Murderer's Diary (1963)

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Movie
German title A murderer's diary
Original title Diary of a Madman
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1963
length 92:35 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Reginald Le Borg
script Guy de Maupassant (novel)
Robert E. Kent (screenplay)
production Robert E. Kent
Edward Small
music Richard LaSalle
camera Ellis W. Carter
cut Grant Whytock
occupation

A murderer's diary is an American horror film from 1963. The title role was played by Vincent Price , who was particularly famous as a performer in horror films. The script is based on an adaptation of the short story Le Horla by Guy de Maupassant from 1887.

action

A demon jumps from a convicted murderer to his judge , who is now also at the mercy of the demon and thus becomes a murderer himself.

The film begins with a flashback : After judge Simon Cordier's funeral, selected mourners are invited to a meeting. This select group includes: the servant Pierre and the cook Louise, who served the judge as domestic servants during his lifetime, the police captain Robert Rennedon, a long-time friend of the judge, and Father Raymonde, a clergyman. The meeting takes place on the premises of the art dealer Andre D'Arville. He and his daughter Jeanne take part themselves. They let the rest of those present know that the deceased gave Jeanne a small chest just a few hours before his death , with the order that it be opened to the specified group of people only after his possible death. This is now happening at the urging of Captain Rennedon, who is slowly becoming impatient. The chest contains a diary, with a letter from the judge under the cover. Monsieur Cordier announced that he was now speaking to them from the grave. From the silence of this place he can now talk about things about which he had to remain silent during his lifetime. He will ask God's blessing for everyone present when they hear his terrible story. At the captain's further insistence, the diary describing the days and weeks before the judge's violent death is opened. The film plot starts with the diary narration as follows:

France in 1886. The respected judge Simon Cordier is visited in his office by his longtime friend, the Police Captain Robert Rennedon. He comes to him with the request of Louis Girot, a murderer sentenced to death by Cordier. Girot asks the judge to visit his cell. As the judge knows, he is about to be executed. Maybe he would like to ease his conscience? The police officer knows his friend's hobby of doing forensic studies on the nature of crime. But he doesn't think much of it himself. For him, who thinks more pragmatically, a criminal is simply a criminal. But of course he leads his friend into the cell of the delinquent, where the two men talk. Girot once again assures Cordier that he did not commit the murders consciously, but rather carried them out without will under the influence of an evil demon who had taken possession of him. The doomed is convinced that this demon lives and nourishes itself exclusively on the energy of evil. And that would also be the reason why he, Girot, never asked the judicial authorities for clemency. As he explains to the judge, he wants to face death under the guillotine in order to finally be freed from the demon. Monsieur Cordier doesn't quite believe the man, however. In his pragmatic manner, he explains to him that he did not believe this statement during the trial. Nobody kills four people in the most gruesome way for no reason. So why should he do it now? Girot again assures that he is convinced that the demon had his reasons for the murder orders. Suddenly the creature takes possession of the doomed man again (visible in the film by the green discolored eyes), who now also wants to kill Cordier. In a duel, however, the prisoner fell and was fatally injured. On the following days, incidents inexplicable to Judge Simon Cordier occur. Objects move independently in his residence as well as in his office, and a strange voice begins to talk to him. This voice also prompts the judge to get his beloved canary out of the cage and kill it. Cordier seeks help from the neurologist Dr. Borman, who advises him to take time off work due to stress and to dedicate himself to his hobby, modeling , to compensate . On the street, Cordier meets model Odette Mallotte, who accepts the offer to pose for Cordier as a model.

