Reviews (35)

Definitely worth investigating
This film is far more than a potboiler with a clever twist at the end: the script, performances and photography are really very fine indeed. Clouzot paces the film briskly, so the murder is more or less afoot within the first 10 minutes: great stuff.

Paul Meurisse as the loathsome headmaster is excellent, as are Vera Clouzot as his frail wife and Simone Signoret as his mistress. The lesser roles (school staff etc) are also well taken.

As for the DVD, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality. Soundwise, don't worry about the rather constricted melodramatic music over the opening credits. That's the last music you'll hear, and the speech driven mono soundtrack sounds fine.

From an image point of view, the transfer was better than I was expecting, after reading other reviews of this DVD. It is correctly framed in 1.33:1, and the print used has little damage in terms of nicks or scars. Very occasionally there are more flecks than you might want, but nothing to worry about.

The image is reasonably sharp (and improves on some of the interiors, particularly the darker scenes), although occasionally it is a little soft with a touch of grain in the daytime exteriors. I also noticed that this slight softness coincided with Vera Clouzot being on screen, so perhaps it was deliberate on her husband the director's part. The lighting of this film is also superb: just check out some of the night exteriors which are superbly atmospheric.

So will this film 'drive you up the wall' as the film guide says? Well, no, not really. The twist at the end is very well done, if not too surprising to modern audiences. There is at least one smaller twist after that, though, which will make you think.

A classic of the cinema which I recommend in its Criterion format.

One of the best movie endings of all time
This is a film that means to get under your skin, and it succeeds. A man's mistress and his wife, finely portrayed by Simone Signoret and Vera Clouzot, respectively, plot to murder him...but then the body disappears. And that's only the first twist in a story as visually inventive as it is convoluted. Bleak and cold-blooded from the start, DIABOLIQUE takes a slow, leisurely approach to its storytelling, but with each gradual development lays on an extra layer of tension, then proceeds to tighten the suspense like a screw. The result is a genuinely disturbing final half hour that culminates in one of the most shocking conclusions ever put on screen. Shot in stark black-and-white and without the benefit of a soundtrack (which actually heightens the suspense), DIABOLIQUE exists solely for the glee with which it executes its surprise ending, but what an ending it is. Anyone who gives away this devastating shocker of a conclusion ought to be drowned in his own bathtub.

A sometimes confusing, angst ridden classic
If "Diabolique" influenced Hitchcock's "Psycho", one would have to say that the classic French film exceeds the 'classic' American slasher flick.

In a twisted and at times really confused turn of events, a shy schoolmarm teams up with her husband's mistress to kill him (or so we think). The husband is a real SOB, constantly bossing both of them around and treating his students like dogs. Since he is in a position of provincial power, however, his petty control games and short temper go unremarked upon. There are tones of lesbianism in this sleek thriller, with the wife and mistress and forming (*(it seems*) a strong bond in their hatred of the husband. The only lucid character we have is a private investigator who precipitates a tragedy, perhaps without knowing it. (Or is he in on it too?_

I won't spoil the rest of the film for the viewer, but it would be safe to say that this is one of the strangest plots I have ever encountered, and one of the most intriguing. We are confronted with weakness versus strength, good versus evil, and the standard collection of themes, but in a subtle, disturbing fashion. The last scene in the film, when a child comments on the schoolmarm's appearance in the school, is enough to leave one wondering whether there is yet another element at work which we have not yet seen. This is far better than "Psycho", although one can see the parallels. A must see.

