Elevator to the Gallows

Elevator to the Gallows (Ascenseur Pour L’echafaud) (1958)

Runtime: 91 minutes

Directed by: Louis Malle

Starring: Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet, Georges Poujouly, Yori Bertin, Lino Ventura

From: Nouvelles Editions de Films

What a fabulous fictional feature film debut from Louis Malle. He was only 24 when he made Elevator to the Gallows; that makes 42 year old me feel like a putz as I never was responsible for anything great at that age. Then again, look at what Miles Davis did in his 20’s and early 30’s, including creating a groundbreaking soundtrack for this film that was done in a span of hours after he saw a few scenes and gathered a few musicians. That score was a key component in making this film a classic.

So is the plot; Maurice Ronet is having an affair w/ Jeanne Moreau; what misfortune for her that Moreau’s husband is his boss. Ronet decides to murder his boss and stage the scene as if it was a suicide (just like a case you’d hear on a true crime podcast); a black cat is seen and boy is that a harbinger of doom. Things happen that involve other characters & because of one moment, it affected more people than you’d suspect.

Heck, there’s even a young couple who many have described as “a French New Wave couple” who even motor around Paris for a few minutes. Their impact on the plot won’t be revealed; instead, I’ll be general and note that this was a dark, stylish, evocative tale which was constantly captivating and due to its incredible score, becomes a moody masterpiece. The scenes of Moreau strolling the streets of Paris at night against the backdrop of the score: le magnifique. Shame on me for not giving this a shot much, much earlier.