Behind the Facade

Name: Behind the Facade
Genre: Crime, Comedy
Released: 1939-03-14
Duration: 90 min

1h 30m·Crime, Comedy

Directed by Yves Mirande, Georges Lacombe·1939

Rate

7.7/10 avg

In the elevator of two large Parisian buildings, a telegraph operator discovers the body of an elderly woman, Madame Mathieu, the owner of both buildings. Boucheron, the local superintendent, is dispatched to investigate, along with his rival, Inspector Lambert of the "Sûreté". To solve the enigma, they scour staircases and corridors, visiting every floor of both buildings, courtyard and facade. Their gruff rivalry allows them to complement each other in discovering who committed the crime among a gallery of characters, humble or rich, who all have something to be ashamed of... A rare, fast-paced, picturesque comedy set against the backdrop of a police mystery.

DirectorYves MirandeDirectorGeorges LacombeStudioRégina

Actor	Role
Lucien BarouxCommissioner Boucheron, district police officer	Commissioner Boucheron, district police officer
Jacques BaumerInspector Lambert of the Sûreté	Inspector Lambert of the Sûreté
Jules BerryAlfredo d'Avila, dancer of these ladies	Alfredo d'Avila, dancer of these ladies
Gaby MorlayGaby Valrose, minister's lover	Gaby Valrose, minister's lover
Elvira PopescuMrs. Rameau, wife of an industrialist and mistress of Alfredo	Mrs. Rameau, wife of an industrialist and mistress of Alfredo
Michel SimonPicking, knife-throwing artist	Picking, knife-throwing artist
André LefaurMr. Corbeau, kleptomaniac	Mr. Corbeau, kleptomaniac
Gaby SylviaMadeleine Martin, in love with André	Madeleine Martin, in love with André
AndrexAndré Laurent, bank cashier, lover of Madeleine	André Laurent, bank cashier, lover of Madeleine
SSimone BerriauLydia, singer at “Perroquet”, mistress of the President	Lydia, singer at “Perroquet”, mistress of the President
Erich von StroheimEric, German naturalized French	Eric, German naturalized French
Betty StockfeldEnglish, Albert's companion, Eric's mistress	English, Albert's companion, Eric's mistress
Jacques DumesnilAlbert Durant, stockbroker and poker player	Albert Durant, stockbroker and poker player
MMissiaJoséphine, chicken trainer, wife of Picking	Joséphine, chicken trainer, wife of Picking
Paul FaivreConcierge of the two buildings	Concierge of the two buildings
Aimé ClariondJudge Bernier, President of the Court of Appeal	Judge Bernier, President of the Court of Appeal
RRaymond SegardRobert Bernier, eldest son of the President	Robert Bernier, eldest son of the President
MMarcel OrlucGérard Bernier, youngest son of the President	Gérard Bernier, youngest son of the President
Marguerite MorenoOwner of the "Perroquet" and the festivities upstairs	Owner of the "Perroquet" and the festivities upstairs
Gabrielle DorziatMrs. Bernier, wife of the President	Mrs. Bernier, wife of the President
Jean DaurandTelegraphist who discovered the corpse	Telegraphist who discovered the corpse
Robert OzanneBrigadier	Brigadier
Julien CaretteSoldier, confined in the room of a “country”	Soldier, confined in the room of a “country”
Elmire VautierMarie, Lydia's dresser	Marie, Lydia's dresser
LLina DarwilsTenant	Tenant
Claude SainvalGaby's gigolo	Gaby's gigolo
RRaymoneMadame Mathieu's maid	Madame Mathieu's maid
Jean JoffreMr. Martin, blind, father of Madeleine	Mr. Martin, blind, father of Madeleine
LLise CourbetPaulette	Paulette
Marcel SimonJules, government minister and Gaby's lover	Jules, government minister and Gaby's lover