Henri-Georges Clouzot
Les diaboliques (I diabolici)

THE REVIEW

Henri Georges Clouzot.

Curious that on Debaser, before this review, there is the wife Vera Clouzot (with a picture of a cow) and not Henri.

Clouzot was a great director, one of the leading figures of French noir, a genre that will set the standard but will never be surpassed in relation to the canons of the time.

Less known than he deserves, perhaps due to the censorship that always opposed him, Clouzot's cinema also represents the hidden, ferocious, and cynical side of certain French bourgeoisie of those times.

In this regard, see the extraordinary “Les diaboliques” from 1954, which earned him the title of the French Hitchcock.

Based on a novel by Boileau & Narcejac (it seems that H. G. Clouzot managed to acquire the rights just a few hours before the great Alfred), Les diaboliques is truly an exceptional noir, especially in terms of the plot and the numerous and unexpected twists.

I may have never encountered such incredible twists, so much so that, in the opening credits of the film, it is strongly recommended to the audience not to reveal in any way the details and especially the ending.

There are three protagonists.

Vera Clouzot is Christina Delasalle, the director of a boarding school. Christina has a heart condition.

Paul Meurisse is Michel Delasalle, the husband, and thus the principal of the school. He married his wife only for interest. Michel is cruel, ruthless, and even had a lover.

Simon Signoret is Nicole Horner. Nicole teaches at the boarding school. Nicole was Michel's lover and Christina knows it…

Both deeply hate Michel and Nicole, strong and determined, convinces Christina, fragile, submissive to her husband, and as already mentioned, with a heart condition, to kill Michel.

The plan, which I will not reveal, is diabolical and perfect but…

An unmissable, magnificent film.

If you are interested in watching it, do not go on Wikipedia.