ASCENSEUR POUR L'ECHAUFAUD

ASCENSORE PER IL PATIBOLO by Louis Malle (France, 1958, 92')
Original Title: Ascenseur pour l'échaufaud
Subject: Noël Calef
Screenplay: Louis Malle, Roger Nimier
Cinematography: Henri Decaë
Editor: Léonide Azar
Scenography: Rino Mondellini, Jean Mandaroux
Music: Miles Davis
Cast: Maurice Ronet, Jeanne Moreau, Jean-Claude Brialy, Georges Poujouly, Yori Bertin, Jean Wall, Ivan Petrovitch, Félix Marten, Lino Ventura, Elga Andersen
Production: Nouvelles Éditions de Films.

Taken from a novel by Noël Calef, Louis Malle's film dramatically revises a noir plot. On this story of betrayal, planned and committed homicides, details that complicate destiny, Malle builds a soft melody, aided by a jazz masterpiece by Miles Davis, a mood that matches perfectly with shades and threatening the film. This is Louis Malle's acting debut. Jeanne Moreau has never been so beautiful and magnetic: a dark lady with a restless look. Seeing her walking through the streets of Paris on a gray and blurred background of the frame, among the reverberations of neon lights, makes us think that states of grace exist. Amazing the black and white cinematography of Henri Decae.