Le Dos au mur (1958)
Directed by Edouard Molinaro

Film Review

Edouard Molinaro, a contemporary of the French New Wave, released a few thrillers at the beginning of his career and would become a prolific film director in the late 50s and 60s.  Later on, Molinaro specialised in popular comedies, with big stars like Brigitte Bardot, Louis de Funès, Jacques Brel, Lino Ventura, Annie Girardot, and others.  His first film, Le Dos au mur, was released on 7th March 1958.  This crime drama is based on a Frédéric Dard novel entitled Delivrez nous du mal and received a positive reception from both critics and the public.  Released at the same time as Louis Malle's Ascenseur pour l'echafaud, it was a highly successful film, having the characteristically grim mood that we find in every Dard-inspired film noir.  With some help from the film director Claude Sautet, Le Dos au mur benefits from a taut plot and some clever mise-en-scène.  The strength of this story, which is about adultery, murder, blackmail and betrayal, comes from the opposition that the two lovers put up against their entourage, resulting in a tragic outcome. 

Jeanne Moreau, one of the most controversial actresses of her generation, was the obvious choice for the female lead character.  After being the unfaithful Florence in the aforementioned Louis Malle film, Moreau shines in Le dos au mur as the unfaithful Gloria, just before she played another femme infidèle, in Malle's Les Amants.  Before he became a famous film director, Gérard Oury started his career as an actor in the 1940s.  Even if he is impeccable here as a cynical, cold-blooded character, this part should perhaps have been given to Robert Hossein, the par excellence Frédéric Dard actor (illustrated by: Les Salauds vont en enfer; Toi, le venin; Les Scélerats; and Le Monte-charge).  The actor-singer Philippe Nicaud (seen alongside Brigitte Bardot in Voulez-vous danser avec moi) is cast as Moreau's somewhat incredible lover.  Self-mocking comic Jean Lefebvre and Claire Maurier (Jean-Pierre Léaud's mother in Truffaut's Les 400 coups) complete the cast of a thriller that has what it takes to hold the viewer's attention - and who could ask for more?

Film Synopsis

Jacques Decrey has an unpleasant errand to perform one dark evening.  Under cover of darkness, he carries the body of a dead man out of his house and dumps it in his car.  A short car journey later he arrives at his factory, where he finds a convenient hiding place for the corpse within a wall, which he seals with cement.  Jacques can now breathe easily - he has finally managed to rid himself of his wife Gloria's troublesome lover.  It all began three months ago, when he came home to find his wife kissing a man he had never seen before.  From the number plate of the stranger's car, Jacques was soon able to find out his identity - he was Yves Normand, an unemployed actor.  Warped by jealousy, his mind soon came up with twisted plan of revenge.

Jacques began by hiring a private detective, Mauvin, to take some compromising photographs of Gloria and Yves together.  Then he used these photographs to begin extorting money from his victims.  Jacques took a cruel delight in his wife's distress as she begged him for money so she could pay off her blackmailer.  Yves was less willing to be taken for a sucker.  After persuading his former mistress Ghislaine to lend him some money, he hired two heavies to go after the individual who collected the pay-off.  Jacques had no difficulty outsmarting his enemy.  Now he was ready to pull off his masterstroke.

In the guise of an impresario, Mauvin offered Yves a contract, with an advance comprising the banknotes given by Gloria to her mysterious blackmailer.  Unbeknown to the actor, the banknotes had all been marked by Gloria, in the hope of exposing her tormenter.  On finding these incriminating banknotes in Yves's possession, Gloria drew the obvious conclusion: he was the blackmailer!  Without a moment's hesitation she picked up a gun and shot him dead.  Now she had the small matter of a body to dispose of.  How lucky she was to have a husband who was always willing to help her out of a tight spot.  Just when Jacques feels confident he has saved his marriage Gloria discovers the truth.  The murdered man will have the last laugh...