In fact, the judicial official's health is improving, the alleged delusions remain. In addition, he falls more and more in love with his model Odette Mallotte, which in turn finds the judge's wealth tempting. But suddenly the voice of the demon (who calls himself "Horla" in the film) returns to Cordier's consciousness. "Horla" now openly announces his intentions to Cordier. He should atone for the fact that 12 years ago he drove his wife to suicide through his behavior. Cordier realizes that the murderer Girot had told the truth when he claimed to be possessed by a demon, a demon who is now increasingly trying to influence the will of the judge. His love and affection for Odette is ultimately influenced by the work of the demon. Cordier makes her a marriage proposal, not yet knowing that she is married to the painter Paul DuClasse. The judge bought a painting from the D'Arville gallery showing his beloved ballerina. In order to be able to escape from the jealous, abandoned husband Paul DuClasse, the two decide to travel to the family's holiday home in Lucerne , Switzerland. The service personnel are ordered in advance to start the journey, so that the host lives alone in the house from now on.

The following night “Horla” takes complete possession of Cordier's will. This goes to his lover's apartment. Meanwhile, Odette is visited by her husband. This visit escalated into a heated argument. Because Paul DuClasse recognizes what his wife really loves: money! And he accuses her of constantly looking for new men with even more money. In addition, she will probably exclude the judge by the line and thread. Then, when the money is used up, she will eventually drop her respective beau like the proverbial hot potato. He should feel sorry for the judge for that. Odette has heard enough! In the dispute, she confirms all of her husband's allegations, whereupon she throws him out of the apartment. A little later Cordier appears, who cruelly kills the young woman with several knife stabs. Their screams can be heard all over the house. Since her husband had a violent argument with Odette, observed by a witness, Paul DuClasse is arrested as a suspect. Simon Cordier himself is assigned the task of judging the trial against the defendant Paul DuClasse. An initial situation that particularly displeases Jeanne D'Arville, the daughter of the art gallery owner Andre D'Arville, as she is convinced that not only Paul is innocent, but even Judge Cordier himself is the culprit. Jeanne D'Arville, on the one hand, arranges for the accused to be heard at the judge, and on the other, goes to Cordier's house to have a discussion. Judge Cordier is outwardly relentless (and innocent) in this matter, nevertheless, even if he cannot remember his murder, remorse that he must now condemn an ​​"innocent" to death and that "Horla" him will continue to be instrumental in his murders.

After the demon prevented Cordier from attempting suicide, Cordier can inwardly come to terms with the fact that Jeanne D'Arville threatens him to be charged with the police as a perpetrator. On the other hand, "Horla" is now trying to prevent this by the demon again taking possession of Cordier, with the intention of having Jeanne D'Arville also murdered by Cordier's hand. Shortly before the completion of the murder, a Jesus cross causes the demon to leave Cordier. Cordier desperately seeks help from Father Raymonde, who happens to appear, and asks him to arrange for Jeanne D'Arville to report to him at his house that night. Later, when Jeanne D'Arville knocked on Cordier's door with Father Raymonde, Cordier gave Jeanne D'Arville the aforementioned chest.

Cordier is convinced that he can take up the fight against "Horla", since he has come to the realization that fire can defeat the demon. When "Horla" enters the study again through the window, Cordier kindles a large fire and at the same time blocks all exits. In fact, "Horla" panics herself and ultimately dies in the flames. However, Cordier is no longer able to leave the burning room in time and also dies in the flames.

The final scene starts with the introductory flashback: After reading out the diary, Paul DuClasse's innocence is proven for the mourners present, while Judge Cordier is viewed as an obviously mentally confused suicide.

Details about the film

  • The film was first released in the United States on March 6, 1963. The cinema premiere in Germany took place on August 2, 1963.
  • The film is set in France. In the film, however, there is no mention of a town. Even on Judge Simon's business card, which is shown clearly legible in the film (after 55.00), Judge Simon's address does not include additional information about the location.
  • Although the film is set in France, recognizable written texts such as a diary entry (after 06:15), handwritten notes on business cards (after 55.05) or the daily newspaper (after 65:50) are in English, in accordance with the film's original language written.

Reviews

  • The internet platform Cinefacts rates the film as a little pearl of horror cinema, not only a must for Vincent Price fans.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Premiere dates on Internet Movie Database
  2. Film review on cinefacts.de