dir. Louis Malle
writ. Louis Malle & Roger Nimier (adaptation), Roger Nimier (dialogue), Noël Calef (novel and pre-adaptation)
feat. Jeanne Moreau, Maurice Ronet, George Poujouly, Yori Bertin, Jean Wall
Louis Malle rolls out a hip noir tale of murder and suspense in his directorial debut, defying a title that dares to give away too much plot with numerous twists to keep the viewer guessing. As Julien (Ronet) awaits discovery in the eponymous lift, Florence (Moreau) roams the streets of Paris longingly searching for him, fearing that she's been left for another woman. Meanwhile, Louis (Poujouly) and Veronique (Bertin) race around town in Julien's car, a younger, imaginary version of the older couple, as prone to trouble but wilder and less experienced.
There are fast cars, curious characters, dangerous deeds, and violence, but it's the improvised score by Miles Davis that really fuels the film, lending life and anguish to the action. It is the mood modulated by the music that brings Elevator to greater heights than its relatively simple story.
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