Elevator to the Gallows
Original theatrical poster.
Directed by	Louis Malle
Produced by	Jean Thuillier
Written by	Noël Calef Louis Malle Roger Nimier
Starring	Jeanne Moreau Maurice Ronet Georges Poujouly Yori Bertin
Music by	Miles Davis
Cinematography	Henri Decaë
Editing by	Léonide Azar
Distributed by	Rialto Pictures
Release date(s)	January 29, 1958 June 10, 1961
Running time	88 min
Country	France
Language	French
IMDb profile

Elevator to the Gallows (French: Ascenseur pour l'échafaud), aka Lift to the Scaffold, is a 1958 French film directed by Louis Malle. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Louis Malle (October 30, 1932 – November 23, 1995) was a French film director. ... Roger Nimier (1925-1962) is a French novelist. ... Jeanne Moreau (born 23 January 1928 in Paris, France) is a French actress. ... Maurice Ronet, born Maurice Robinet, (13 April 1927 - 14 March 1983) was a French film actor. ... Miles Dewey Davis III (26 May 1926 – 28 September 1991) was one of the most influential musicians of the latter half of the 20th century. ... Henri Decaë (1915 - 1987) gained fame as a cinematographer entering the film industry as a sound engineer and sound editor. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year (162nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... // Events February 16- In the Money is released on this date. ... The art of motion-picture making within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad is collectively known as French cinema. ... Louis Malle (October 30, 1932 – November 23, 1995) was a French film director. ...

A French classic often associated by critics with the film noir style, it stars Jeanne Moreau and Maurice Ronet. The score by Miles Davis (Ascenseur pour l'Échafaud) is central to the film's effect. Critic Phil Johnson has described its soundtrack as "the loneliest trumpet sound you will ever hear, and the model for sad-core music ever since. Hear it and weep."^[1] This still from The Big Combo (1955) demonstrates the visual style of film noir at its most extreme. ... Jeanne Moreau (born 23 January 1928 in Paris, France) is a French actress. ... Maurice Ronet, born Maurice Robinet, (13 April 1927 - 14 March 1983) was a French film actor. ... Miles Dewey Davis III (26 May 1926 – 28 September 1991) was one of the most influential musicians of the latter half of the 20th century. ... Ascenseur pour lÉchafaud is an album by jazz musician Miles Davis. ...

Synopsis

The central characters, a pair of lovers, plan the perfect crime - the murder of the woman's husband, Simon Carala. The murderer, Julien Tavernier, abseils up the office block to kill the husband in his office without being seen, but on going to his car, realizes that he has left the rope dangling outside the building. Leaving his expensive car unlocked and with the keys in the ignition, he returns to remove the evidence, but in doing so becomes trapped in the lift as the building closes down for the weekend. In the meantime, the car is stolen by a young couple, Louis and Veronique. They stay overnight with a German couple at a motel. When Louis attempts to steal their luxury car, he is caught out and shoots them with Julien's handgun that he found in the car. While the police still consider Carala's death a suicide, Julien is charged with the killing of the Germans, and his lift-related alibi is not believed. Much of the suspense comes from Julien's attempt to escape from the lift. Although he succeeds, the murder plot is eventually discovered through photographs taken by the young couple with the camera they find in his car.

References

1. ^ Phil Johnson, "Discs: Jazz—Miles Davis/Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud (Fontana)," Independent on Sunday, March 14, 2004.

External links

• Elevator to the Gallows at the Internet Movie Database
• "Louis Malle on the Ground Floor" essay by Terrence Rafferty at The Criterion Collection
• Elevator to the Gallows: A Jazz Film of Collaborative Integrity, a detailed academic discussion of film and score, with clips