvres review by Steve
After WWII, Henri-Georges Clouzot was banned from directing films because of his alleged collaboration with the German occupation. This hugely successful return feels like he spent the years studying Hollywood film noir. This is a whodunit with an undertow of sadness and pessimism and a look of sombre expressionism.
There's a decent mystery set among the lower ranks of Parisian showbiz. But it is more interesting for its impression of impoverished French society after the war, in a period of recovery. It is set among its music hall performers and there are incidental glimpses of typical acts, like the chorus line, cabaret singers and performing dogs.
And it's a showcase for three compelling star performances. Suzy Delair is a blousy chanteuse who fought her way out of the slums. Bernard Blier is a musician from the conservatoire who gave up everything to marry her. Then, 40 minutes in, Louis Jouvet raises it to another level as the tenacious cop who suspects them of murder.
The title being the address of the French police HQ. This is a high quality policier. It's possible to feel its influence on British crime pictures of the period, in particular. But being French, this is a touch more salacious. Really, it's as gloomy as the films that got Clouzot accused of being unpatriotic. It's just that the public was ready to see them.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.