I must say I am a bit puzzled that this movie is not getting more reviews praise etc How come? This is a masterpiece. A
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almitra — 20 years ago(January 19, 2006 05:19 AM)
Hey there -
I just saw this film in a cinema in Edinburgh -
It is a brilliant film noir that has not been praised at all.
A thing that might interest you is that the director of this movie, Louis Malle went to work in oceanographic documentaries with J.Y.Cousteau. He should definitely have stayed in the film noir industry, Hitchcock wouldn't be the same!
I have been looking all over the place for the movie so that I can buy or rent it, but it's not available anywhere in the UK.
Oh well, that makes me feel more lucky of having watched it
E. -
Dorabella — 20 years ago(March 20, 2006 04:30 PM)
Totally agree with you both that this film isn't getting all the praise it deserves, although it is very well considered over here in France, I think. But, yeah it's an absolute masterpice! One of these few movies that remain with(in) you days, months, even years after you've seen them. I was actually shocked when I saw the Imdb rating what?! ONLY 8 OUT OF 10???
Now, to answer almitra more specifically: Le Monde du Silence was made in 1956 two years before Ascenseur so technically he went from oceanographic documentaries to noir. But I agree with you that he had incredible flair for the noir genre. Ascenseur is classic.
Then again, Louis Malle was one of the most versatile directors in French cinema, and it would have been a pity for him to stick to the noir genre only if you look at his filmography, its diversity is as impressive as the number of great films he's made Try and check out Le Feu Follet, if you haven't already it's a beautiful (if depressive) film also starring Maurice Ronet (Julien in Ascenseur). I would also recommend Au Revoir les Enfants, Lacombe Lucien, Le Souffle au Coeur and Zazie dans le mtro.
My other absolute favorite among his work is his very last film, Vanya on 42nd Street hands down the best cinematographic transposition of a play I have ever seen. I saw it when it was released in 1995, and haven't seen it again ever since, but it was so powerful that it still haunts me nowadays. (But I still definitely need to buy the DVD! ). I think it's safe to say it was my first real cinematographic shock (I was a teenager then, had seen a lot of movies but that one really struck a very special chord). Besides, it was my first "encounter" with Julianne Moore and I've been madly in love with her ever since. 
Oh, regarding the DVD of Ascenseur have you thought of ordering it through Amazon.fr? It might be a tad pricey, of course, but if you ask me, it's worth every penny you might spend on it! -
marbleann — 20 years ago(April 01, 2006 03:51 PM)
One of the best movies I ever saw. The problem over here in America there are very few places that you see a movie like this. I actually caught it on cable years ago. Then when I went to look for it of course all I knew was the english name Elevator to the Gallows. So I am sure if this movie got more widespread exposure people would love it. I think this Malle's best movie.
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nedhorn — 9 years ago(October 18, 2016 01:49 PM)
Back in the 70s it used to be a common feature at revival theaters in NY and was well known to film lovers of the day. I saw it at the Thalia and on the big screen it is gorgeous. I mourn the loss of places like that
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Finn_Ninja — 18 years ago(June 20, 2007 12:34 PM)
I just happened to chance upon it on one of Showtime's extra channels here in the US. Great pacing, lighting and use of music. I remember listening to Ascenseur by Davis years ago as a teenager at a friend's house and loving it. The music really does make the movie in this case. excellent all around.
Sometimes the only sane answer to an insane world is insanity. -
Clothes-Off — 18 years ago(November 03, 2007 05:41 PM)
Not many films have an 8.0 or higher rating, so I wouldn't say this is nearly as underrated as some films heresome of which are criminally below 7.0.
"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!"
C. M. Burns -
Michael_Galiatsos — 17 years ago(December 24, 2008 02:08 PM)
This is a good film but far away from a masterpiece i dare to say.
In any case you got to keep in mind that young people today are not so fond of old films (especially black & white ones) and are more interested in recent releases.
I mean movies like this one are almost never broadcasted on television and its not easy to find them in an ordinary dvd shop and when you can actually find them then this means that they are in a low self among various collections of world cinema that only the well informed cinefils pay attention to.
To be honest though i like it that these films are underated and not very popular since it gives a mystique touch to them and makes them even more important to the ones that see them. -
pablo-taylor — 14 years ago(February 24, 2012 06:19 AM)
This film isn't underrated at all in my experience; it's both well known and highly regarded by people interested in foreign language films (as are Malle's films in general) and the soundtrack alone is legendary amongst Jazz-lovers. It would be true to say that it isn't well known to modern audiences with purely mainstream tastes but that could be said of 99.9% of international and/or classic cinema.
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PoppyTransfusion — 13 years ago(September 11, 2012 07:15 AM)
IMDb is a surreal place when it comes to film appreciation. Just watched the film for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it, even the jazz soundtrack and I'm not a jazz afficionado. It was beautifully shot, engrossing and the lead man as Tavernier was great and his character most interesting. The 'stuck in the lift' scenes were great as were the scenes at the motel with the German couple in which wars, fighting and France's colonial problems are all referenced in a most natural way.
Why problem make? When you no problem have, you don't want to make -
gioconda91423 — 9 years ago(June 22, 2016 06:31 AM)
Amazing film on many levels.
First, technical. Jeanne Moreau wanders around in the rain w/hair and face wet in full lighting. How was this done w/o making her look a complete wreck or causing the camera lens to be wet? Quiz at 11.
The shots inside the elevator from all angles. Again very tricky technically. Where exactly was the camera? The sound recorder? The lights? Etc. Or was it all shot on a carefully constructed set? Quiz at noon.
One could go on and on. The editing is seamless. You don't realize it's even happening as the viewer is taken from long shots in the the streets to mid shots where actors engage in dialog to close-ups. Cesar Award for Best Editing to be given in absentia in 2016.
Much of the movie if done w/o dialog, just a magnificent soundtrack by Miles Davis and beautiful sound montage by a brilliant sound person. Incredible work from the sound department. Oscar for "Best Sound" to be delivered in Memoriam in February 2016.
OK Then there is the acting which is superb by all. Casting. Wardrobe. Art direction. This movie is da^n near perfect.
and some write "This film is OKnothing special." Oh really? Guess that poster must be one of the superhero fanboys. This movie is masterful and a must-see for cineastes who appreciate great B/W French crime films of the era.