| Bluebeard's Ten Honeymoons | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | W. Lee Wilder |
| Written by | Myles Wilder |
| Produced by | Roy Parkinson |
| Starring | George Sanders Corinne Calvet Jean Kent |
| Cinematography | Stephen Dade |
| Edited by | Tom Simpson |
| Music by | Albert Elms |
Production company | Anglo Allied Pictures |
| Distributed by | Allied Artists Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Bluebeard's Ten Honeymoons is a 1960 British thriller film directed by W. Lee Wilder and starring George Sanders, Corinne Calvet, and Jean Kent.[1] The story is loosely based on that of the real-life serial killer Henri Désiré Landru.[2]
It was shot at Elstree Studios near London and on location in Paris. The film's sets were designed by the art director Paul Sheriff.
Plot
Art dealer Henri Landru becomes infatuated with burlesque performer, Odette, who already has a lover and is only interested in Landru for money. She tricks Landru into thinking her mother is sick and needs money for an important operation. Landru vows to raise the money to fund the operation.
Landru attempts to find furniture that he can sell. He meets a young widow, Vivienne, who is hoping to sell some vintage furniture. He quickly charms Vivienne but when he later discovers she has sold her furniture to somebody else they quarrel, resulting in Vivienne's accidental death. Landru is able to cover up the manslaughter, but when he is able to easily claim Vivienne's furniture as his own and sell it he realises he has found an easy way to make money. Landru adopts several aliases and charms several wealthy, middle-aged women one by one, wooing them into marriage before killing them, usually by drugging them and then stabbing them.
Landru later sees Odette with her lover and realises she has been stringing him along the entire time. He lures her to his villa where he murders her.
Vivienne's sister has become suspicious over her disappearance but the police cannot help her without any evidence. She sets out to find Landru, eventually finding him at his rented villa. The police arrive and arrest Landru. The film ends with Landru's execution.
Cast
- George Sanders as Henri Landru
- Corinne Calvet as Odette
- Jean Kent as Julienne Guillin
- Patricia Roc as Vivienne Dueaux
- Greta Gynt as Jeanette
- Maxine Audley as Cynthia
- Ingrid Hafner as Giselle
- Peter Illing as Lefevre
- George Coulouris as Lacoste
- Sheldon Lawrence as Pepi
- Paul Whitsun-Jones as Station Master
- Keith Pyott as Estate Agent
- Jack Melford as Concierge
- Robert Rietty as Bank Clerk
- Mark Singleton as Advertising Clerk
- Ian Fleming as Lawyer
References
- ↑ BFI.org
- ↑ "Bluebeard's Ten Honeymoons ** (1960, George Sanders, Corinne Calvet, Patricia Roc, Ingrid Hafner, Jean Kent, Greta Gynt, Maxine Audley) – Classic Movie Review 11,671". Derek Winnert. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
External links