Toi, le venin (1958)
Directed by Robert Hossein

Drama / Thriller
aka: Night Is Not for Sleep

Film Synopsis

Pierre Menda is walking down a quiet stretch of road on the Riviera one night when a white American convertible draws up alongside him.  It is a warm summer's evening and Pierre is easily aroused by the sight of the stunning blonde he sees at the wheel of the car.  No words are exchanged, but the woman's invitation is readily interpreted.  Without a moment's thought, Pierre slides elegantly into the car and gives in to his animal passions.  Once the mutually satisfying encounter has passed, Pierre walks away from the car, and narrowly escapes being run over by the woman as she drives off.  Pierre has just enough time to take note of the car's number plate as it zooms off into the distance.

Determined to find out more about the mysterious woman in the white car, Pierre traces the car's owner and discovers it belongs to two sisters, Éva and Hélène Lecain, who live at an impressive villa on the Riviera.     Pierre cannot resist calling on them, and is surprised to find that the sisters are practically indistinguishable, both having the same flowing blond hair.  The younger sister Éva is confined to a wheelchair, after an accident that robbed her of the use of her legs.  Since she is apparently paralysed from the waist down, it would seem a fair bet that it was the other sister, Hélène, who seduced Pierre.  As he gets to know the two women a little better, Pierre begins to wonder...
© James Travers
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Film Credits

  • Director: Robert Hossein
  • Script: Frédéric Dard (novel), Robert Hossein
  • Cinematographer: Robert Juillard
  • Music: André Hossein
  • Cast: Robert Hossein (Pierre Menda), Marina Vlady (Eva Lecain), Odile Versois (Hélène Lecain), Héléna Manson (Amélie), Henri Crémieux (Le docteur), Pascal Mazzotti (L'homme de la discothèque), Henri Arius (Titin), Charles Blavette (L'inspecteur de police), Lucien Callamand (Julien, le jardinier), Isola Blondie, Paul Coppel, Jean Combal, Bréols
  • Country: France / Italy
  • Language: French
  • Support: Black and White
  • Runtime: 92 min
  • Aka: Night Is Not for Sleep ; Toi ; Blonde in a White Car ; Nude in a White Car

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