Director: Louis Malle
Screenplay: Louis Malle and Roger Nimier, based on the novel Ascenseur pour l'echefaud by Noel Calaf
Starring: Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet, Georges Poujouly, Yori Bertin, Ivan Petrovich
Running Time: 88 minutes
Genre: Crime drama
In Paris, arrogant businessman, Julien Tavernier (Ronet) plots with his lover, Florence Carala (Moreau), to kill Florence's husband, who also happens to be Julien's boss. Julien goes through with the crime, and makes it look like a suicide. However, as he leaves the office building he realises that he has forgotten a crucial clue, and heads back in to fetch it. However, the office is shutting down for the weekend, and Julien finds himself trapped in the elevator. Meanwhile, Julien's car is stolen by small-time crook Louis (Poujouly) and his girlfriend Veronique (Bertin). Waiting for Julien, Florence sees his car speeding away and catches a glimpse of Veronique, making her think that he has run off with something else, and sets off on her own odyssey through the nighttime streets of Paris. As events spiral out of control, Julien soon ends up the prime suspect in a completely different murder.
This was the debut feature from acclaimed and prolific French filmmaker Louis Malle. It's a very enjoyable slice of film noir with the grit and style of the early Nouvelle Vague (New Wave) movement. The film opens with what appears to be a perfect crime, but one small detail is missed, and that one detail triggers a series of accidents, misunderstandings and terrible decisions which results in further murder and disaster for everyone. Much of the film passes between three simultaneous but separate storylines: Julien, trying to free himself from the elevator; Florence wandering the bars and cafes of Paris to find information about Julien; and the murderous joyride of Louis and Veronique. The film is beautifully photographed in black-and-white and features a evocative, melancholy score from Jazz legend Miles Davis.
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