Landru ( French Landru ) is a film by the French director Claude Chabrol , released in 1963 .
| Landry | |
|---|---|
| Landru | |
 | |
| Genre | docudrama crime drama black comedy |
| Producer | Claude Chabrol |
| Producer | Georges de Borrejard Carlo Ponti |
| Author script | Francoise Sagan |
| In the main cast | Charles Denner Michelle Morgan Daniel Darier Hildegard Knef Stefan Audran |
| Operator | Henri Decay |
| Composer | Pierre Jansen , Paul Mizraki |
| Film company | Compagnia Cinematografica Champion Rome paris films |
| Duration | 115 minutes |
| A country |  France  Italy |
| Language | French |
| Year | 1963 |
| IMDb | ID 0056165 |
The film's genre combines crime drama based on documentary material with elements of black comedy. The script was written by Francoise Sagan based on the real circumstances of the case of the French serial killer Henri Desiree Landru , who killed and dismembered 10 women and one child during the First World War.
Content
- 1 plot
- 2 Cast
- 3 Characteristic
- 4 References
Story
During the First World War, the outwardly respectable middle-aged man, Henry Landru ( Charles Denner ), developed an ingenious means of replenishing his shrinking budget. Landry advertised in newspapers, then selected wealthy widows over the age of 50 among the respondents. He invited them to a restaurant, then lured them to his country villa, found out their financial condition and gained access to bank accounts, after which he killed them, cut them into pieces and burned them. Landry used the obtained means to support the comfort of his wife, lover and four children, accustomed to a secured bourgeois lifestyle. In the end, he was caught after the sister of one of the victims identified him. Landry swore that he was not a psychopathic killer, and that he committed the killings only to ensure that his family had a decent life style that she was used to. During the trial, Landryu refused to plead guilty and showed no remorse. He spoke eloquently, convincingly and passionately, convinced that the jury would not dare to pass a guilty verdict to a man of his intellect and origin. He was guillotined on February 25, 1922.
Cast
- Charles Denner - Henri Desiree Landry
- Daniel Darier - Burt Aeon
- Michelle Morgan - Celestine Buisson
- Juliette Mayenl - Anna Collon
- Stefan Audran - Fernand Segre
- Marie Marche - Madame Guyen
- Pierre Vernier - Magitstrat
- Serge Bento - Maurice Landry
- Andre Foucher - Dr. Paul
- Robert Bournier - Judge
- Mario David - Prosecutor
- Francoise Lugan - Madame Landry
- Claude Mansard - Attorney
- Jean-Louis Mori - Commissioner Belen
- Hildegard Knef - Madame X
Feature
A very accurate, but not too exciting presentation of the famous Landry case, which at one time stirred up the whole of France. The film scrupulously follows facts, ranging from Landry's family life, seduction and murder, and ending with trial and execution. Despite the star cast of actresses ( Michelle Morgan , Daniel Darier , Hildegard Knef ), not one of them gets the opportunity to fully demonstrate their talent. The film will satisfy, first of all, those who are interested in the details of this case, but a movie buff could expect a more emotional, deep and disturbing film from Chabrol .