Quai des Orfevres (Quay of the Goldsmiths) (Jenny Lamour) (1947)

100% of critics liked it
(31 reviews)
88% of users liked it
(1,482 ratings)

Following a three-year suspension from filmmaking after his Le Corbeau (1943) was judged too critical of his native France, director Henri-Georges Clouzot returned with this thriller that's equal parts crime drama and character study. Suzy Delair stars as Jenny Lamour, an ambitious music hall singer… More Following a three-year suspension from filmmaking after his Le Corbeau (1943) was judged too critical of his native France, director Henri-Georges Clouzot returned with this thriller that's equal parts crime drama and character study. Suzy Delair stars as Jenny Lamour, an ambitious music hall singer who wants to be a star and is willing to befriend the lecherous old men who ogle her act, inspiring the jealousy of Jenny's husband Maurice Martineau (Bernard Blier). One particular fan of Jenny's is a wealthy financial backer who extends repeated invitations to the entertainer to join him at fine restaurants and his expansive mansion. Armed with a gun, Maurice goes to the estate to confront his rival one night but discovers that the master of the house is already dead, his wife having smashed a bottle of champagne over his head to stave off a sexual advance. Soon, a gruff but dedicated detective, Inspector Antoine (Louis Jouvet) is on the case, with Maurice taking the heat for Jenny. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Henri-Georges Clouzot
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1947 Wide
On DVD: May 27, 2003

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Clouzot is able to reveal a complex and interactive working-class world in which cops and criminals are sometimes difficult to tell apart.
Variety Staff, Variety
Direction by Henri-Georges Clouzot takes full advantage of every possible opportunity to bring out character and manages to keep the tempo at a fast clip all the time.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
This is a film well worth reviving, admiring and applauding.
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
Terrifically entertaining.
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News
An elegant show-biz noir that weaves an intricate web of deception and intrigue.
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
Fabulously entertaining.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Very typical of Clouzot's films, he utilizes sound and score to enhance tension and his penchant for mystery uses the whodunit to good effect, always shifting his subjects from innocence to guilt and back.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
The ignoble suspicions of Le Corbeau still churn under the razzmatazz surface
, Film4
A superior noirish thriller which gets right under the skin of the seedy world it inhabits.
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
A beautifully-made and beautifully-written film about people stuck in a place that won't let them lead anything but a crummy, second-rate life. Classical French cinema at its very best.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
While the story is thin, Clouzot uses his immense skills to raise the picture above the standard for the genre.
, Time Out
Jouvet's Maigret-esque cop gets all the best lines, and gives the film its human, tragic focus.
Dan Jardine, Apollo Guide
Another predictably terrific-looking transfer from the folks at Criterion, with the black and white imagery about as beautiful as you could expect on a 50 year old film.
Dan Jardine, Apollo Guide
A riveting noir-ish mystery that is unforgettable in just about every way.
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
Personally, this is a movie I'd want to own simply because it benefits from repeated viewings. The bonuses only add to the flavor.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
One of the great film noirs. It reaches the heart.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
one of Henri-Georges Clouzot's greatest films, an influential thriller that is also a great character study.
Rumsey Taylor, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
Quai Des Orfèvres is distinguished (although a patent genre film), and my recommendation is inhibited only by knowledge of Clouzot's later efforts.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Matheus C

Beautifully photographed noir from master Clouzot with a perfect balance of farce and post-war social criticism.
danny d

one of the most remarkable screenplays of any film ive seen. the details of the story are complex, but simply told and without missteps. clouzot deserves far more respect than he receives in the U.S., and this film simply adds to his legacy of astoundingly good suspense and horror… More
one of the most remarkable screenplays of any film ive seen. the details of the story are complex, but simply told and without missteps. clouzot deserves far more respect than he receives in the U.S., and this film simply adds to his legacy of astoundingly good suspense and horror films. blier was fantastic, and even the supporting players in smaller roles such as larquey as the cab driver deliver very solid performances. the ending is the best part, as it was unexpected even for clouzot, a director who is great with unexpected endings. great film.
Stella D

i enjoyed this. it's not a nailbiter like some of clouzot's other films but has a nice atmosphere and some really interesting characters, especially the detective and the photographer
Emily B

Maybe not as thrilling as some of Clouzot's other films but a fine film nonetheless. One downside is it takes a while to get going, only really doing so once Louis Jouvet's police detective enters the picture. The secondary characters are more impressive than the leads,… More
Maybe not as thrilling as some of Clouzot's other films but a fine film nonetheless. One downside is it takes a while to get going, only really doing so once Louis Jouvet's police detective enters the picture. The secondary characters are more impressive than the leads, such as the already mentioned Jouvet and Simone Renant, who's character displays some quite blatant sexuality for the time.