Aghast in the Bath
It's a pity that some reviewers are so numbed and stunned by today's in-your-face gore and horror that they can't appreciate the subtleties of character and relationship analysis displayed in a film like this. Although there's little doubt that it is at its most effective the first time round (provided you don't already know the ending) there is still a lot left to savour. I saw it when it was new, and the shock in the theatre towards the end was palpable. Not so today, of course. Nevertheless, the peculiarly French menage-a-trois with its vile central bully remains perennially interesting. The run-down school with its dilapidated staff and surroundings, the paternalistic and sadistic hierarchical structure, the completely realistic school-kids, the bleakly austere atmosphere of post-war France (it was exactly like this in England too), with people just about able to make ends meet, is all still extremely fascinating. Both the women's performances are exceptional: the frailty and piety of Vera Clouzot is balanced by just enough determination to commit the murder, and the slightly butch sensuality of Signoret allows her to get away with her fake concern as well as her ruthlessness. The beauty of each of them is a study in perfect contrast. The very final twist let's us know that it's all been a bit of a joke. Why Hitchcock's Vertigo is considered a masterpiece I'll never know.

A great mystery film with Hitchcock elements
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

This film, directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot is one of the greatest French mystery films I have seen. In the film, a school principal is very mean to his wife and mistress. They team up to drown him and dump his body in a pool. Later they begin to suspect that he wasn't dead when they dumped him in the pool. The film has a surprise ending that I will not reveal as it would be considered a spoiler.

The DVD dies not have any special features, but is still a really good film. The film had a remake done in 1996 with Sharon Stone and Isabelle Adjani. I have not seen the remake but intend to sometime soon. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

glimpse at a stage in art
if art has been concerned with capturing the dramatic then this superb movie is about a stage in this process at which picasso's (new) means capture drama.

it can also be viewed as a guide for the (de-)composition of the contemporary art and its relationships.

great music in a great movie. should you arrive at this film for undersatanding picasso think twice since there is not much to be understood ... [with picasso anyway.]

The secret of Picasso
This superb film allows us to see the transformation of Picasso's paintings as they are being made! By placing the camera behind a specially designed "canvas" we are able to see each brush stroke and most importantly how a beautiful painting is created only to be painted over: adding a stroke here, changing a line, until the painting is transformed by layer upon layer of painting. This film allows us to understand Picasso's contribution to art; that in essence it is a process of transformation. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Legend has it that Henri-Georges Clouzot beat out Alfred Hitchcock tosecure the rights to this novel, which proved to be a veritable blueprint for an icy masterpiece of murder, mystery, and suspense. Véra Clouzot plays the sickly wife of a callous headmaster of a provincial boarding school going to seed, and the commanding Simone Signoret is the headmaster's mistreated mistress. Together they plot and carry out his murder, a brutal drowning that director Clouzot documents in chilly detail, but the corpse disappears, and a nosy detective starts sniffing around the grounds as threatening notes taunt the women. Clouzot's thriller is as precise and accomplished a work as anything in Hitchcock's canon, a film of grueling suspense and startling shocks in an overcast, gray world of decay, but his icy manipulations lack the human dimension and emotional resonance of the master of suspense. The film has been accused of being misanthropic by many critics, and Clouzot's attitude toward his characters is bitter at best, contemptuous at worst. The viewer is left on the outside looking in, but the razor precision and terrifying twists deliver a sleek, bleak spectacle worthy of attention. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Definitely worth investigating
This film is far more than a potboiler with a clever twist at the end: the script, performances and photography are really very fine indeed. Clouzot paces the film briskly, so the murder is more or less afoot within the first 10 minutes: great stuff.

Paul Meurisse as the loathsome headmaster is excellent, as are Vera Clouzot as his frail wife and Simone Signoret as his mistress. The lesser roles (school staff etc) are also well taken.

As for the DVD, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality. Soundwise, don't worry about the rather constricted melodramatic music over the opening credits. That's the last music you'll hear, and the speech driven mono soundtrack sounds fine.

From an image point of view, the transfer was better than I was expecting, after reading other reviews of this DVD. It is correctly framed in 1.33:1, and the print used has little damage in terms of nicks or scars. Very occasionally there are more flecks than you might want, but nothing to worry about.

The image is reasonably sharp (and improves on some of the interiors, particularly the darker scenes), although occasionally it is a little soft with a touch of grain in the daytime exteriors. I also noticed that this slight softness coincided with Vera Clouzot being on screen, so perhaps it was deliberate on her husband the director's part. The lighting of this film is also superb: just check out some of the night exteriors which are superbly atmospheric.

