Georges Poujouly, Jean Wall, Jeanne Moreau
Louis Malle's debut feature was arguably the first film of the French New Wave. Jeanne Moreau stars as a woman waiting for her lover to return from murdering her husband. Their "perfect crime," howeve...( read more
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DVD Release Date: April 25, 2006
Stats: 369 reviews
Exquisite crime drama that kept me in suspense from beginning to end. It's really three stories seamlessly interwoven and simultaneous, topped off by a Miles Davis score that's just fantastic.
One of the craftiest films in the history of cinema, Elevator to the Gallows marked the start of the French New Wave.
This film is just cool, not only visually but in the sound department. The legendary score was composed by none other than Miles Davis. The sound of his tru...( read more)
After 50 years, 24 year-old Malle's debut still remains fresh, enjoyable and moving. While its great story lacks proper climax, leaving ending to be a bit rushed, we can't deny its cleverness in delivering every other major plot turn at the right time. Gorgeous black & white cine...( read more)
Many elements of this film were breakthroughs - and it is a wicked cool film. But... I can't help thinking it was a little slight and really relied on those very elements - Jeanne Moreau's haunting performance, the brilliant camerawork and Miles' genius score to carry it. Wh...( read more)
This movie drastically changed cinema history in 1958. It triggered 'La Nouvelle Vague' (author's theory, fast montage, more realism, filming on location, hand held camera's,...), it also contains my favorite film soundtrack (by Miles Davis). The shots of Paris at night are marve...( read more)
'Ascenseur pour l'échafaud' is gorgeous to the eyes and the ears. Every frame of Henri Decaë's cinematography is indeed pretty enough to frame and the Miles Davis soundtrack is superb. Moreau puts in a great performance, the scenes of her walking through Paris really are a joy t...( read more)
These 1950s French noirs abandon the formality of traditional crime films, the almost ritualistic obedience to formula, and show crazy stuff happening to people who seem to be making up their lives as... full review
Incapable of spreading Moreau's passion and sadness to its crime-thriller narrative. full review
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