Julie Kohler is prevented from suicide by her mother. She leaves the town. She will track down, charm and kill five men who do not know her. What is her goal? What is her purpose?Julie Kohler is prevented from suicide by her mother. She leaves the town. She will track down, charm and kill five men who do not know her. What is her goal? What is her purpose?Julie Kohler is prevented from suicide by her mother. She leaves the town. She will track down, charm and kill five men who do not know her. What is her goal? What is her purpose?
- Awards
- 1 win & 5 nominations
- Rene Morane
- (as Michel Lonsdale)
- Le juge d'instruction
- (as Gilles Queant)
- Le policier
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film is François Truffaut's homage to Alfred Hitchcock, made shortly after Truffaut had published a book of extensive interviews with Hitchcock. As part of his homage, Truffaut chose a novel written by Cornell Woolrich, on whose story Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954) was based, and even chose long-time Hitchcock collaborator Bernard Herrmann to compose the score.
- GoofsWhen Julie goes to Fergus's studio the second time to model, he gives her a special bracelet to wear (designed by Calder). But seconds before, when she is in the bathroom changing, she is clearly already wearing the bracelet.
- Quotes
Coral: Permit me to make an impossible wish?
Julie Kohler: Why impossible?
Coral: Because I'm a rather pessimist.
Julie Kohler: I've heard it said: "There are no optimists or pessimists. There are only happy idiots or unhappy ones".
Coral: [smiling] Yes, well. I'm an unhappy idiot then.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Introduction to Truffaut Season (1972)
We see the murder of the husband repeatedly throughout the picture, studied from different angles and vantage points. He is assassinated on the steps of the church, while the thunderous 'wedding suite' plays rather ominously. We find out why she picks her victims the way she does and how they all relate to the slaying. This is one ticked off woman. Some of the murders echoed Hitch, one inspired by FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, another from NOTORIOUS. The scenes and "borrowing" that occur here are not as blatant as you may think, however. They are mostly inspirations and Truffaut puts his own spin on them, meshing them together or taking them apart and reassembling the elements. If you are a Hitch connoisseur, it is fun to interpret what Truffaut is doing with the master's vast material.
I was also struck by a feeling of NORTH BY NORTHWEST, but with a woman as the main protagonist and the journey turned inside out. Of course, we get the character who has seen this person before and either leads to her capture or is on to her, a staple in Hitch flix. The ultimate homage is Bernard Herrmann's score (he was Hitch's right hand man for years). The 'wedding suite' is louder than usual, resonating evil, and the music as a whole is Herrmann's typical gothic work, brilliant and memorable. Truffaut extends Hitchcock by showing us in more graphic detail some of the killings and the relentless mission this woman is on is not stylized the least bit.
Check out the poisoning scene and tell me you don't see Ingrid Bergman looking at Claude Raines circling and bellowing in expressionistic ways. Trains are littered throughout the film, one on the lampshade of a young boy, another with Moreau riding on it. This is all great, but it transcends some of Hitch's work in many ways. The blood-curdling ending is one of the best I have ever seen in film, period. Considering BRIDE WORE BLACK was released in 1968, the horrific ending may have inspired HITCH of all people when he made FRENZY in 1972. Watch both and see if you know what I mean. This is a must see for foreign film fans as well.
RATING: 8 1/2 of 10
- Don-102
- Apr 15, 1999
- How long is The Bride Wore Black?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Nevesta je bila v črnini
- Filming locations
- Eglise Saint-Lambert de Vaugirard, Paris 15, Paris, France(wedding church)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $747,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $45,075
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $11,206
- Apr 25, 1999
- Gross worldwide
- $45,075
- Runtime1 hour 47 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1