The secret of the yellow room (film)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The secret of the yellow room |
| Original title | Le mystère de la chambre jaune |
| Country of production |
France Belgium |
| original language | French |
| Publishing year | 2003 |
| length | 118 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Bruno Podalydès |
| script | Bruno Podalydès |
| production | Pascal Caucheteux |
| music | Philippe Sarde |
| camera | Christophe Beaucarne |
| cut | Hervé de Luze |
| occupation | |
| |
The Secret of the Yellow Room is a French-Belgian crime film by Bruno Podalydès from 2003. It is based on the novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux (in the original title) .
action
The French press reports on an unbelievable attempted murder: Mathilde, the daughter of the scientist Stangerson, almost was murdered in her yellow room. What is astonishing about the case is that the perpetrator left clear traces, but had no apparent possibility of escape, but still escaped. The investigation of the case has taken on the famous investigator Frédéric Larsan. Reporter Joseph Rouletabille and his assistant Sainclair also appear at the scene of the crime with examining magistrate De Marquet. His goal is to clear the case before Larsan.
The examination of the yellow room does not reveal anything new. The room is in confusion, furniture was apparently knocked over during the fight, a bloody handprint on the wall comes from the perpetrator. There is also a heavy bone with which Mathilde was apparently knocked down. The father and other employees heard two shots that Mathilde could have fired at the perpetrator during the night. Mathilde, in turn, found herself passed out on the floor with a deep head injury when the employees managed to break open the door. The perpetrator could neither escape through the door, which was constantly occupied during the events, nor through the barred window. Various employees can be considered as perpetrators, but they all have an alibi. In addition to the father, his colleague Jacques and the housekeeper couple Bernier, only Mathilde's fiancée, Robert Darzac, and the game warden are on the property.
In addition to the Berniers, Larsan believes that Darsac in particular is the culprit, which in turn excludes Joseph. He learns from Darsac that the perpetrator will try again the next night to kill Mathilde. Darsac has to travel to Paris , so cannot protect Mathilde. Joseph keeps Darsac's message to himself, but makes arrangements. He and his assistant organize a guarding of Mathilde's room. Shortly before the planned murder of Mathilde, Joseph accepts Larsan's invitation to have dinner with him. Both drink wine while Joseph's assistant tries to stay sober. During the meal, Larsan collapses asleep and the two journalists realize that something must have been in the meal to turn them off too. While Sainclair takes his observation post in the hallway in front of Mathilde's room, as discussed, Joseph falls asleep in his room. Sainclair sees a figure disappear into Mathilde's room and finally alarms Joseph. He climbs up a ladder to Mathilde's room and sees a figure in the room with a welding mask. He organizes the help of Jacques, Larsan and Sainclair, who are supposed to cut off the perpetrator's path. Nevertheless, the perpetrator, roused by Joseph, escapes. As he runs across the yard, Sainclair shoots him. In the courtyard they finally find the body of the game warden, who was killed with a knife stab in the heart.
Because Darsac has demonstrably not traveled to Paris that day, but got off the train not far from Mathilde's property, he is arrested as a suspect. Joseph knows who the culprit is and announces a major trip to America to collect evidence. He wants to be back for another crime scene inspection. In fact, he appears with evidence that he does not present to those present until five hours after his arrival: Larsan himself was the perpetrator, but was accused by him of the perpetrator on his arrival, so that he was able to escape. Since Joseph has no interest in an arrest of Larsan, which not he but the police should take care of, he waited for the time when Larsan had already safely arrived in Paris. Joseph explains to those present that Larsan is actually the con artist Jean Ballmeyer, who once had a relationship with Mathilde in America. Ballmeyer was rejected as a bridegroom by Mathilde's father, and Mathilde also turned away from him when she found out about his criminal background. Ballmeyer, however, was crazy about Mathilde and now wanted to get her to come back to America with him. In the yellow room, an attempted murder had already taken place before the crime that became known. Ballmeyer had strangled Mathilde and was shot in the hand by her. There had been no second attempted murder later that evening - Mathilde had dreamed of the crime that afternoon and had passed out on the edge of the cupboard in the panic that ensued. The cabinet fell over and a shot from the pistol on it went off. In the following, Ballmeyer alias Larsan was able to come into contact with Mathilde without being noticed and at the same time actively participate in the investigation. Joseph found out about him because he had seen everyone else with the perpetrator in disguise, except Larsan. His assumption that Larsan led a double life was confirmed on his trip through America. Joseph finishes his statement about the perpetrator, which is accepted as logical. Darsac is set free. However, Joseph did not say that Mathilde and Ballmeyer have a child together. He returns alone to Mathilde's room and there smells a bewitching perfume scent that strikes him as strangely familiar. Shortly afterwards, screams can be heard from Mathilde's room.
production
The secret of the yellow room is based on the novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux, which also marked the beginning of a series of novels about the reporter Joseph Rouletabille. The film was shot mainly at Castle de Villemolin in Anthien. Dorothée Guiraud created the costumes and François Emmanuelli designed the film .
The film was released in French cinemas on June 11, 2003, where it was seen by 845,693 viewers. In Germany it was shown for the first time on September 10, 2009 on arte on television.
The main role of Joseph Rouletabille was played by Bruno Podalydès with his younger brother Denis. Also in his second Leroux film The Perfume of the Lady in Black from 2005 Podalydès cast the role of Joseph Rouletabille with him.
Reviews
For the film service , The Secret of the Yellow Room was an "atmospheric film adaptation of a detective novel by Gaston Leroux, [...] which is a little too long, but ultimately knows how to convince friends of moderate detective entertainment."
Cinema called the film a “lively, stylishly equipped killer hunt” and a “nostalgic-chic crime thriller to puzzle along”.
Web links
- The Mystery of the Yellow Room at the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ See Box Office on allocine.fr
- ↑ The Secret of the Yellow Room. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ↑ See cinema.de