The beauty of world cinema is that there are always an abundance of international treasures to discover. Thanks to KL Studio Classics, there are five new releases that will bring some of France’s finest films to your home. Take a look at these foreign titles that have just made their debut!
Quai Des Orfèvres (aka Jenny Lamour) (1947)
In postwar Paris, pianist Maurice Martineau (Bertrand Blier) disliked the ambitions of his chanteuse wife Jenny Lamour (Suzy Delair)…and he loathed that she wasn’t above flirting with wealthy old lecher Brignon (Charles Dullin) to realize them. When Brignon turns up murdered–and Maurice has no alibi–Inspector Antoine (Louis Jouvet) finds that the case might not be open and shut. Henri-Georges Clouzot’s influential whodunit co-stars Simone Renant, Jacques Grétillat.
The Third Lover (1962)
Sent to Munich on assignment, struggling journalist André Mercier (Jacques Charrier) rented lodgings at the Bavarian chateau of successful novelist Andreas Hartmann (Walther Reyer) and his beautiful wife Hélène (Stéphane Audran). Having made a failed pass at his hostess, the resentful tenant goes on an insidious campaign to undo the couple’s happiness by smearing her for infidelity. Early effort from Claude Chabrol co-stars Daniel Boulanger, André Badin.
Line of Demarcation (1966)
In a village in the Jura split between free and occupied France, Pierre (Maurice Ronet)–noble, officer, and released POW–resignedly went home to the chalet which had been converted into a German command center. His British-born wife Mary (Jean Seberg) was far less accepting of the situation…but her covert efforts for the Resistance might end in disaster. Claude Chabrol’s sole war film, adapted from Colonel Remy’s memoir, co-stars Daniel Gélin, Stéphane Audran.
Max and the Junkmen (1971)
Well-born Paris police detective Max (Michel Piccoli) was looking to boost his declining professional reputation, and he found his means while surveilling a gang of petty scrap thieves. Posing as a buyer, he sets them up to pull a major heist–and get stung for it–but will he rue getting too involved with the ringleader’s gorgeous hooker girlfriend (Romy Schneider)? Claude Sautet’s compelling crime thriller co-stars Georges Wilson, Bernard Fresson, François Périer.
And Hope to Die (1972)
Fleeing into Montreal ahead of some vengeful crash victim relatives, pilot Tony Cardot (Jean-Louis Trintignant) has more hard luck when he witnesses a mob slaying. Dragged before the gangster (Robert Ryan) who ordered the hit, the fast-talking flyboy manages to ingratiate himself…and gets recruited to help on an ill-fated caper. René Clément’s flavorful crime thriller, loosely based on David Goodis’ “Black Friday,” co-stars Aldo Ray, Lea Massari, Tisa Farrow, Jean Gaven.