Product Description

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 06/01/2004 Run time: 107 minutes Rating: R

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20407 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2004-06-01
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 107 minutes

Amazon.com
Henri-Georges Clouzot's 1955 French thriller Diabolique is the epitome of noir. As a twisted plot unravels, the scene is set for murder and deceit. The Devils (a.k.a. Les Diaboliques) live at a rundown boys home with Michel Delasalle (Paul Meurisse) as the cruel headmaster treating the students with disdain and indignity. His wife, Christina Delasalle (played by Véra Clouzot), an ex-nun and owner of the school before their marriage, experiences the brunt of his abuse. He humiliates Christina in front of the student body and faculty and then flaunts his insidious affairs in front of her. Christina rebels quietly, although her heart condition leaves her vulnerable and too fragile to resist her husband's brute strength. Ironically, it is Michel's mistress Nicole Horner (Simone Signoret), another teacher at the school, who encourages Christina to plot a sinister revenge against him. As the abuse continues, "Cricri" is forced to make a decision as she realizes her husband will never grant her a divorce and give up the school. Since both divorce and murder are sins against God, Christina's religious beliefs conflict with Nicole's manipulation and ideas of revenge. As she is forced to choose, her actions result in a surprising and suspenseful turn of events that promise to keep you on the edge of your seat! (English subtitles) --Michele Goodson

From The New Yorker
A glossy remake of Henri-Georges Clouzot's famous 1954 thriller, in which a man's wife and his mistress join forces to do him in. Here, Isabelle Adjani is the wide-eyed wife, Chazz Palminteri the piggy husband, and Sharon Stone the cool, worldly mistress. The movie is obviously designed to be Stone's show, but her glamorous presence is too vivid for the dull, familiar surroundings. At first, she's an ironic femme fatale; by the end, she seems pure camp, like a bad girl in a John Waters movie. The director, Jeremiah Chechik, and the screenwriter, Don Roos, try desperately to add American spice to Clouzot's chilled French concoction; they throw in nudity, extra violence, Thelma-and-Louise feminism, and dog jokes, and wind up with something awful-vichyssoise sprinkled with jalape–os. Also featuring Kathy Bates, whose good-humored performance mildly enlivens the movie's second half. -Terrence Rafferty
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Thumbs Up For Diabolique
Despite criticism that the film is monotonous and boring, I rented the video and was pleasantly surprised. Sharon Stone seems to be getting better every film she does. The chemistry between Stone and Isabelle Adjani is great. Chaz Palminteri is the perfect bad guy and Kathy Bates was a great detective. Listen close, Bates has some of the best lines. I really enjoyed my first viewing. I liked it enough to watch a second and third time!! Big thumbs up to the entire cast for a job well done. I would recommend this movie to anyone.

A Perfect Masterpiece!!
What a great cast! The sceenery is mystery colored and is accompanied by antique and old-school looking structures. The story line I think is very simple but extremeley complicated at the same time.
Adjani, Palmintery, Bates, Stone, are combined with ploting, scheeming, backstabbing, denial, greed and well, all the goodies! Without giving anything away, each cast mamber has the perfect role and attitude to go with it. If for any reason you dislike the cast, I'm sure this picture will change your mind. This one is definitely a movie you should'nt be without! This is a winner!!!

Stone is Splendid
Don't listen to those critics who are still so in love with the ancient French version they can't see the merits of this brooding, sexy remake. Yes, the plot has holes (Who shot those crucial photographs?) and a blooper or two (someone who's supposed to be making a U-turn ends up on the same side of the road, heading against traffic). Nonetheless, it's well worth watching for its clever plot, top-rate performers, haunting atmosphere, and most especially the glorious Sharon Stone. She's like a modern day Joan Crawford here: forthright, vampy, alluring, and not to be trifled with!