France, 1955
107m (USA), 114m
35mm film, black and white, 1.37:1
mono, French
A French horror film directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot using the name H.G. Clouzot.
Plot Summary
The wife and mistress of a brutal boarding school headmaster work together to murder him by drowning him in the bath and disposing of the body in the school's swimming pool. But when the pool is subsequently drained, The body has disappeared…
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
A Film Directed by: H.G. Clouzot [ref name: Henri-Georges Clouzot]
Filmsonor Société Anonyme presents a Filmsonor production
Distributed in France by Cinédis
Associate Producers: Vera Films
Production Manager: Louis de Masure
With the Collaboration of: René Masson and Frédéric Grendel
Based on the book [Celle qui n'était plus] by Boileau [real name: Pierre Boilea] and Narcejac [real name: for Thomas Narcejac]
English Language Version: Richard Heinz *
Publisher: Denoël
Assistant Director: Michel Romanoff
Script Supervisor: Jeanne Witta-Montrobert
Director of Photography: Armand Thirard
Camera Operator: Robert Juillard
Cameramen: Louis Nee, Jacques Robin, Jean Lalier
Camera Assistants: Jean Dicop, Daniel Diot
Editor: Madeleine Gug
Laboratory: L.T.C. Saint Cloud
Music by: Georges Van Parys
Publisher: Choudens
Chief Sound Recordist: William-Robert Sivel
System: A.R.T.E.C.
Special Effects: Lax
Art Director/Set Decorator: Léon Barsacq
Locations: Bressuire, Deux-Sèvres, France *; Niort, Deux-Sèvres, France *; Ville d'Avray, Hauts-de-Seine, France *
Studio: Franstudio, Saint-Maurice[, Val-de-Marne, France]
Unit Manager: Georges Testard
Cast
Simone Signoret (Nicole Horner)
Vera Clouzot (Christina Delassalle)
Paul Meurisse (Michel Delassalle)
Charles Vanel (Alfred Fichet)
Jean Brochard (Plantiveau)
Thérèse Dorny (Mme. Herboux)
Michel Serrault (M. Raymond)
Georges Chamarat (Dr Loisy)
Robert Dalban (mechanic)
Camille Guerini (photography)
Jacques Hilling (morgue employee)
Jean Lefebvre (soldier)
Aminda Montserrat (Madame Plantiveau)
Jean Temerson (waiter)
Jacques Varennes (M. Bridoux)
Georges Poujouly (Soudieu)
Yves-Marie Maurin (Moinet)
Noël Roquevert (M. Herboux)
Pierre Larquey (M. Drain)
Alternative Titles
Akuma no yôna onna – Japan
De Bezetenen – Belgium (Flemish)
Demonen – Netherlands
Demoni – Croatia
The Devils – USA (television)
As Diabólicas – Brazil, Portugal
Las diabólicas – Argentina, Spain
Diabolicele – Romania
I diabolici – Italy
Diabolique – USA
Les diabòliques – Spain (Catalan)
Oi Diavologynaikes – Greece
De Djävulska – Sweden
Det Onde spill – Norway
Ördöngösök – Hungary
Pirulliset – Finland
Rædslernes hus – Denmark
Seytan ruhlu insanlar – Turkey
Die Teuflischen – Austria, West Germany
Widmo – Poland
Zlobnici – Serbia
Links
Extracts included in
The 100 Greatest Scary Moments (2003)
The 100 Scariest Movie Moments (2004)
78/52 (2017)
Remakes
Reflections of Murder (1974)
House of Secrets (1993)
Diabolique (1996)
References
Periodicals
- American Cinematographer vol.77 no.4 (April 1996) pp.36-44 – illustrated article
- Avant-Scène du Cinéma no.463 (June 1997) p.(whole issue) – illustrated credits, article
- Avant-Scène du Cinéma no.463 (June 1997) pp.94, 100-108 – illustrated credits, review
- Cahiers du Cinéma vol.8 no.43 (January 1955) p.42 – review
- Cinématographe no.98 (March 1984) pp.52-53 – review
- Cinématographie Française no.1601 (15 January 1955) p.11 – review
- Cinématographie Française no.1604 (5 February 1955) p.17 – note
- City Limits no.212 (25 October 1985) p.23 – review
- Daily Film Renter no.7012 (1 December 1955) p.4 – review
- Empire no.o.58 (April 1994) p.92 – illustrated review
- Film Daily vol.108 no.99 (22 November 1955) p.6 – review
- Film Francais no.2600 (1 March 1996) p.8 – illustrated short article
- Film Francais no.534 (24 September 1954) p.8 – note
- Film Francais no.555 (11 February 1955) p.9 – review
- Films and Filming no.375 (December 1985) pp.41-42 – credits, review
- Kinematograph Weekly no.2528 (8 December 1955) p.18 – review
- Literature/Film Quarterly vol.24 no.3 (1996) pp.255-260 – illustrated article
- Metro no.105 (1996) pp.30-36 – illustrated article
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.23 no.264 (January 1956) p.2 – credits, synopsis, review
- Objectif vol.2 no.17 (October 1962) p.37 – review
- Premiere vol.4 no.4 (May 1996) p.32 – illustrated article
- Shivers no.95 (February/March 2002) p.54 – illustrated article
- Sight and Sound vol.ol.2 no.8 (December 1992) p.60 – note
- Sight and Sound vol.ol.3 no.12 (December 1993) p.60 – note
- Sight and Sound Winter 1955 – 1956 p.149 – review
- Telecine no.46 (March 1955) – review
- Télérama no.2452 (8 January 1997) pp.54, 81 – illustrated article
- Time Out no.792 (24 October 1985) p.49 – review
- Today's Cinema vol.85 no.7408 (1 December 1955) p.10 – review
- Variety 23 February 1955 (USA) – credits, synopsis, review
- Video Watchdog no.33 (1996) p.5 – illustrated note (Suspense masterworks restored for video)
Books
- 500 Essential Cult Movies: The Ultimate Guide by Jennifer Eiss with J.P. Rutter and Steve White p.204 – illustrated credits, synopsis, review
- English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby pp.52, 110, ISS
- Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby pp.2, 66, 67-69, 70, 71, 76, 86, 96, 104, 137, 138, 139, 147, 188, 205, 236, 315, 348, 381
- French Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Pulp Fiction by Jean-Marc Lofficier and Randy Lofficier p.28
- Horrorshows: The A-Z of Horror in Film, TV, Radio and Theatre by Gene Wright p.9 – credits, review
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.101 – credits
- Terror Tracks: Music, Sound and Horror Cinema by Philip Hayward (ed) p.39
Other Sources
- 57th Edinburgh Film Festival catalogue (2003) p.123 – illustrated credits, synopsis, review
- National Film Theatre programme (August 2003) p.11 – listing