So will this film 'drive you up the wall' as the film guide says? Well, no, not really. The twist at the end is very well done, if not too surprising to modern audiences. There is at least one smaller twist after that, though, which will make you think.

A classic of the cinema which I recommend in its Criterion format.

One of the best movie endings of all time
This is a film that means to get under your skin, and it succeeds. A man's mistress and his wife, finely portrayed by Simone Signoret and Vera Clouzot, respectively, plot to murder him...but then the body disappears. And that's only the first twist in a story as visually inventive as it is convoluted. Bleak and cold-blooded from the start, DIABOLIQUE takes a slow, leisurely approach to its storytelling, but with each gradual development lays on an extra layer of tension, then proceeds to tighten the suspense like a screw. The result is a genuinely disturbing final half hour that culminates in one of the most shocking conclusions ever put on screen. Shot in stark black-and-white and without the benefit of a soundtrack (which actually heightens the suspense), DIABOLIQUE exists solely for the glee with which it executes its surprise ending, but what an ending it is. Anyone who gives away this devastating shocker of a conclusion ought to be drowned in his own bathtub.

A sometimes confusing, angst ridden classic
If "Diabolique" influenced Hitchcock's "Psycho", one would have to say that the classic French film exceeds the 'classic' American slasher flick.

In a twisted and at times really confused turn of events, a shy schoolmarm teams up with her husband's mistress to kill him (or so we think). The husband is a real SOB, constantly bossing both of them around and treating his students like dogs. Since he is in a position of provincial power, however, his petty control games and short temper go unremarked upon. There are tones of lesbianism in this sleek thriller, with the wife and mistress and forming (*(it seems*) a strong bond in their hatred of the husband. The only lucid character we have is a private investigator who precipitates a tragedy, perhaps without knowing it. (Or is he in on it too?_

I won't spoil the rest of the film for the viewer, but it would be safe to say that this is one of the strangest plots I have ever encountered, and one of the most intriguing. We are confronted with weakness versus strength, good versus evil, and the standard collection of themes, but in a subtle, disturbing fashion. The last scene in the film, when a child comments on the schoolmarm's appearance in the school, is enough to leave one wondering whether there is yet another element at work which we have not yet seen. This is far better than "Psycho", although one can see the parallels. A must see.

Aghast in the Bath
It's a pity that some reviewers are so numbed and stunned by today's in-your-face gore and horror that they can't appreciate the subtleties of character and relationship analysis displayed in a film like this. Although there's little doubt that it is at its most effective the first time round (provided you don't already know the ending) there is still a lot left to savour. I saw it when it was new, and the shock in the theatre towards the end was palpable. Not so today, of course. Nevertheless, the peculiarly French menage-a-trois with its vile central bully remains perennially interesting. The run-down school with its dilapidated staff and surroundings, the paternalistic and sadistic hierarchical structure, the completely realistic school-kids, the bleakly austere atmosphere of post-war France (it was exactly like this in England too), with people just about able to make ends meet, is all still extremely fascinating. Both the women's performances are exceptional: the frailty and piety of Vera Clouzot is balanced by just enough determination to commit the murder, and the slightly butch sensuality of Signoret allows her to get away with her fake concern as well as her ruthlessness. The beauty of each of them is a study in perfect contrast. The very final twist let's us know that it's all been a bit of a joke. Why Hitchcock's Vertigo is considered a masterpiece I'll never know.

A great mystery film with Hitchcock elements
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

This film, directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot is one of the greatest French mystery films I have seen. In the film, a school principal is very mean to his wife and mistress. They team up to drown him and dump his body in a pool. Later they begin to suspect that he wasn't dead when they dumped him in the pool. The film has a surprise ending that I will not reveal as it would be considered a spoiler.

