Italy / Aug 01, 1939 / Venice Film Festival
" He's a loser, he gets off to a bad start, but when he wants to, he always has the last word: Justice ! "
1h 30min
Overall average
5.0/10
Plot
In the elevator of two large Parisian buildings, a telegraph operator discovers the body of an elderly woman, Madame Mathieu, the owner of both buildings. Boucheron, the local superintendent, is dispatched to investigate, along with his rival, Inspector Lambert of the "Sûreté". To solve the enigma, they scour staircases and corridors, visiting every floor of both buildings, courtyard and facade. Their gruff rivalry allows them to complement each other in discovering who committed the crime among a gallery of characters, humble or rich, who all have something to be ashamed of... A rare, fast-paced, picturesque comedy set against the backdrop of a police mystery.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Gaby Sylvia | Madeleine Martin, in love with André |
| Andrex | André Laurent, bank cashier, lover of Madeleine |
| Simone Berriau | Lydia, singer at “Perroquet”, mistress of the President |
| Erich von Stroheim | Eric, German naturalized French |
| Betty Stockfeld | English, Albert's companion, Eric's mistress |
| Jacques Dumesnil | Albert Durant, stockbroker and poker player |
| Missia | Joséphine, chicken trainer, wife of Picking |
| Paul Faivre | Concierge of the two buildings |
| Aimé Clariond | Judge Bernier, President of the Court of Appeal |
| Raymond Segard | Robert Bernier, eldest son of the President |
| Marcel Orluc | Gérard Bernier, youngest son of the President |
| Marguerite Moreno | Owner of the "Perroquet" and the festivities upstairs |
| Gabrielle Dorziat | Mrs. Bernier, wife of the President |
| Jean Daurand | Telegraphist who discovered the corpse |
| Robert Ozanne | Brigadier |
| Julien Carette | Soldier, confined in the room of a “country” |
| Elmire Vautier | Marie, Lydia's dresser |
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| Lina Darwils | Tenant |
| Claude Sainval | Gaby's gigolo |
| Raymone | Madame Mathieu's maid |
| Jean Joffre | Mr. Martin, blind, father of Madeleine |
| Lise Courbet | Paulette |
| Marcel Simon | Jules, government minister and Gaby's lover |
| Georges Bever | Taxi driver (uncredited) |
| Georges Malkine | Taxi driver (uncredited) |
| Rivers Cadet | Agent (uncredited) |
| Franck Maurice | Agent (uncredited) |
| Robert Moor | Agent (uncredited) |
| Jean Wiener | Pianist of the “Perroquet” (uncredited) |
| Yves Mirande | Bum on the bench (uncredited) |
| Roger Doucet | (uncredited) |
| Hélène Flouest | (uncredited) |
| Henri Nassiet | (uncredited) |
Genres
CrimeComedy
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | Derrière la façade |
| Original language | Français (FR) |
| Spoken languages | Français |
| Production countries | France |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | Régina |
| Release date | 14 marzo 1939 |
| Writer | Yves Mirande, Georges Lacombe, Max Kolpé |
| Editing | Marthe Poncin, Marie Le Bars |
| Cinematography | Victor Arménise, Robert Juillard, Jacques Robin, Jean Joffre |
| Assistant directors | Jacques Henri-Robert, Georges Lacombe, Yves Mirande |
| Camera operators | Victor Arménise, Robert Juillard, Jacques Robin, Jean Joffre |
| Additional photography | Victor Arménise, Robert Juillard, Jacques Robin, Jean Joffre |
| Production design | Lucien Aguettand, Louis Demasure |
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| Art direction | Lucien Aguettand, Louis Demasure |
| Set decoration | Lucien Aguettand, Louis Demasure |
| Music | André Gailhard, Jean Wiener, Robert Ivonnet |
| Sound | André Gailhard, Jean Wiener, Robert Ivonnet |
| Costume design | Igor Keldich |
| Makeup | Igor Keldich |
| Hairstyling | Igor Keldich |
Release dates
Premiere
Theatrical release
France / Mar 14, 1939
Portugal / May 26, 1939
Hungary / Sep 25, 1939
Sweden / Oct 12, 1939
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Mexico / Feb 02, 1940
Denmark / Apr 08, 1940
Finland / Nov 21, 1943
United States / Sep 27, 1944
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