The Burning Court (film)
Encyclopedia
The burning court is a French-Italian-German film directed by Julien Duvivier
, released in 1962. The script was written by Charles Spaak
and Duvivier, from the novel by John Dickson Carr
.
), is invited with his wife Marie (Édith Scob
), a descendant of the Marchioness of Brinvilliers, the notorious poisoner, to the château of Mathias Desgrez (Frédéric Duvallès). Mathias Desgrez is a descendant of the last lover of the Marchioness, who denounced her. Mathias is adept in the occult
arts, which he practises with his friend Dr. Hermann (Antoine Balpêtré
). To the château come Marc Desgrez (Jean-Claude Brialy
), and Stephane Desgrez (Claude Rich
), nephews of Mathias, who are waiting impatiently for their inheritance. The wife of Marc, Lucy (Perrette Pradier
) also has hopes. And Marc's mistress Myra (Nadja Tiller
) who is Mathias' personal nurse, would like to accelerate Marc's uncle's death. Mathias himself is fascinated by Marie Boissard. One night, a little time later, Mathias dies having received a visit from a mysterious woman bringing him medications , and is seen by a servant. Mathias is buried and then his body disappears just when the analysis proves that he has undoubtedly been poisoned. By whom? Lucy - eager to inherit? Myra - to please her lover? Marie - to avenge her betrayed ancestor, by the ancestor of Mathias? Inspector Krauss (Claude Piéplu
) enquires into the matter.
Julien Duvivier
Julien Duvivier was a French film director. He was prominent in French cinema in the years 1930-1960...
, released in 1962. The script was written by Charles Spaak
Charles Spaak
Charles Spaak was a Belgian screenwriter who was noted particularly for his work in the French cinema during the 1930s...
and Duvivier, from the novel by John Dickson Carr
John Dickson Carr
John Dickson Carr was an American author of detective stories, who also published under the pen names Carter Dickson, Carr Dickson and Roger Fairbairn....
.
Plot
Historian Michel Boissard (Walter GillerWalter Giller
Walter Giller is a German actor.He has been married since 1956 to actress Nadja Tiller.On August 6, 2009, he was diagonosed with lung cancer. He underwent a major operation...
), is invited with his wife Marie (Édith Scob
Édith Scob
Edith Scob is a French actress, best known for her role as the daughter with a disfigured face in Eyes Without a Face.Edith Scob has had several roles in European film and television and is married to Georges Aperghis....
), a descendant of the Marchioness of Brinvilliers, the notorious poisoner, to the château of Mathias Desgrez (Frédéric Duvallès). Mathias Desgrez is a descendant of the last lover of the Marchioness, who denounced her. Mathias is adept in the occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
arts, which he practises with his friend Dr. Hermann (Antoine Balpêtré
Antoine Balpêtré
Antoine Balpêtré was a French film actor. He appeared in 52 films between 1933 and 1963.-Selected filmography:* Le Corbeau * Dieu a besoin des hommes * Justice Is Done...
). To the château come Marc Desgrez (Jean-Claude Brialy
Jean-Claude Brialy
Jean-Claude Brialy – died 30 May 2007, Monthyon, Seine-et-Marne, France was a French actor, director, and socialite.-Biography:...
), and Stephane Desgrez (Claude Rich
Claude Rich
Claude Rich is a French actor. He began his career as a theater actor, before his film debut in 1955 with René Clair, Les Grandes Manoeuvres.He married the actress Catherine Renaudin on 26 June 1959...
), nephews of Mathias, who are waiting impatiently for their inheritance. The wife of Marc, Lucy (Perrette Pradier
Perrette Pradier
Perrette Pradier, , is a French actress.Two years after making her film debut, in 1961 Perrette Pradier was awarded the prestigious Prix Suzanne Bianchetti as most promising new actress in France for her performance as "Amenita" in the Sacha Guitry film, "Stop Thief." That year she gained further...
) also has hopes. And Marc's mistress Myra (Nadja Tiller
Nadja Tiller
Nadja Tiller is an Austrian actress. She was one of the most popular German actresses of the 1950s and 1960s.She won the Miss Austria competition in 1949, a national beauty pageant for unmarried women in Austria. She had her major film debut in 1952 in 'Märchen vom Glück .In 1955, she acted...
) who is Mathias' personal nurse, would like to accelerate Marc's uncle's death. Mathias himself is fascinated by Marie Boissard. One night, a little time later, Mathias dies having received a visit from a mysterious woman bringing him medications , and is seen by a servant. Mathias is buried and then his body disappears just when the analysis proves that he has undoubtedly been poisoned. By whom? Lucy - eager to inherit? Myra - to please her lover? Marie - to avenge her betrayed ancestor, by the ancestor of Mathias? Inspector Krauss (Claude Piéplu
Claude Piéplu
Claude Léon Auguste Piéplu was a French film and television actor.-Filmography:*Shadoks et le Big Blank, Les *Astérix et Obélix contre César *Chapeau bas...
) enquires into the matter.