Behind the Facade poster

Behind the Facade( 1939)

TV-MACrimeComedy
78%
User
Score

" He's a loser, he gets off to a bad start, but when he wants to, he always has the last word: Justice ! "

Overview

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.

    Top Billed Cast

    1. cast image

      Lucien Baroux

      Commissioner Boucheron, district police officer

    2. cast image

      Jacques Baumer

      Inspector Lambert of the Sûreté

    3. cast image

      Jules Berry

      Alfredo d'Avila, dancer of these ladies

    4. cast image

      Gaby Morlay

      Gaby Valrose, minister's lover

    5. cast image

      Elvira Popescu

      Mrs. Rameau, wife of an industrialist and mistress of Alfredo

    6. cast image

      Michel Simon

      Picking, knife-throwing artist

    7. cast image

      André Lefaur

      Mr. Corbeau, kleptomaniac

    8. cast image

      Gaby Sylvia

      Madeleine Martin, in love with André

    9. cast image

      Andrex

      André Laurent, bank cashier, lover of Madeleine

    10. cast image

      Simone Berriau

      Lydia, singer at “Perroquet”, mistress of the President

    11. cast image

      Erich von Stroheim

      Eric, German naturalized French

    12. cast image

      Betty Stockfeld

      English, Albert's companion, Eric's mistress

    13. cast image

      Jacques Dumesnil

      Albert Durant, stockbroker and poker player

    14. cast image

      Missia

      Joséphine, chicken trainer, wife of Picking

    15. cast image

      Paul Faivre

      Concierge of the two buildings

    16. cast image

      Aimé Clariond

      Judge Bernier, President of the Court of Appeal

    17. cast image

      Raymond Segard

      Robert Bernier, eldest son of the President

    18. cast image

      Marcel Orluc

      Gérard Bernier, youngest son of the President

    19. cast image

      Marguerite Moreno

      Owner of the "Perroquet" and the festivities upstairs

    20. cast image

      Gabrielle Dorziat

      Mrs. Bernier, wife of the President

    21. cast image

      Jean Daurand

      Telegraphist who discovered the corpse

    22. cast image

      Robert Ozanne

      Brigadier

    23. cast image

      Julien Carette

      Soldier, confined in the room of a “country”

    24. cast image

      Elmire Vautier

      Marie, Lydia's dresser

    25. cast image

      Lina Darwils

      Tenant

    26. cast image

      Claude Sainval

      Gaby's gigolo

    27. cast image

      Raymone

      Madame Mathieu's maid

    28. cast image

      Jean Joffre

      Mr. Martin, blind, father of Madeleine

    29. cast image

      Lise Courbet

      Paulette

    30. cast image

      Marcel Simon

      Jules, government minister and Gaby's lover

    31. cast image

      Georges Bever

      Taxi driver (uncredited)

    32. cast image

      Georges Malkine

      Taxi driver (uncredited)

    33. cast image

      Rivers Cadet

      Agent (uncredited)

    34. cast image

      Franck Maurice

      Agent (uncredited)

    35. cast image

      Robert Moor

      Agent (uncredited)

    36. cast image

      Jean Wiener

      Pianist of the “Perroquet” (uncredited)

    37. cast image

      Yves Mirande

      Bum on the bench (uncredited)

    38. cast image

      Roger Doucet

      (uncredited)

    39. cast image

      Hélène Flouest

      (uncredited)

    40. cast image

      Henri Nassiet

      (uncredited)

    Social

    Review 1Discussion
    S

    A review by Sigmund Kühßeir

    10
    Written by Sigmund Kühßeir on Tue Jan 16 2024
    **Behind the Facade (1939)** A crime has been committed in a very respectable Parisian apartment building... Which of the tenants is the murderer? A shocking investigation for a series of sketches. It also features a fabulous cast of stars from the 1930s/1940s: Jules Berry, Michel Simon, Erich Von Stroheim, Elvire Popesco, Carette, Gaby Morlay, Simone Berriau... Lucien Baroux as Commissaire Boucheron, a policeman from the Quariter, who investigates the murder of a building's owner, and Jacques Baumer as Inspector Lambert, from the Sûreté, a more prestigious service than the local police stat...

    Media

    Videos 0Backdrops 1Posters 5

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    Facts

    Status

    Released

    Original Language

    English

    Budget

    -

    Revenue

    -

    Keywords