Bluebeard aka Landru
Directed by Claude Chabrol
Legendary French New Wave director Claude Chabrol (Les Bonnes Femmes, The Champagne Murders) brings the shocking true story of serial killer Henri Désiré Landru to the screen with Bluebeard. Landru, played with dastardly charm by Charles Denner (The Bride Wore Black), is a seemingly respectable Parisian who devises a sick and ingenious scheme to supplement his dwindling income during the First World War. First, he lures wealthy dowagers to his villa. Then, he cons them into forking over their fortunes. Finally, he kills them, chops them up and immolates the pieces. This jet-black comedy was written by acclaimed author Françoise Sagan (Bonjour Tristesse) and features a host of superb actresses including Michèle Morgan (Port of Shadows), Danielle Darrieux (The Earrings of Madame de...), Hildegard Knef (Fedora), Juliette Mayniel (Les Cousins), Stéphane Audran (The Third Lover), Catherine Rouvel (Borsalino), Françoise Lugagne (Diary of a Chambermaid) and Mary Marquet (Fellini’s Casanova).