The Murderer Lives at Number 21
Encyclopedia
The Murderer Lives at Number 21 is a 1942 French comedy
thriller film by director Henri-Georges Clouzot
. Written by Clouzot and Belgian writer Stanislas-André Steeman, it was Clouzot's debut feature film
. The film is about detective Wens (Pierre Fresnay
) goes on the prowl for the murderer Monsieur Durand, who leaves calling cards and manages to be everywhere at once. With the aspiring actress Mila Malou (Suzy Delair
), Wens follows clues to a seedy boarding house where hoping to find the murderer.
The Murderer Lives at Number 21 was the fourth film written by Clouzot for the Nazi run film company Continental Films who made films to take the place of banned American films. Clouzot made several changes from the script including the characters Mila and Wens from his previous screenplay for Le dernier des six (1941). The film was released in France to critical acclaim.
directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot
and was the fourth screenplay he wrote for the Nazi-owned company Continental Films. The budget for the film was considered to be quite generous and included materials that were extravagant by pre-war standards. As American films were banned during the German occupation of France during World War II, Continental Films aimed at quality and commercial success in their pictures and produced films that were to take the place of the American films. The Murderer Lives at Number 21 is a thriller with light comedic elements which this was the style of most mystery films during the occupation.
Henri-Georges Clouzot was assisted by the story's original author Stanislas-André Steeman
in writing the film. The film marked the second collaboration between the two, who both collaborated on Le Dernier des Six (1941) which was a previous screenplay by Clouzot and Steeman. Steeman was not happy with how Clouzot had handled either of the films. Clouzot made changes from the original story including changing the setting of the story from London to Paris. Clouzot also wrote in Wens and Mila Malou from Le dernier de Six to the script. Both Pierre Fresnay
and Suzy Delair
found Clouzot to be a demanding and even violent director. Delair recalled how Clouzot got his performance out of the actors by stating that "He slapped me. So what? He slapped others as well...He was tough but I'm not about to complain". Fresnay recalled that Clouzot "worked relentlessly, which made for a juicy spectacle...That's to say nothing for his taste of violence which he never tried with me".
On its initial release in France
, The Murderer Lives at Number 21 was popular with critics and audiences. A reviewer from Le Miroir de l'Ecran noted the delighted reaction of the audience at the film's premier, noting how "amusing and witty scenes alternate judiciously with more severe and dramatic ones" and that the film created a "clever cocktail of humor and drama". A reviewer from Ciné-mondial praised the directing of Clouzot, stating that he "has put the finishing touches on a production that is dense, concise, mobile, varied, all in the service of a rich imagination". In the United States
, a reviewer for The New York Times
wrote that "The Murderer Lives at Number 21, despite a wandering script that fails to tie up many loose ends, is good fun for whodunnit fans".
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
thriller film by director Henri-Georges Clouzot
Henri-Georges Clouzot
Henri-Georges Clouzot was a French film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best remembered for his work in the thriller film genre, having directed The Wages of Fear and Les Diaboliques, which are critically recognized to be among the greatest films from the 1950s...
. Written by Clouzot and Belgian writer Stanislas-André Steeman, it was Clouzot's debut feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
. The film is about detective Wens (Pierre Fresnay
Pierre Fresnay
Pierre Fresnay was a French stage and film actor.Born Pierre Jules Louis Laudenbach in Paris, France in 1897, he was encouraged by his uncle, the actor Claude Garry, to pursue a career in theater and film...
) goes on the prowl for the murderer Monsieur Durand, who leaves calling cards and manages to be everywhere at once. With the aspiring actress Mila Malou (Suzy Delair
Suzy Delair
Suzy Delair is a vivacious French entertainer who starred in many different films. Her real name is Suzanne Pierrette Delaire....
), Wens follows clues to a seedy boarding house where hoping to find the murderer.
The Murderer Lives at Number 21 was the fourth film written by Clouzot for the Nazi run film company Continental Films who made films to take the place of banned American films. Clouzot made several changes from the script including the characters Mila and Wens from his previous screenplay for Le dernier des six (1941). The film was released in France to critical acclaim.