The DVD dies not have any special features, but is still a really good film. The film had a remake done in 1996 with Sharon Stone and Isabelle Adjani. I have not seen the remake but intend to sometime soon. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Henri-Georges Clouzot's gripping 1953 thriller throws four men into a primal struggle against the jungle armed with modern machinery and their own nerves and endurance. The squalid, isolated South American town of Las Piedras is a veritable refuge turned prison for criminals from all over the world. When an oil fire ignites 300 miles away, dozens of desperate volunteers apply for the dangerous job of driving highly volatile nitroglycerin across rugged jungle roads--for a $2,000 payday. The bulk of the film charts the slow, grueling trek over bumpy, pothole-dotted dirt roads and worse. A dangerous cutback forces the trucks to back over a rotting wooden platform built over a cliff, a boulder in the road must be blasted away, and a river of oil (gushing from a broken pipeline) must be forded--all with one ton of explosive nitro resting in the back of each truck. The ordeal forges a tough-guy trust between German Bimba (Peter Van Eyck) and Italian Luigi (Folco Lulli) but tears apart Frenchmen Mario (Yves Montand) and Jo (Charles Vanel). Former gangland hotshot Jo finds his once-fearless exterior cracked, while Mario discovers in himself a new grit and tenacity. Clouzot's stark, simple imagery and painstaking attention to detail create a riveting tension that never lets up, intensified by the ruthless drive of Mario, who proves he will do anything--anything--to get his truck through. William Freidkin remade the film in 1977 as the stylish Sorcerer. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Not for the weak minded...
"The Wages Of Fear" by director Henri-Georges Clouzot is a classic example of an action/suspense film for the thinking man. Filmed almost fifty years ago, the story and cinematography hold up well, much better than those of many American films that were produced during that time frame, c. 1955.

The story: Four drifters (presumably in exile from native France) are hired to drive two tanker trucks of nitro glycerine through rugged South American terrain in order to to extinguish an oil well fire. In the series of events that follows, the four encounter a variety of circumstances that threaten to end the road trip and send them to kingdom come.

"The Wages Of Fear" is not the sort of film that you'll see on "Dinner and a Movie"; The landscape, the cast and the ensuing events as portrayed in the movie typify a sort of squalid existence that most people, fortunately, never have to deal with. "The Wages Of Fear" is most definitely NOT a "date" film.

The film is french, in glorious black and white, with subtitles and some spoken english. Yves Montand and Charles Vanel give solid performances, as do Peter van Eyck and Folco Lulli. The direction of Clouzot helps to wonderfully illustrate the unfolding story of the four, and is simply outstanding.

A previous reviewer mentioned that a 1977 remake, William Friedken's "Sorcerer," is also a good film. He's absolutely correct; it is. However, "Sorcerer," was filmed in color, not black and white. And because the film's spoken language is English, the tone of the film is a little different. "Sorcerer" is a little bit softer around the edges, and not as dark.

"The Wages Of Fear" isn't a film that I'd like to watch on a regular basis - it is a rather dark film. However, it is worth seeing more than once. It's an impressive film.

Cult French production sees four men risk their lives...
Highly celebrated French film by director Henri-Georges Clouzot has achieved near cult status amongst fans of intelligent, psychological drama. Impressive black & white 1953 production excels in it's microscopic view of four personalities under intense pressure to succeed in a deadly quest.

Well known plot concerns four down & out drifters in isolated South American village accept $2,000 pay check's to transport two trucks loaded with nitro glycerine to extinguish oil well fire. Obstacles abound on their perilous quest with precarious mountain roads, dangerous landslides, burst oil pipes, ageing equipment and clash of personalities amongst motley crew. Yves Montand (Mario) & Charles Vanel (Joe) lead an engaging cast as reckless men with nothing to lose...except their lives. Marvellous support performances given by stern Peter van Eyck (Bimba) and animated Folco Lulli (Luigi) as the second crew of foolhardy truck drivers.

Seems unusual for Criterion to not accompany this release with additional materials...as is usually their style. Transfer to DVD is very good, except for occassional appearance of vertical white line at different stages of the film. Sound is crisp and clean too !

A suspenseful, perspicacious film that definitely possess's it's own distinct approach...film afficiando's will not be dissappointed by this fine production.

