Review of Elevator to the Gallows (1958) by Knox M — 08 Jan 2017
Julien (Maurice Ronet) kills his boss so he can run away with the man's wife (Jeanne Moreau), but he gets stuck in an elevator in his efforts to retrieve an incriminating piece of evidence at the crime scene.
To make matters worse, a pair of idiotic teens steal Julien's car and stir up even more trouble. Plenty of noir films involve a "perfect murder" that goes utterly wrong, but Elevator to the Gallows is unique thanks to tight camera work by Henri Decae, an expert pace from director Louis Malle, an atmosphere that anticipates French New Wave, a simmering performance from Jeanne Moreau, and a score from Miles Davis that ventures into the modal territory that the trumpeter would further explore with Kind of Blue.
This review of Elevator to the Gallows (1958) was written by Knox M on 08 Jan 2017.
Elevator to the Gallows has generally received very positive reviews.
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