With this film and Le Corbeau, Henri-Georges Clouzot (yes, pronounced like Peter Sellers’ Clouseau) made two of the finest small town thrillers that France, and the world at large, has ever seen. Fargo is as good as this but that comes much, much later.

LES DIABOLIQUES

Henri-Georges Clouzot

1955

Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse, Charles Vanel, Jean Brochard

Screenplay by Henri-Georges Clouzot and Jérôme Géronimi; adapted from the novel Celle qui n'était plus by Boileau-Narcejac

Title: LES DIABOLIQUES

Year: 1955

Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot

Cast: Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse, Charles Vanel, Jean Brochard

Writing: Screenplay by Henri-Georges Clouzot and Jérôme Géronimi; adapted from the novel Celle qui n'était plus by Boileau-Narcejac

Genre tags: CRIME, THRILLER