Unforgettable Film
"The Wages of Fear" is considered one of the truly great films. It not only delivers terrific suspense and excitement, it is also a rather telling comment on the human condition. Some drifters are trapped in a hot, bug-infested South American hell-hole. They are out of luck, out of money and seemingly doomed to remain where they are, fighting hunger, heat and each other. Suddenly, they are offered a small fortune to drive trucks through the jungle, across a mountain range to a destination 300 miles distant. The catch ? The trucks are loaded with nitroglycerine--one bump--one spark--one mistake--and the truck and any unfortunate humans on board are history.

Four men agree to drive two trucks, and their journey will have you biting your finger-nails down to your elbows ! All four actors are fine, with Yves Montand particularly memorable in the lead. I agree with the reviewer who notes that the first half hour of the film is slow, but it sets the mood. It's important to understand why these characters would volunteer for such a "mission impossible", even for a big payday.

The film has a chilling message about the lengths that people will go for money. I couldn't help but consider some of the "reality" television programs we see today like "Fear Factor". It's sad to see what indignities and dangers people will subject themselves to just to make a buck, and how easily they can be exploited.

The picture quality of the DVD is fine. I was surprised to find no extras, given that this is a Criterion release. An interview with one of our current, respected directors would have been a nice bonus. I'm sure that a film buff like Martin Scorsese would have some fascinating comments. Then again--I'm sure he's a busy guy !

Bottom line--a timeless masterpiece for serious film collectors.

A superb suspense an anthological film
Wages of fear is one of the milestones in all the cinema's story.
The lives of two men engaged in a mission that you qualify as no sense. And so that's precisely the most relevant point.
How far can the greed, the ambition generate such tension state when you accept the special condition of carrying this special delivery?
Montand an actor that grew up with la port de la nuit, years before makes an outstanding performance.
The film, far from being dated, it revalues with the years. Maybe this film is the masterpiece of Clouzot.
And it constitutes one of the eleven best french films of that ddecade, together with Rififi, Forbidden games, The four hundred blows, Elevator to the gallows, The amants, Bob le flambeur, Les cousins, Diary of a country priest, Pickpocket and le travesee de Paris.
Buy it this DVD. You'll be always rewarded.

A great film but the first part is boring.
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

This is one of the most exciting films that I have seen. The first 35 minutes I think are nonessential to the plot and knind of boring.

In the film, an oil well in South America catches fire and the only way to put it out is with nitroglycerin. There is a stockpile in a town some 300 miles away. The only problem is that they don't have refrigerated trucks. Nitro melts at 86ºF and when in liquid form, the slightest bump can cause it to go off. They hire a team of 4 to carry a couple tons of is across dangerous mountain roads in 2 trucks to where the fire is.

The film will have you on the edge of your seat as they encounter obstacles and poor road conditions. There is a scene when there is a boulder blocking the road and they use the nirto to blow it up.

There are no special features in this edition but it is still a great film that I would like to see remade. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

glimpse at a stage in art
if art has been concerned with capturing the dramatic then this superb movie is about a stage in this process at which picasso's (new) means capture drama.

it can also be viewed as a guide for the (de-)composition of the contemporary art and its relationships.

great music in a great movie. should you arrive at this film for undersatanding picasso think twice since there is not much to be understood ... [with picasso anyway.]

