Overview
A tense exploration of love and betrayal unfolds in the shadows of Paris.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- brooding
- wistful
- hypnotic
- late night noir viewing
- french cinema double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Louis Malle's debut as a hypnotic, soulful noir distinguished by atmospheric cinematography, wistful performances, and Miles Davis's sultry score.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Julien's return to recover the forgotten rope turns the apparently perfect suicide scheme into a chain of complications.
Florence wanders through cafés and shops at night, with her face illuminated by passing lights and storefronts.
The film is widely regarded as a bridge between classic film noir and the French New Wave, especially through its location shooting and youthful secondary couple.
Miles Davis's improvisational score gives the lovers' nocturnal separation a wistful, hypnotic fatalism.
Films like Elevator to the Gallows, and why
Double Indemnity
shares a morally compromised crime plot, nocturnal urban atmosphere, and fatalistic noir suspense
Breathless
shares french new wave influence, restless young characters, and jazz-inflected urban crime drama
The Third Man
shares romantic betrayal, psychological tension, and an elegant european noir mood
Le Doulos
shares doomed lovers, murder intrigue, and a slowly tightening atmosphere of suspicion
Movie Details
- Director
- Louis Malle
- Release Date
- 1958-01-29
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (732)
Cast
- Jeanne Moreau
- Maurice Ronet
- Georges Poujouly
- Yori Bertin
- Jean Wall
- Elga Andersen
- Sylviane Aisenstein
- Micheline Bona
- Gisèle Grandpré
- Jacqueline Staup
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Elevator to the Gallows about?
- A meticulously staged murder collapses into a nocturnal maze of suspicion, separation, and chance across Paris.
- What is Elevator to the Gallows like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Elevator to the Gallows as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Elevator to the Gallows violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Elevator to the Gallows as mild.
- What did critics think of Elevator to the Gallows?
- Critics broadly regard Louis Malle's debut as a hypnotic, soulful noir distinguished by atmospheric cinematography, wistful performances, and Miles Davis's sultry score.
- Which films are like Elevator to the Gallows?
- Films with a similar feel include Double Indemnity, Breathless, The Third Man, and Le Doulos.
- How long is Elevator to the Gallows?
- Elevator to the Gallows runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Elevator to the Gallows?
- In United States, Elevator to the Gallows streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.
