L'ascenseur pour l'échafaud

Julien Tavernier kills his lover Florence's husband, but is trapped in the lift to his offices. Meanwhile, Louis, a young man, steals his car and signs into a hotel, with his girlfriend, under Tavernier's name. During his stay there, Louis shoots a German couple with a gun he found in Julien’s car. When Tavernier finally manages to escape from the lift in which he was forced to spend the weekend, he is arrested and charged with the murder of the German couple. Florence manages to obtain the evidence needed to clear Julien. But in so doing, she unwittingly incriminates him in the murder of her husband … What makes this remarkable cinematic debut by Louis Malle a particularly memorable film are the compelling performances from Jeanne Moreau and Maurice Ronet, both luminaries of French cinema, Henri Decae's atmospheric photography, and some amazing background music, improvised by jazz performer Miles Davis.