Behind the Facade

Behind the Facade (1939)

" He's a loser, he gets off to a bad start, but when he wants to, he always has the last word: Justice ! "

Crime Comedy

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.

star 7.8 6.6
  • Release Date: 1939-03-14
  • Runtime: 1h 30min
  • Directors: Georges Lacombe, Yves Mirande.

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Cast

  • Lucien Baroux

    Commissioner Boucheron, district police officer

  • Jacques Baumer

    Inspector Lambert of the Sûreté

  • Jules Berry

    Alfredo d'Avila, dancer of these ladies

  • Gaby Morlay

    Gaby Valrose, minister's lover

  • Elvira Popescu

    Mrs. Rameau, wife of an industrialist and mistress of Alfredo

  • Michel Simon

    Picking, knife-throwing artist

  • André Lefaur

    Mr. Corbeau, kleptomaniac

  • Gaby Sylvia

    Madeleine Martin, in love with André

  • Andrex

    André Laurent, bank cashier, lover of Madeleine

  • Simone Berriau

    Lydia, singer at “Perroquet”, mistress of the President

  • Erich von Stroheim

    Eric, German naturalized French

  • Betty Stockfeld

    English, Albert's companion, Eric's mistress

  • Jacques Dumesnil

    Albert Durant, stockbroker and poker player

  • Missia

    Joséphine, chicken trainer, wife of Picking

  • Paul Faivre

    Concierge of the two buildings

  • Aimé Clariond

    Judge Bernier, President of the Court of Appeal

  • Raymond Segard

    Robert Bernier, eldest son of the President

  • Marcel Orluc

    Gérard Bernier, youngest son of the President

  • Marguerite Moreno

    Owner of the "Perroquet" and the festivities upstairs

  • Gabrielle Dorziat

    Mrs. Bernier, wife of the President

  • Jean Daurand

    Telegraphist who discovered the corpse

  • Robert Ozanne

    Brigadier

  • Julien Carette

    Soldier, confined in the room of a “country”

  • Elmire Vautier

    Marie, Lydia's dresser

  • Lina Darwils

    Tenant

  • Claude Sainval

    Gaby's gigolo

  • Raymone

    Madame Mathieu's maid

  • Jean Joffre

    Mr. Martin, blind, father of Madeleine

  • Lise Courbet

    Paulette

  • Marcel Simon

    Jules, government minister and Gaby's lover

  • Georges Bever

    Taxi driver (uncredited)

  • Georges Malkine

    Taxi driver (uncredited)

  • Rivers Cadet

    Agent (uncredited)

  • Franck Maurice

    Agent (uncredited)

  • Robert Moor

    Agent (uncredited)

  • Jean Wiener

    Pianist of the “Perroquet” (uncredited)

  • Yves Mirande

    Bum on the bench (uncredited)

  • Roger Doucet

    (uncredited)

  • Hélène Flouest

    (uncredited)

  • Henri Nassiet

    (uncredited)