The secret of Picasso
This superb film allows us to see the transformation of Picasso's paintings as they are being made! By placing the camera behind a specially designed "canvas" we are able to see each brush stroke and most importantly how a beautiful painting is created only to be painted over: adding a stroke here, changing a line, until the painting is transformed by layer upon layer of painting. This film allows us to understand Picasso's contribution to art; that in essence it is a process of transformation. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Raven vs. Robin
A reticent physician with a mysterious past, practicing in the small French town of St. Robin, is targeted by poison-pen letters signed "Le Corbeau" (The Raven). The letters increase from a trickle to a deluge as virtually everyone in town is targeted; confidences are violated and neighbor suspects neighbor in an infectious atmosphere of growing paranoia and mistrust. Henri-Georges Clouzot (Diabolique, Wages of Fear) keeps the viewer on his toes throughout the entire 91 minutes; there isn't a weak spot in this entire film which, amazingly, managed to get itself made during the Nazi occupation of France (and which was condemned by both the Right and Left Wings, with the Church thrown in for good measure).
I caught the beginning of this film some months back on Turner and was too tired to watch it in its entirety. I was very happy to learn that Criterion (yay!) was scheduled to release it and I wasn't disappointed; this film belongs in the library of every serious collector. In fact, I can't imagine anyone's not enjoying it.
Since other reviewers have summarized the plot, I'll confine the rest of my review to the disk and its extras. The print--predictably--is gorgeous, presented in its original full-screen aspect ratio. Contrary to another reviewer, I found the sound clear as a bell and not in the least bit harsh or tinny. I haven't, with the exception of the trailer, availed myself of the extras yet but this is a Criterion release--I'd be surprised if they were anything but first-rate. A very informative booklet is included and makes for interesting reading. My quibbles are minor and few: I found the subtitles difficult to see from a rather short distance, and I wish they were offered in other languages (I have a number of friends who are recent emigres from Russia and other countries who are eager to avail themselves of quality cinema). There was also a scene where the action paused for a fraction of a second--I'm not sure if this was the director's intention or the result of this being a dual-layer release.
This is a fascinating film that can be enjoyed on a number of levels, i.e., one need not be aware of conditions in France at the time it was shot to be captivated by it. An excellent introduction to the work of Clouzot for the initiate and a welcome event for seasoned fans.

BIRDIE NUM ..... NUM[B]S ........
with apology to the late Peter S.

The unusual suspects? Sure, this one has them all - the New Doctor [who has an rather unusual bedside manner with the ladies, and performs ... shall we say ... perhaps those unspoken surgeries?], the two sisters - one the Nurse, always cloaked and hooded, falconesque perhaps? The other one - petite, sweet, blonde and braided and married to an 'elder gentleman' - somewhat a May/December fling, then there's the 'Bird in the Gilded Cage', wing slightly clipped, but also enamoured by the Doctor ..... and the little bespectacled teen ......

Clouzot paints a drab, fascinating, character study of total paranoia during our stay in this little hamlet ... and the letters? They keep on coming - until everyone becomes a suspect.

Brilliantly photographed and lensed this is a must-see experience, but not just once, Oh, our director flings the truth right out there - so obvious from the very beginning, but it's up to the viewer.....

As for the Patient in bed #13 and the doting, veiled mama? Another sinister moment!

Buy, yes, buy this Birdie!

Clouzot brilliance
Nothing to add about the picture - splendid acting, menacing, claustrophobic atmosphere. Just a word about the disc - visually,
about one of the cleanest transfers of a film this old that I've yet seen. Looks like they had a good print to begin with, and did
what they usually do digitally - the result is pristine. Blacks very black, good contrast. However, they were a little overzealous with the sound, which in its filtered state is unusually tinny and whistly. This detracts somewhat from the overall quality of the presentation, but not too much. The extras are very good and most apropos, as one would expect of Criterion.

Brilliant Clouzot keeps you guessing...
In the small town of St. Robin multiple rumors have begun to spread through malicious letters sent by someone who calls him or herself, Raven. These rumors do not affect the towns people in the beginning, however, Raven's diligence to persist sending letters sets root in the small town and spiteful rumors begin to affect the people mentioned in the letter. The central figures in St. Robin start an investigation, but can their attempts succeed in uncovering the identity of Raven? Le Corbeau is a brilliant thriller directed by Clouzot who displays his understanding of social interaction and the human psyche as people are confronted with lies and truths. In the end the audience is offered a memorable cinematic experience that keeps the audience guessing until the end.

Correction
Just a correction to the other review. Corbeau is the French word for raven. Corneille is French for crow. So the translation of this title, Le Corbeau, as The Raven, is perfectly correct. Otherwise, I agree with the review in general. ... Read more