Plot
Inspector Vorobechik (referred to as Wens' for short) receives the case about a serial killer who leaves a calling card with the name Monsieur Durand on his victims. Wens' mistress is the ditsy struggling actress Mila Malou is determined to get noticed as an actress, and attempts to help Wens find the criminal. Wens discovers that Durand is a tenant at a boarding house at No. 21 Avenue Junot. Wens takes a room at the house in disguise as a Protestant minister. The suspect is arrested, but while each is in jail, another Durand murder occurs. Both Mila and Wens discover that there are three killers. As the killers are about to murder Wens, Mila and the police come in and rescue him.Cast
- Suzy DelairSuzy DelairSuzy Delair is a vivacious French entertainer who starred in many different films. Her real name is Suzanne Pierrette Delaire....
as Mila Malou - Pierre FresnayPierre FresnayPierre Fresnay was a French stage and film actor.Born Pierre Jules Louis Laudenbach in Paris, France in 1897, he was encouraged by his uncle, the actor Claude Garry, to pursue a career in theater and film...
as Wens - Noël RoquevertNoël RoquevertNoël Roquevert was a French film actor. He appeared in over 180 films between 1932 and 1972.He was born in Doué-la-Fontaine, France and died in Douarnenez, France.-Selected filmography:* Le Corbeau...
as Dr. Linz - Pierre LarqueyPierre LarqueyPierre Larquey was a French film actor. He appeared in 214 films between 1913 and 1962. He was born in Citon-Cenac, France and died in Maisons-Laffitte, France.-Selected filmography:* Le Scandale...
as Colin - Jean Tissier as Prof. Lalah Poor
Production
The Murderer Lives at Number 21 was the first feature filmFeature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot
Henri-Georges Clouzot
Henri-Georges Clouzot was a French film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best remembered for his work in the thriller film genre, having directed The Wages of Fear and Les Diaboliques, which are critically recognized to be among the greatest films from the 1950s...
and was the fourth screenplay he wrote for the Nazi-owned company Continental Films. The budget for the film was considered to be quite generous and included materials that were extravagant by pre-war standards. As American films were banned during the German occupation of France during World War II, Continental Films aimed at quality and commercial success in their pictures and produced films that were to take the place of the American films. The Murderer Lives at Number 21 is a thriller with light comedic elements which this was the style of most mystery films during the occupation.
Henri-Georges Clouzot was assisted by the story's original author Stanislas-André Steeman
Stanislas-André Steeman
Stanislas-Andre Steeman is an author and Belgian illustrator of French expression.He wrote many mystery novels, some of those were adapted to the screen, such as The Murderer Lives at Number 21 or Mystère à Shanghai...
in writing the film. The film marked the second collaboration between the two, who both collaborated on Le Dernier des Six (1941) which was a previous screenplay by Clouzot and Steeman. Steeman was not happy with how Clouzot had handled either of the films. Clouzot made changes from the original story including changing the setting of the story from London to Paris. Clouzot also wrote in Wens and Mila Malou from Le dernier de Six to the script. Both Pierre Fresnay
Pierre Fresnay
Pierre Fresnay was a French stage and film actor.Born Pierre Jules Louis Laudenbach in Paris, France in 1897, he was encouraged by his uncle, the actor Claude Garry, to pursue a career in theater and film...
and Suzy Delair
Suzy Delair
Suzy Delair is a vivacious French entertainer who starred in many different films. Her real name is Suzanne Pierrette Delaire....
found Clouzot to be a demanding and even violent director. Delair recalled how Clouzot got his performance out of the actors by stating that "He slapped me. So what? He slapped others as well...He was tough but I'm not about to complain". Fresnay recalled that Clouzot "worked relentlessly, which made for a juicy spectacle...That's to say nothing for his taste of violence which he never tried with me".
Release
The Murderer Lives at Number 21 was released in France on . It was released in the United States in 1947.On its initial release in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, The Murderer Lives at Number 21 was popular with critics and audiences. A reviewer from Le Miroir de l'Ecran noted the delighted reaction of the audience at the film's premier, noting how "amusing and witty scenes alternate judiciously with more severe and dramatic ones" and that the film created a "clever cocktail of humor and drama". A reviewer from Ciné-mondial praised the directing of Clouzot, stating that he "has put the finishing touches on a production that is dense, concise, mobile, varied, all in the service of a rich imagination". In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a reviewer for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote that "The Murderer Lives at Number 21, despite a wandering script that fails to tie up many loose ends, is good fun for whodunnit fans".