Review of Elevator to the Gallows (1958) by Joey K — 03 Mar 2012

Absolutely brilliant from start to finish. Elevator to the Gallows takes a familiar narrative and revitalizes it with plot twists and an excess of noir style. Not to mention an unforgettable score by the legendary Miles Davis.

Malle's direction and Dacae's cinematography infuse ETTG's Parisian setting with suspense and suspicion. As in any good noir, we're rooting for characters who are duplicitous murderers.

And we want them to get away with it. I absolutely loved this film. It's elaborately crafted and efficiently told, while maintaining the freshness of the French New Wave. Elevator to the Gallows stands the test of time and ranks among the best of film noir.