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Genre(s): Drama Krimi |
| Medium: Sonstiges |
| Bemerkungen: | H.G. Clouzot Boxset Featuring Le Corbeau Quai Des Orfevres The Wages of Fear Henri-George Clouzot began his filmmaking career as a screenwriter, and it wasn’t until ten years later that he made his directorial debut in 1942. However it was his second film, Le Corbeau, which gave Clouzot the dubious honour of seeing the film banned by both the Nazis and subsequently the victorious French. In the aftermath of the controversy, which incited outrage from the church and both sides of the political fence, Clouzot was banned from making films for two years. Quai des Orfevres saw him make an award-winning return to cinema at the Venice Film Festival, whilst The Wages of Fear is widely seen as establishing him as a major force on the international film-making platform. Oft described as the French Hitchcock, this boxset brings together the three classic titles for the first time in the UK with Quai Des Orfevres re-mastered and a UK DVD premiere. LE CORBEAU (1943) “A superb noir thriller” – Observer A wave of hysteria sweeps the small provincial town of St Robin when a series of poisen-pen letters appear signed “Le Corbeau” (The Raven), denouncing several prominent members of society. Starting with the village doctor, the trickle of letters soon becomes a flood and no one is safe from the malicious accusations, which include abortion and drug addiction. Beneath the town’s respectful, tranquil surface there clearly lurks a darker side and soon paranoia, suspicion and accusations run rife as everyone becomes a suspect… starring Pierre Fresnay and Ginette Leclerc, Condemned by the political left and right and the church upon its release in 1943, Clouzot was banned from filmmaking for two years after making the film. QUAI DES ORFEVRES (1947) Jenny Martineau (Suzy Delair), accompanied on stage by her husband Maurice (Bernand Blier), is an aspiring Music Hall performer. Her ambitions are hampered by the jealousies of the well-meaning Maurice, whose suspicions are particularly aroused by elderly entrepeneur Georges Brignon (Charles Dullin) with whose help Jenny thinks she can find fame. When Brignon is found murdered having recently entertained Jenny against her husband’s express wishes, Maurice becomes the prime suspect in Inspector Antoine’s (Louis Jouvet) investigation. THE WAGES OF FEAR (1953) “One of the best action movies ever made.” – Total Film In the South American jungle, supplies of nitro-glycerine are urgently needed at a remote oil field. The unscrupulous American oil company pays four out-of-work men (Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, Folco Lulli and Peter Van Eyck) to deliver the supplies in two hulking trucks. A tense rivalry quickly develops between the two sets of drivers; a tension magnified a thousand fold by the unforgiving heat, the lure of filthy lucre and the rough and rocky roads where the slightest jolt could result in agonizing death. The film that continues to serve as the benchmark for Clouzot’s magnificent career, particularly after the controversy of Le Corbeau, it was a prize winner at both the Cannes and Berlin Film Festivals. Extra DVD Features: • All titles fully re-mastered: • LE CORBEAU: • introduction by film critic Ginette Vincendeau. • artwork gallery • QUAI DES ORFEVRES: • Trailer • THE WAGES OF FEAR: • Trailer • Les Diaboliques original trailer • Stills Gallery • Poster gallery • Cast & Crew biographies |