{"id":2913,"date":"2013-05-15T13:28:32","date_gmt":"2013-05-15T12:28:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.electricsheepmagazine.co.uk\/reviews\/?p=2913"},"modified":"2013-06-04T06:29:20","modified_gmt":"2013-06-04T05:29:20","slug":"the-murderer-lives-at-number-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.electricsheepmagazine.co.uk\/reviews\/2013\/05\/15\/the-murderer-lives-at-number-21\/","title":{"rendered":"The Murderer Lives at Number 21"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
The Murderer Lives at Number 21<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

\nFormat:<\/B> DVD + Blu-ray

\nRelease date:<\/B> 20 May 2013

\nDistributor:<\/B> Eureka Entertainment

\nDirector:<\/B> Henri-Georges Clouzot

\nWriters:<\/B> Henri-Georges Clouzot, Stanislas-Andr\u00e9 Steeman

\nBased on the novel by:<\/B> Stanislas-Andr\u00e9 Steeman

\nCast:<\/B> Pierre Fresnay, Suzy Delair, Jean Tissier, Pierre Larquey, No&#235l Roquevert

\nOriginal title:<\/B> L\u2019assassin habite au 21<\/i>

\nFrance 1942

\n84 mins\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Murderer Lives at Number 21<\/i>, the feature debut from Henri-Georges Clouzot, who is best known for films like the masterful Le corbeau<\/i><\/a> and Les diaboliques<\/i><\/a>, is an entertaining, comedic film noir<\/i> \u2013 a blend of two different genres that works thanks to some brilliantly witty dialogue, excellent performances and a superb visual aesthetic that makes the most of the atmospheric hallmarks of noir<\/i> cinema.<\/p>\n

A murderer stalks the streets of an arrondissement<\/i> in Paris, a calling card from a Monsieur Durand found on the bodies of each of his victims. While the local residents seem more intrigued than frightened by the killer, who\u2019s become a steady fixture in all the newspapers, the police officials are beginning to feel the heat. The elegant Inspector Wens (Pierre Fresnay) is brought in to work on the case and soon after receives his first break: a reformed thief, now rag-and-bone man, has found a stash of the calling cards while clearing out an attic at Les Mimosas, a boarding house at 21 Avenue Junot. With the information at his disposal, Wens decides to take a room at the boarding house in a rather humorous disguise.<\/p>\n

But matters are complicated by the actions of his incongruous girlfriend, Mila Malou (Suzy Delair). A thwarted singer, she is first introduced to us at an audition, where, flattering the impresario to no avail, she learns that her only chance of success is if she\u2019s already famous \u2013 and what better way to become a star than to get her name in the newspapers, like Monsieur Durand? Although fashioned as something of a ditz, Delair\u2019s character is fabulous \u2013 at the audition, she compares herself to America before Columbus, waiting to be discovered. Later, she tells someone that she stays home and knits booties for a baby \u2013 if Wens is capable of producing one. And of course, she finds the solution to her celebrity problem by taking part in Wens\u2019s murder investigation, following him to the boarding house. <\/p>\n

Wens\u2019s fellow lodgers are a motley bunch: a manservant trying to train a caged bird to sing; the ageing Miss Cuq, described as \u2018une vraie jeunne fille\u2019, a \u2018maiden\u2019 lady and failed author who perseveres after each rejection; Linz, a doctor dressed for safari, who boasts about surviving 25 years in the bush; Colin, a down-at-heel man who makes faceless dolls meant to resemble the killer; the pick-pocketing Professor Lalah-Poor, a turban-wearing magician and \u2018artiste\u2019; and Kid Robert, a blind former boxer, joined by his attractive nurse. <\/p>\n

The lodgers, including Wens and Mila, spy on each other, sneak into each other\u2019s rooms, steal… there\u2019s no shortage of distrust and malevolence beneath the artificially friendly veneer in the house. Meanwhile, more bodies pile up, including one of their own, after Mila, sticking her nose into the affair, suggests to Miss Cuq that she base a story on Monsieur Durand\u2019s murderous crime wave. But in the end, after some unorthodox detective work, Mila and Wens solve the mystery with plenty of flair, drawing out \u2018Monsieur Durand\u2019 in inimitable fashion. And while The Murderer Lives at Number 21<\/i> might not be as subversive or fiercely brilliant as some of his later films, Clouzot\u2019s impressive debut as a director is a remarkably stylish and entertaining detective story. <\/p>\n

Sarah Cronin<\/B><\/I><\/p>\n

Watch a clip from The Murderer Lives at Number 21<\/i>:<\/B><\/p>\n